Tag: Feltmaking Demonstrations

Recap: Fantastic Day at the Dublin Fibre Festival

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland1 Comment

On Saturday, the 26th of September, volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland shared feltmaking with visitors to the Dublin Fibre Festival. We increased awareness of our guild, demonstrated feltmaking (wet and needlefelting), sold many copies of our book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’, and sold felted pieces created by some of our volunteers.

We were so busy at times that you could barely see our table!

It was a fantastic day! Many thanks to indie yarn designer Mira Isan, the Dublin Fibre Festival’s organiser, for seeing the need for a Dublin-based textile event and for her skills in pulling off this endeavour! Also, thank you to committee member Adrienne Dempsey for organising our two tables and volunteers. Additional thanks to our volunteers: From A-Z, Lorna Cady, Deirdre Carroll, Loli Cox, Sam Fagan, Irina Lampadova, and Evija Mezaka.

Our Book

Here is a photograph of Adrienne sharing ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ with Ann Gunning of Beechwood Blues Texel Sheep – her wool is in the book!

Adrienne and Ann Gunning

Our Display

Here are some of the many photographs from the lovely experience.

  • All ready!
  • Adrienne, Loli, and Irina
  • Sam sharing the craic with Eva
  • Sam and Eva
  • Adrienne
  • Deirdre
  • Eva and Lorna
  • Loli wearing a felted neckpiece
  • More display
  • Adrienne with display
  • Loli with a happy customer
  • Loli with her needlefelted work

Our Members with Stalls

Two members of Feltmakers Ireland also participated at the Dublin Fibre Festival: Sandra King from Irish Fibre Crafters and Juliane Gorman from FeltHappiness Hats.

Friend of the Guild, Malú Colorín, represented Fibreshed Ireland.

Sandra King and friend at Irish Fibre Crafters
Lorna Cady visiting Juliane Gorman’s FeltHappiness
Sandra King visiting Malú at FIbreshed Ireland’s booth

Other Vendors

There was a wide variety of vendors at the event, including several with local Irish-raised wool.

Windrush Farm had wool from their sheep, needlefelting kits, and gives craft workshops
Boyne Valley Wools had Jacob wool from their sheep.

Other Friends of FI

  • Cons Creations – needlefelt
  • Sam with Liberties College friends: Maggie, and Margaret

    The Dublin Fibre Festival was a wonderful day, and we are so glad to be a part of this inaugural event! Thank you to everyone who stopped by!

    Note: there are a couple of videos from the event over on our social media:

    Instagram page – https://www.instagram.com/feltmakers_ireland/

    Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/feltmakersireland/

    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.

    Event: Dublin Fiber Festival this Saturday

    Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

    This Saturday, the 26th of October, a group of volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland will share the miracle of feltmaking and our excellent book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ at the Dublin Fibre Festival!

    The festival’s inaugural edition will bring together fibre fans, artisans, and exhibitors for a day of creativity, inspiration, and community.

    Some of our members will also be exhibiting and vending at the show: Irish Fibre Crafters (Sandra King) and FeltHappiness (Juliane Gorman). In addition, our friends from Fibreshed Ireland (co-founder Malú Colorín spoke at our AGM in May), will sell undyed and naturally dyed 100% Irish wool yarn, and knit kits. They will also sell tickets to their upcoming symposium – ‘Reimagining Textiles for an Equitable Future’, one of the exciting events scheduled during Irish Design Week in November.

    Tickets to the Dublin Fibre Festival are available at the door via cash or card: 10 euros, free for children under 12 and disabled people.

    Where: Richmond Barracks, Inchicore, Dublin 08

    When: 10 AM – 5 PM, Saturday, the 26th of October.

    To learn more, visit the Dublin Fibre Festival website – https://www.dublinfibrefestival.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.

    Event: Dublin Fibre Festival Next Saturday

    Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

    Have you wanted to purchase a copy of Feltmakers Ireland’s book ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ but not had the opportunity? Come to the Dublin fibre event of the year: The Dublin Fibre Festival.

