Tag: Guild

Sunday Session: This Sunday – Preparing for Exhibitions

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Upcoming Sunday Session

Our December Sunday session on the 8th, Feltmakers Ireland, will help to get members’ creative juices flowing for our 2025 exhibition. The theme is ‘Symbols of Ireland’, and the show opens in March, which is relatively soon. To learn more about our upcoming exhibition theme, please visit this page on our website – https://feltmakersireland.com/exhibition-application-symbols-of-ireland-2025/

We encourage you to bring any previous artwork you have questions about framing or presenting. This will provide us with examples while we discuss possible ways to frame or display pieces for an exhibition.

  • Committee member Dee Crofts will supportively lead a Mind Mapping exercise around the exhibition’s theme to spark our creativity.
  • Guild member Ramona Farrelly, a talented photographer, will share how to photograph work for online submissions.
  • Guild Member Marie Dunne, who is also a member of Element15 and has artwork in their inspiring group exhibition, Roots: A Dialogue in Textile and Poetry, at the Coach House Gallery, Dublin Castle, will discuss the preparation and framing of artwork.

When:

This Sunday, the 8th of December, from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.

Where: 

CIE Hall/Inchicore Sports and Social Club,
Library Square
Inchicore
Dublin 8, D08 PA07

Additional Information:

As this Sunday’s Session is in December, it would be lovely if everyone wore some ‘Felted Festive Cheer’! (It need not be red or green).

Also, this session will require lots of tea, coffee, cake, and chat, so there will be an abundance of this. Of course, homebakes are always welcome! Mmm, mince pies….

There is the usual 5 euro fee, (which in 2025 will be waived for all members).

Wishing all the best to our members who are busy vending their work at Christmas Markets and Craft Fairs. The website has two blog posts on our members’ events: Part 1 and Part 2.

Lastly, as this is also the season of coughs and sneezes, please do not attend if there is a chance that you are unwell. A Zoom link will be emailed to members on Friday so members can participate via this method.

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: The 8th of December – Exhibition 2025 Preparations

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

For our December session, on Sunday, the 8th of December, Feltmakers Ireland will help to get members’ creative juices flowing for our 2025 exhibition. The theme is ‘Symbols of Ireland’, and the show opens in March, which is relatively soon. Exciting!

We will do a Mind Mapping exercise around the theme of ‘Symbols of Ireland’, discuss the preparation and framing of artwork, and share how to photograph your art for online submissions.

When: 8th of December, from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.

Where: CIE Hall/Inchicore Sports and Social Club,
Library Square
Inchicore
Dublin 8, D08 PA07

As this Sunday’s Session is in December, it would be lovely if everyone wore some ‘Felted Festive Cheer’! (It need not be red or green).

Also, this session will require lots of tea, coffee, cake, and chat, so there will be an abundance of this. Of course, homebakes are always welcome! Mmm, mince pies….

There is the usual 5 euro fee, (which will be waived for members at our 2025 Sunday Sessions).

Lastly, as this is also the season of coughs and sneezes, please do not attend if there is a chance that you are unwell. A Zoom link will be emailed to members the Friday before the Sunday Session.

To learn more about our upcoming exhibition theme and what is needed to submit, please visit this page on our website – https://feltmakersireland.com/exhibition-application-symbols-of-ireland-2025/

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 – Wet Felted Holiday Star with Annika Berglund

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Examples of Wet Felted Holiday Stars, designed by Annika Berglund

On the 17th of November, our Sunday Session will be a mini-workshop with artist and guild member Annika Berglund.

We will make a wet-felted Holiday Star for window decoration – perfect for Christmas or year-round!

There will be a choice of three finished models using wool yarn, Merino wool, and, for one version, Wensleydale locks.

What to bring:

  • One large and one small towel
  • Sewing pins
  • Small sharp scissors
  • Bubble wrap – approximately sized at 25 by 50cm
  • Soap and water bowl
  • Ball brause or sprinkler
  • A plastic bag

All other materials will be provided.

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! Please bring a ‘keep cup’ or mug from home if possible. That will lessen the amount of paper cups thrown away.

There is the usual 5 euro fee.

Note: Since this is the season of colds and coughs, let’s not share them. However, we welcome you to join via Zoom Link, which we email to all members on Friday afternoon.

Annika Berglund Exhibition

Portrait of Annika Berglund

Annika Berglund, a graduate of NCAD, has shown work in solo and group exhibitions nationally and abroad and has won several awards, including the Crafts Council’s price for Best Craft in the Garden 2008 and the NUI Art and Design Prize 2010.

Moving from ceramics, glass, and bronze to felt in 2020, one of her earliest felt pieces depicting the COVID-19 virus was acquired by the National Museum of Ireland. Having had one solo show and many group shows featuring Felt, Annika was a primary contributor to Feltmakers Ireland’s research project around Irish wool and the resulting book, Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking. She is currently Treasurer of Feltmakers Ireland.

Annika’s upcoming solo exhibition, Tapestry, opens on Sunday, the 17th of November at 15:00 in the Olivier Cornet Gallery (after the Sunday session). She welcomes you all to attend. The show runs until the 15th of December.

