Next Sunday, on the 10th of September, we will create a wonderful floral tapestry to commemorate Feltmaker’s 20th anniversary. The more flowers we have, the bigger it will be. It will become a travelling celebration wherever we go for years to come!
Bring along already felted pink and/or white flowers to contribute to our Guild’s tapestry if you like. The more the merrier!
Come along. It’ll be a 3-hour session this time. Bring the usual felting equipment that you use. Fibre will be provided, but you’re welcome to bring any fibre of your own in the pinkish range. We will supply the bubble wrap and resists, too.
Dublin Maker is a free-to-attend, community-run event, which will be held on Saturday, September 2nd, in Richmond Barracks, Inchicore, Dublin. Note: This year, it is in a new venue and will be mostly indoors. So, the weather is less of an issue!
Dublin Maker takes the form of a “show and tell” experience, where inventors/makers sourced through an open call have an opportunity to showcase their creations at individual booths in a carnival atmosphere.
Note: This coming weekend, the Red Line Luas has repair work scheduled, with no trams running from Heuston and Blackhorse. There will be a replacement bus service. The Blackhorse stop is a 15-minute walk at a leisurely pace.
Dublin Maker is a free-to-attend, community-run event, which will be held on Saturday, September 2nd, in Richmond Barracks, Inchicore, Dublin. Note: it is in a new venue this year.
Dublin Maker takes the form of a “show and tell” experience, where inventors/makers sourced through an open call have an opportunity to showcase their creations at individual booths in a carnival atmosphere.
On Sunday, the 13th of August, a dedicated band of volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland trekked down from Dublin to share their love of feltmaking at the Tullamore Show. Our demonstration area was indoors in the Crafts Areas.
Volunteer Elizabeth Redding was extremely helpful in organising our contribution. She knew the best way to avoid traffic in town. Moreover, she helped make our demonstration area look beautiful and cohesive.
Our vibrant showcase of feltmaking techniques garnered significant interest from the event attendees, who were captivated by the intricate and versatile nature of the craft. Our newly published book, Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking, which delves into making felt out of locally raised Irish wool, also received warm attention from visitors.
Feltmakers Ireland extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers and members who poured their energy and dedication into making the Tullamore Show a resounding success. Their commitment promoted the art of feltmaking and helped forge connections and inspire creativity within the community.
Here is a selection of photos from the event. Elizabeth is wearing the lavender-coloured blouse, and Deirdre Crofts is wearing the flower-adorned hat.
On the 19th and 20th of August, The Wicklow Craft Foundation (WCF) has an inaugural event which includes an exhibition comprised of multiple craft disciplines. It is taking place at The Schoolhouse for Art in Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow.
In addition, craftspeople will be on-site to demonstrate their skills and share their expertise.
Feltmakers Ireland member Sharon Wells will demonstrate landscape felting, spinning, and dyeing. She will have samples of many types of Irish wool fibre from sheep farms all over Ireland. You can see Galway, Cheviot, Wensleydale, Jacobs, Welsh mule, Kerry Hill, Charollais, Shetland, Zwartbles or Valais samples. She will discuss their uses in felting and/or spinning. Some are for sale on the day.
Demonstrations will be live-streamed via the WCF website for those who cannot attend in person. For further information and access to the live-stream, please visit http://www.wicklowcraftfoundation.ie
Claire Merry will bring along some samples from her vast collection to show us and do a short presentation. It’s definitely not one to miss. Claire has a wealth of experience, and it goes without saying that her work is truly amazing. (There is a nice interview with Claire on our Feltmakers Ireland website).
Upcoming Exhibition
We will also launch our new exhibition, “Bountiful”, which will open at the beginning of October.
We will have a discussion and a mind mapping session about the meaning of the word “bountiful” and talk briefly about framing etc. (In the autumn, there will be a future Sunday Session dealing with framing and hanging our felt work.)
So hope to see a big turnout for our last session (before the summer break).
This may be of interest to Feltmakers Ireland members/followers:
Nicola Brown and Dawn Edwards warmly invite you to participate in this year’s Felt United theme, ‘Changing Seasons, ’ through the sharing of your felt images pertaining to the theme.