    Feltmakers Ireland and almost 30 other local textile exhibitors will be at the Dublin Fibre Festival on Saturday, the 26th of October. This is THE opportunity to touch yarn and fibres in person and watch spinning, felting, and other fibre arts demonstrations!

    A List of the Exhibitors

    Where: The Richmond Barracks.

    For more information, visit the Festival’s website – https://www.dublinfibrefestival.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.

    Event: Feltmakers Ireland at Dublin Fibre Festival

    Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

    Feltmakers Ireland will share the wonders of wet and needle felting at the Dublin Fibre Festival on the 26th of October, from 10 AM to 5 PM. In addition to demonstrating felting, we will sell copies of our book, Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking, and a selection of felted artworks created by members.

    In addition to our organisation, almost thirty other exhibitors and vendors will be present, including Feltmakers Ireland’s guild members Juliane Gorman of FeltHappiness Hats and Sandra King of Irish Fibre Crafters.

    Location: Richmond Barracks, St Michael’s Estate, Inchicore, D08 YY05, Dublin, Ireland.

    The festival is a ticketed event, with tickets available at the door.

    See this page for more information on all the vendors: https://www.dublinfibrefestival.com/vendors-exhibitors

    For more details, head over to the Dublin Fibre Festival website. https://www.dublinfibrefestival.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.

    Recap: The Tullamore Show – 2024

    Published on by Feltmakers Ireland1 Comment
    Photograph by Elizabeth Redding

    The Tullamore Show 2024, Butterfield Estate, Blueball, Tullamore, Co Offaly

    By Guild Member Margaret Ryan Collins

    This summer, Sunday, the 11th of August was the date for The Tullamore Show, Ireland’s largest one-day agricultural event. Over 60,000 people attended this year.

    This premier Livestock show, which featured the best cattle, sheep, and equine breeders from all over the country, also had about 700 trade stands from agri sectors, Home Industries, Farm produce, etc., to name a few, along with many interested and interesting visitors of all ages.

    Feltmakers Ireland was delighted to be afforded a 12 m (approx) stand in the Craft and Needlework Marquee. Here, we displayed a wide variety of quality felted items, large and small. During the day, we demonstrated how felting is achieved, both wet felting and needle felting; we discussed its history, its wonder and magic, its sustainable elements, our wonderfully informative book ‘Exploring Irish Wool For Feltmaking ‘, the guild itself, and many more topics. Visitors got to touch and feel the wool fibre and the completed felt and asked a wonderful variety of questions.

    All in all, an interesting and enjoyable day was had, with felting and Feltmakers Ireland well promoted.

    Thanks to Elizabeth Redding for organising and leading the group and to Phill at The Tullamore Show for her assistance.

    Some of Elizabeth Redding’s photos –

    Note: the orange netting was placed before all the Craft and Needlework tables.

    • A selection of felted art work – including needle and wet felted.
    • The netting was to protect the work.
    • More felted art work – Guild member Evija Mezaka in the background.

    Some of Margaret Ryan’s photos –

    • Samples of felted art works.
    • Guild Members Hélène Dooley, Caitríona, Nolan, and Margaret Ryan Collins
    • More felted art work.
    • Ruffled scarves
    • Organiser Elizabeth Redding with volunteer Hélène Dooley.
    • Stained Glass Technique – Feltmaking

    Some of Sam Fagan’s Photos

    • Our book, Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking, some bookmarks, and membership brochures.
    • The floral banner we made for our 20th Anniversary Celebration
    • More felted art work.
    • Blue Faced Leicester Sheep at Tullamore
    • Valais Blacknose Sheep at Tullamore
    • More Sheep!
    • Scotch Blackface Sheep
    • Visitors at Tullamore
    • Guild members Evija Mezaka and Hélène Dooley
    • Another angle…

    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 hosting the event.

    Events: This Sunday Feltmakers Ireland Demonstrates Felting – Tullamore Show

    Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

    A dedicated team of Feltmakers Ireland members will be in the Tullamore Show’s Crafts Tent to demonstrate the wonders of felting.

    Tullamore Show & FBD National Livestock Show is Ireland’s premier agricultural event. Every year, it attracts the best cattle, sheep, and equine breeders from all over the country, as well as entrants for its other 1,000-plus competitions, with a total prize fund of €175,000.

