Recap: Feltmakers Ireland-West – Needle Felted Hearts Session

A hand holding a vibrant pink circular felted piece adorned with colourful pom-poms, showcasing a unique craft project.

On Sunday, the 15th of February, Feltmakers Ireland-West met up for a fun Needle Felted Hearts Session led by Katarina Hruskova of WoolStore Ireland.

Read about the session and see additional photos on the Feltmakers Ireland-West blog – https://feltmakersireland-west.com/blog/

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Recap: ‘Heart on Your Sleeve’ – Helena Mc Guinness – February Sunday Session

On Sunday, the 8th of February, members of Feltmakers Ireland were delighted to have the multitalented artist, storyteller and committee member Helena Mc Guinness show us how to create felted hearts using a combination of wet and needle felting.

A variety of handmade felt decorative items, including colourful stones, a starfish, and a polka-dotted red piece, arranged on a grey table surface. Some items are wrapped in bubble wrap.
Helena’s samples that use the combined technique

Helena shared many interesting tidbits about how one can approach felting. Here are some of our favourites:

  • Thanking the Sheep for their wool
  • Allowing oneself not to think one needs a huge towel or a big setup
  • Using small sponges to wet the felt instead of more expensive tools, such as ball brausers
  • Adding the olive oil soap after wetting allows more control
  • Rubbing more reduces the need to roll
  • Adding a small metal ring by using needle felting instead of stitching

Scroll to the bottom to watch the video of our session.

A plastic container filled with yellow and green sponges, with some sponges stacked and others lying flat.

Students at the Session

Completed Hearts

Heart Photos kindly taken by Adrienne Dempsey

If your heart was not included, or you were working alongside at home via Zoom, please email us a photo of your completed heart. feltmakersIE@gmail.com

A Group Photo

A diverse group of twelve people, mostly women, smiling and posing together in a community centre, each holding colourful handmade crafts, with a banner visible in the background.
A photo of some of the students – taken at the very end of the session. Sorry if we missed everyone.

Biscuits with History

A tin filled with heart-shaped iced shortbread biscuits, accompanied by a handwritten sign explaining their significance linked to St. Valentine.

‘Biscuits with History’ is an ongoing series of baked goods created by committee member Lorna Cady. They are always so fun!

Appreciation

Many thanks to Helena Mc Guinness for leading us in an educational and enjoyable Sunday Session. Thank you to the members who helped set up the room and who assisted in guiding some of our newer felters.

Video

Sunday Session Video

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Sunday Session Co Galway – Needle Felt a Heart with Irish Wool

A promotional image for an FMI-West workshop featuring needle felted heart crafts. The image shows five heart-shaped felt items on a floral background, with details about the workshop date, time, and location.

Feltmakers Ireland-West’s next Sunday Session will be this Sunday, on the 15th February 2026.

Come along, and needle felt a heart made of Irish-raised wool with guild member Katarina Hruskova of Woolstore.ie

Time: 11 AM

Where: Bru Bride House, Tirboy, Tuam, Co Galway, H54 EY24

Note: Feltmakers Ireland-West meets on the THIRD Sunday of the month.

To learn more about Feltmakers Ireland-West and our members who are part of it, please visit the Feltmakers Ireland-West website – https://feltmakersireland-west.com/

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

THIS Sunday: ‘Heart on Your Sleeve’ – Wet & Needle Felting with Helena Mc Guinness

Poster for a felting workshop titled 'Heart on Your Sleeve' on a colourful background, featuring a heart shape and details about the session led by Helena Mc Guinness.
Artwork on poster from Helena Mc Guinness

THIS Sunday, the 8th of February, we will have our second Sunday Session of 2026.

Committee member Helena Mc Guinness will lead us in creating small hearts, using both wet and needle felting techniques. The Theme is ‘Heart on Your Sleeve’.

Please bring your wet and needle felting kits. The committee will have extra felting needles for those who do not have them, along with ball brauses (sprinklers).

We will also provide Merino wool. But if you have specific colours you prefer to use, it would be helpful to bring them along.

Your Wet Felting Kit should include:

  • an old towel to catch water, plus a smaller one to dry your hands
  • bubble wrap
  • bowl for water
  • felting soap of your choice
  • sprinkler or ball brause

Your Needle Felting Kit should include:

  • felting needles
  • sponge or brush or needle felting pad to felt into
A handmade felt heart with vibrant purple, orange, and pink colours, featuring a metal ring attached for hanging or keychain use.

The Details:

When: Sunday, the 8th of February, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

Where: CIE Sports Hall, Library Square, Inchicore, Kilmainham, Dublin, D8

Additional Information:

If you can, please bring a home-baked treat to share and a travel mug (to reduce our use of disposable cups).

And, as this is the season of coughs and sneezes, please refrain from coming if you feel unwell. We do have the benefit of technology – there will be access via Zoom, although it is not quite as lovely as being with us in person.

Zoom Access to the Sunday Session:

We will email the Zoom link to all members on this afternoon

Membership Renewal:

If you have already renewed your annual membership, we thank you for your support!

If you still need to renew, you can do so quickly and easily by visiting our Membership Page online: https://feltmakersireland.com/membership-application/

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Sunday Session: ‘Heart on Your Sleeve’ – Wet & Needle Felting with Helena Mc Guinness

Poster for a felting workshop titled 'Heart on Your Sleeve' on a colourful background, featuring a heart shape and details about the session led by Helena Mc Guinness.
Artwork on poster from Helena Mc Guinness

On Sunday, the 8th of February, we will have our second Sunday Session of 2026.

Committee member Helena Mc Guinness will lead us in creating small hearts, using both wet and needle felting techniques. The Theme is ‘Heart on Your Sleeve’.

Please bring your wet and needle felting kits. The committee will have extra felting needles for those who do not have them, along with ball brauses (sprinklers).

We will also provide Merino wool. But if you have specific colours you prefer to use, it would be helpful to bring them along.

Your Wet Felting Kit should include:

  • an old towel to catch water, plus a smaller one to dry your hands
  • bubble wrap
  • bowl for water
  • felting soap of your choice
  • sprinkler or ball brause

Your Needle Felting Kit should include:

  • felting needles
  • sponge or brush of needle felting pad to felt into
A handmade felt heart with vibrant purple, orange, and pink colours, featuring a metal ring attached for hanging or keychain use.

The Details:

When: Sunday, the 8th of February, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

Where: CIE Sports Hall, Library Square, Inchicore, Kilmainham, Dublin, D8

Additional Information:

If you can, please bring a home-baked treat to share and a travel mug (to reduce our use of disposable cups).

And, as this is the season of coughs and sneezes, please refrain from coming if you feel unwell. We do have the benefit of technology – there will be access via Zoom, although it is not quite as lovely as being with us in person.

Zoom Access to the Sunday Session:

We will email the Zoom link to all members on the afternoon of Friday, the 6th of February.

Membership Renewal:

If you have already renewed your annual membership, we thank you for your support!

If you still need to renew, you can do so quickly and easily by visiting our Membership Page online: https://feltmakersireland.com/membership-application/

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.