The allure of nature’s changing seasons offers an endless source of inspiration…From the vibrant hues of autumn leaves to the delicate blossoms of spring, each season brings its unique magic and transformation.
Felt United is celebrated on the first Saturday in October, so this year, that falls on October 7, 2023.
Please feel free to interpret the theme in any way that you wish. We are requesting that you please include a short statement along with your photo(s). It’s always interesting for our members to hear from the artist regarding the thinking that goes into making their creations.
We look forward to seeing your felt submissions, and you may begin submitting your images as soon as your felt creation is complete.
Let your imagination bloom and embrace the enchantment of the ‘Changing Seasons’ through your felt art!
As usual, we parked miles away from our stand in the DCCI’s Irish Craft Village, which was right in the middle of the festival. But thanks to Marian for lending a special, large-wheel cart, we only had one journey from the car.
The ladies who did the morning session finished in time for us to set up for our stint from 2-5 PM. Feltmakers Ireland committee head, Deirdre Carroll, is an amazing helper! She put up my many poster samples of Nuno Felting on the walls – that was the topic for my demonstration!
Nunofelting Samples
I chose to create a beret as I had a few of them to show off, and besides, our table layout area was small. I brought a few wraps to show as there were two mannikins. In addition, Juliane’s hats, our book sales section, and the number of us there occupied much of the allotted area.
Clare Brophy demonstrating.
Seeing some visitors purchase our book – ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ was gratifying, and there was huge interest in what Adrienne and I were making.
Annika Berglund discussing Irish Wool for Feltmaking.
Adrienne made small flowers— perfect for the space. She was a genius at luring in the children, when their mums or dads were interested in what I was doing. She had an amazing quiet way of getting the kids to join in by inviting them to add their favourite colours and manipulate the fibres into felt. They loved it! Future Feltmakers in the making!
Adrienne Dempsey demonstrated feltmaking with some children.
Somewhere along the way, I realised I had left my lovely cut-out Margilan silk beret circles at home on my kitchen table, so Nuno was not to be, but a wool-only beret! I gradually laid out the fibre, chatting away to the visitors, slowly wet it down, still chatting! Added Tussah silk for embellishment, while answering questions and explaining the process, each time to new groups. I turned it over and slowly laid the reverse side, explaining all about resists.
The very interested visitors came from everywhere! At least three or four groups were from Newry, Antrim, and Belfast. Another group from Tralee made it a two-day trip to Dublin. Many were from Louth, Kildare, and the Midlands. I was quite surprised and delighted to find younger people, often couples, with the gentleman just as interested in the process as the lady.
I spoke to many about our research project —our book— but personally didn’t manage any sales!
After a solid three hours in the heat and the crowds, I was tired but very happy with how the day went.
While dismantling the stand from Feltmakers in preparation for the next Guild tomorrow (The Irish Patchwork Society), I had a great chat with Catherine Gray, the DCCI’s coordinator at BLOOM. She and I share the same love for our Roscommon/Leitrim haven and even share some friends and acquaintances. Her textile landscapes are displayed at the Leitrim Design House in Carrick-On-Shannon, which I regularly visit. She is a most supportive DCCI person!
Thank you, Feltmakers Ireland, for accepting the invitation and giving us this great exposure to the broader public. Hopefully, we may get more members out of it.
Particular thanks to Deirdre Carroll, Adrienne Dempsey, Juliane Gorman, Annika Berglund, and Deirdre Crofts, who made this a special day
Clare Brophy June2023
Editor’s note: Thank you also to the following Feltmakers Ireland members who volunteered at other shifts on our rota: Elaine Peden, Lorna Cady, Marian Fagen, Tamzen Lundy, Claire Merry, Marie Dunne, and Fiona Leech.
A Gallery of photographs of almost all of the members who volunteered during our two days at Bloom.
Annika, Claire, and TamzenFionaJulianeMarie and FionaTamzen and the boothAnother angleClaire’s Dress and Juliane’s HatsAnnika and Claire’s workAdrienne demonstratingAnnika speaking about the bookAnnika and ElaineAnnika, Elaine, and LornaClaire and DeirdreBack view of the boothA full boothMarian helping outNuno felt examplesNuno felt examplesNuno felt examples