    It is Ireland’s largest one-day show, averaging 60,000 visitors in recent years. The show features 700 trade stands from Agri Sectors, Home Industries, Farm Produce, Innovation, Forestry, Agri Machinery, and more.

    When: the 11th of August, 2024, from noon to 5 PM.

    Where: In the Craft Tent at the Butterfield Estate, Blueball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, Ireland.


    The Tullamore Show is served by public transit, with a free shuttle bus service to and from the show grounds.

    Pick up: Tullamore Train station/O’Connor Square Tullamore.

    Drop off: Blue car park.

    • From Dublin, trains arrive in Tullamore at 08:56, 12:43, 14:49, 15:34, and later. 
    • From Galway, trains arrive in Tullamore at 09:34, 12:22, 14:30, and later.
    • From Cork, trains arrive in Tullamore at 12:43, 14:49, 16:33 and later.

    For information on the free shuttle from the Tullamore rail station, visit the website – https://www.tullamoreshow.com/travel/by-train

    For more information, visit the Show’s website – https://www.tullamoreshow.com/

    Photograph from last year’s demonstration at the Tulllamore Show.

    Here is a recap of the Guild’s demonstration last year https://feltmakersireland.com/2023/08/10/news-feltmakers-ireland-at-tullamore-show-2/


    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.

    Events: Feltmakers Ireland will Demonstrate Felting – Tullamore Show 2024

    Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

    Feltmakers Ireland will demonstrate the craft of feltmaking at the annual Tullamore Show. A dedicated team of members will share the wonders of wet and needle felting with visitors.

    From farming enthusiasts to fashion followers, competitive contestants to crafters, and motor, music, shoe, and shopping fans, the Tullamore Show offers a great day out for the whole family.

    When: the 11th of August, 2024, from noon to 5 PM.

    Where: In the Craft Tent at the Butterfield Estate, Blueball, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, Ireland.

    For more information, visit the Show’s website – https://www.tullamoreshow.com/

    Here is a recap of the Guild’s demonstration last year – https://feltmakersireland.com/2023/08/10/news-feltmakers-ireland-at-tullamore-show-2/

    Photo of last year’s demonstration area

    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 - Sunday Session

    Recap: June Sunday Session with Maria Mc Garry

    Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

    By Breda Fay

    Feltmakers Ireland member Maria Mc Garry facilitated a very exciting Sunday session.

    Maria’s Artistic Background

    Maria’s presentation began with a description of her artistic journey through a wide variety of
    courses with various artists from Ireland and away. She began this journey in Brussels with
    quilting, joining the Quilters Guild when she returned to Ireland. She proceeded to study free-motion embroidery with Ana Buzzalino. While studying art and psychology via the Vocational Training and Opportunities Scheme (VTOS), she explored the stained-glass effect and found the medium of FELT. Following a visit to the Feltmakers Ireland stand at the RDS Knitting and Stitching Show in 2010, Maria joined our guild. Then, she enrolled for the guild’s Basic and Beyond Course and was “completely hooked!”.

    Maria’s feltmaking techniques grew while participating in courses with Gabriella Kovacs, Gabi McGrath, Nancy Ballesteros, Clodagh McDonagh, Nessa McCormack, Nicola Brown and Leiko Uchiyama. A summer course with Mel Bradley inspired Maria to enrol in NCAD for a Visual Arts Certificate, and then Cork’s Crawford College to study Textile Art.

    Maria’s Exhibitions

    Maria’s work has been displayed at Feltmakers Ireland Exhibitions, as well as in exhibitions by Laois Quilters, Mountamellick Library, Stradbally Art House, Electric Picnic, and the Tullamore Show.

    She brought her work to a wide selection of markets in the early days of her felting, but would say that cheaper goods are now in greater demand.

    After a coffee break, Maria demonstrated a ruffled scarf-making technique she learned from Lena Archbold’s online course.

    Maria Demonstrating

    Photo by Adrienne Dempsey
    Photo by Adrienne Dempsey

    Maria brought a wide range of samples of her work, which we examined and admired. She answered questions and explained techniques.

    Two of Maria’s Felted Scarves

    Maria brought several of her felted scarves in to share. Guild member Deirdre Crofts kindly modelled them to an appreciative audience.

    Maria’s Scarf – Photo by Adrienne Dempsey
    Maria’s Scarf – Photo by Adrienne Dempsey

    Two of Maria’s Art Quilts

    Art Quilt by Maria Mc Garry – Photo by Breda Fay
    Art Quilt by Maria Mc Garry – Photo by Breda Fay

    More of Maria’s Work

    Suppliers

    Maria often purchases silk scarf blanks from the Spanish supplier SodinTex. For Margilan silk, she purchases from suppliers in Eastern Europe via Etsy. She mentions that it is best to dye after nunofelting because the silk shrinks during dyeing.

    Another great Sunday Session – thank you, Maria, for sharing your journey with the guild!

    Want to learn more about Maria? There is an interview with Maria from 2020 on the blog – https://feltmakersireland.com/2020/08/16/meet-the-maker-maria-mc-garry/

    Thank you, Breda, for writing and photographing this blog post. We also want to express our appreciation to Adrienne Dempsey, who took some of the photographs at our June Sunday Session, held at the Fatima Community Centre.

    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: Feltmakers Ireland at Bloom 2024

    Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

    By Bloom co-coordinator, Maria Mc Garry

    Over the June Bank holiday, volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland spent two days at the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland’s Irish Craft Village within Bord Bia’s Bloom 2024 in Phonix Park. Our volunteers shared the wonders of transforming fluff into felt.

    Irish Craft Village Sign – Photo by Sam Fagan

    Most of all, Feltmakers Ireland wants to thank the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCI) for giving us such an excellent marquee and display opportunity in the Craft’s Demonstration Booth at Bloom. We especially want to thank Geraldine Gray (of the DCCI ) and her sister Catherine for their support, helpfulness, and friendship on-site over the two days.

    The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland’s Irish Craft Village – Photo by Sam Fagan

    Our Booth

    The public enjoyed watching volunteers show how to wet felt and needle-felt.

    The photo on the left is early in the day – Photo by Loli Cox. The one on the right shows how popular our booth was – Photo by Sam Fagan.

    Day 1

    Annika Berglund showcased her project on the felting properties of wool from the various breeds of sheep in Ireland as part of Feltmakers Ireland’s book ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking‘. You can purchase this book via our website – https://feltmakersireland.com/exploring-irish-wool-for-feltmaking/

    • Annika with samples of Irish Wool Breeds – Photo by Maria Mc Garry
    • Irish Wool Breed Felted Samples – Photo by Sam Fagan

    Annika’s 3D fish and butterflies attracted much interest, as did other artworks on display.

    • Fishes and Butterfhly – Photo by Maria Mc Garry
    • 3D Butterflies by Annika Berglund – Photo by Sam Fagan
    • Hélène Dooley’s spiral in the foregraound.
    • A busy booth – Photo by Hélène Dooley

    Tamzen Lundy demonstrated wet feltmaking by creating a Mr Fantastic Fox. Her cute, wee-felted animals on display are terrific. You can find her work at Tamzen Lundy Designs.

    Tamzen promoting wet feltmaking. (See below)

    • Tamzen demonstrating
    • Tamzen chatting with the public – Photo by Maria Mc Garry

    Marian Fagan demonstrated needle felting and how she makes puppets of the various characters in children’s books for her granddaughter as they share the joy of reading. (See photo below).

    Marian demonstrating feltmaking – Photo by Maria Mc Garry

    Loli Cox, Marian, and Annika were busy demonstrating.

    Loli, Marian, and Annika talking with the public – Photo by Maria Mc Garry

    In the afternoon, Joanne Foley (in the yellow dress) demonstrated the process of creating her animal portraits. (See photograph below).

    More sharing of feltmaking at Bloom – Joanne Foley, Lorna Cady, Margaret Ryan Collings, and Annika Berglund – Photo by Maria Mc Garry

    Guild member Caoimhe Tuthill of Boann Irish Felt exhibited her beautiful work in the main pavilion with MeathMade. (See below).

    Caoimhe Tuthill at the MeathMade Booth – Photo by Maria Mc Garry

    Day 2

    Saturday was busy, and Hélène Dooley started us off by demonstrating wet felting flowers and displaying her felted vessels. The red-coloured, hanging felted spiral is from an online class she teaches at the Felting and Fiber Studio. (See photo below).

    Helene demonstrating – Photo by Maria Mc Garry

    Hélène demonstrated and answered curious questions.

    Hélène, Lory Cotti Cottini, and Annika demonstrating, below. Annika promoted Feltmakers Ireland and encouraged the interested public to become members of the guild.

    Helene, Lory, and Annika sharing the wonders of feltmaking – Photo by Maria Mc Garry

    Siobhan Ryan, Sam Fagan, Elaine Peden, and Annika at Bloom.

    Siobhan, Sam, Elaine, and Annika demonstrating – Photo by Maria Mc Garry

    Elaine Peden demonstrating felted flowers. (Below)

    Elain Peden demonstrating – Photo by Maria Mc Garry

    Elaine and Annika share feltmaking with the public. (Below).

    Elaine and Annika – Photo by Maria Mc Garry

    Siobhan demonstrates her unique artwork.

    Siobhan demonstrating – Photo by Maria Mc Garry

    Valerie Nowak O’Ceallaigh shared her needle-felted horse portrait.

    Photo by Valerie

    Conclusion

    Many thanks to Maria Mc Garry and Annika Berglund for coordinating this year’s Feltmakers Ireland booth at Bloom! Also, thanks to all the members, who also volunteered their time during the busy bank holiday weekend.

    Elaine, Annika, and Maria pictured – Photo by Sam Fagan


    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: This Sunday – Maria Mc Garry

    Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
    Sunday Session – 9th of June – Maria Mc Garry NEW LOCATION

    Guild member Maria Mc Garry from Co Laois, will give a show-and-tell of her experiences with working with galleries and selling at markets. She will also demonstrate how to make a ruffle felted scarf.

    When: the 9th of June, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

    There is a lovely ‘Meet the Maker’ interview from 2020 with Maria Mc Garry on the blog here – https://feltmakersireland.com/2020/08/16/meet-the-maker-maria-mc-garry/

    Here is her Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/maria_mcgarry_textile_art_/

    Temporary NEW Location

    Where: We will meet for the June Sunday Session at a DIFFERENT location.

    F2 -Fatima Community Centre.

    Fatima Community Centre
    Herberton Leisure
    3 Reuben Plaza, Rialto, Dublin 8, D08 PV0H

    Directions from the Red Line LUAS

    Get off at Fatima Luas stop (Red Line) and walk to a set of traffic lights.

    Google Maps directions from the Red Line LUAS Stop.

    View from the LUAS

    View of the LUAS Stop from across the street. Photos kindly provided by Adrienne Dempsey.

    Cross at the traffic lights, walk straight ahead, and take the first right onto Reuben Plaza. You will then see the Herberton gym.

    Cross at the traffic light.
    Photo of the Herberton Gym and the Arch Cafe on the corner.

    Walk by the Herberton Gym and the Arch Cafe, then turn left. F2 Centre is located beside the green space/kids’ play area.

    Where You Enter the Building

    The entrance of the F2 Fatima Community Centre.

    Parking

    There is free street parking along St Anthony’s Road, which leads up to the F2 building. Parking is also available on Reuben Walk and Reuben Street, which surround the building.

    Two disabled parking spots are at the top of St Anthony’s Road, leading onto Reuben Plaza and the F2 Centre.

    Photo of the two disabled parking spots on St Anthony’s Road.

    Additional Information

    A Sunday Session like this will require lots of tea/ coffee/cake and chat, so there’ll be an abundance of that. Of course, homebakes are always welcome! There is the usual 5 euro fee.

    On Friday, the 7th of June, the Guild will email members a Zoom Link for virtual access and also include a phone number to call for those who need help finding the Centre on the day of the event.

    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.