For more information about her exhibition, visit the gallery’s website –https://www.oliviercornetgallery.com/tapestry-annika-berglund

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: Celebrating Felting at The Knitting and Stitching Show – Belfast

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Photo of the Titanic Exhibition Centre by Cindy Chang – Textile Art Design and Fashion / BSOA-Ulster University

From Thursday, the 7th of November, to Sunday, the 10th, 2024, feltmaking enthusiasts gathered at the Knitting & Stitching Show in Belfast. It was an exciting first for the city, as this beloved event had previously been held at the RDS in Dublin until 2019. This year, three passionate felting guilds—Feltmakers Ireland, Feltmakers North, and the International Feltmakers Association—came together to celebrate and share the magic of feltmaking with the public.

Appreciation to Jane

The event was organised by the wonderful Jane Fox, a dedicated member of all three guilds, who brought together a group of enthusiastic volunteers.

Jane Fox, who patiently organised the three groups of felters.

The Volunteers

Our team of helpers included Sandy, Hélène, Susan, Maighread, Ann, Fiona, Jayne, Beverley, Leah, Deirdre, Sharon, Eva, Sam, Elizabeth, Dympna, Juliane, Lorna, and Lissy. (Our apologies if we missed anyone!).

Some of our Work

Throughout the event, we demonstrated both wet felting and needle felting techniques, enchanting visitors with the transformative process of turning wool into vibrant, textured creations. The colours, textures, and creativity on display captivated the public.

Photos of felted creations taken by Cindy Chang – Textile Art Design and Fashion / BSOA-Ulster University

Members with Booths

Two members of our guilds displayed their work at the Knitting and Stitching Show.

Louisa Kelly, a member of Feltmakers North, exhibited her needle-felted and embroidered creations.

Louisa Kelly – on the far right of the image.

Member of Feltmakers Ireland, Sandra Coote, exhibited with her business Crafts of Ireland. She displayed her needle felting kits, Lumra pillow kits, and pick-and-mixes of her hand-dyed wool. All of Sandra’s fibre comes from her own Irish-raised sheep.

Sandra (on the right) and her two adult children in dark blue, who helped at the event,

Connecting with feltmakers from different organisations was a true joy as we shared tips, stories, and inspiration, while introducing our craft to new audiences.

The Future

Here’s to more gatherings, more creativity, and more opportunities to share the art of feltmaking!

Next year, The Knitting & Stitching Show will be held at the Eikon Exhibition Centre in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, from 13th–16th November 2025.

Registration to Early Access Tickets to the Show can be found here – https://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/belfast/2025-sign-up/

Editor’s Note: Except for the TEC building and the close-ups of our felted creations by visitor Cindy Chang, the photographs come from the volunteering guild members. Thank you to all!

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.

News: Feltmakers Ireland – Instagram Over 500 Followers

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Our Instagram account

Perhaps not the biggest news of the day, but Feltmakers Ireland’s Instagram account, which we ‘renamed’ in January, now has over 500 Followers. This is exciting news!

Our former Instagram was @feltmakersireland, and we had over 1,000 followers. However, due to circumstances beyond our control, we did not have proper access to the backend, so we could not share Members News on our Stories or access any direct messages (DMs) sent to the account.

Consequently, we set up a new account on the 24th of January, 2024. Our ‘new’ account is @feltmakers_ireland ! Please add us to the artists and organisations that you follow. We aim to post daily, from Monday through Friday. {Editor’s Note: Our Facebook account was and still is FeltmakersIreland – https://www.facebook.com/feltmakersireland/

Feltmakers Ireland is a voluntary craft guild with members throughout Ireland and a few in Northern Ireland and beyond!

We try to cater to ALL types of felt-making: wet felters, needle felters, professional feltmakers, hobbyists, and ANYONE with interest in wool, fleece, or felt.

We have our Sunday Sessions on the second Sunday of the month at the CIE Sports Hall in Inchicore. Our upcoming session will be THIS Sunday, the 17th, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the CIE Sports Hall in Inchicore, Dublin 8. We will be wet-felting a Christmas Star with guild member Annika Berglund. There is a blog post about it here – https://feltmakersireland.com/2024/11/04/sunday-session-felting-a-holiday-star-with-annika-berglund/

Feltmakers Ireland is a Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) GANS community member.

If you have news or events that you think would be of interest to our community, please email feltmakersIE@gmail.com

If you are a Guild Member with an Instagram account and we have not followed you, please let us know so we can do so.

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.

News: Feltmakers Ireland’s Wool Book Featured in ‘Going the Dodo Way’ Blog

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Feltmakers Ireland’s wool book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’, was recently featured in the blog of feltmaker and educator Vanda Sousa (Going the Dodo Way). It’s an excellently written article that covers our book! In addition, Vanda covers two other projects working with local wool on the Iberian peninsula.

To read the blog post about our Irish and other local wools, visit Vanda Sousa’s website – https://www.vandafsousa.com/blog/wet-felting-with-local-wool

Editor’s Note: Going the Dodo Way blog has several highly recommended articles that are both practical and thoughtful. Here are five (there are many more!)

If you are a wet-feltmaker, Vanda’s blog contains valuable and exciting information! There is a Felting Resources section on her website, and she teaches online courses. You can ensure that you will not miss any of her blog posts by subscribing to her email newsletter – https://www.vandafsousa.com/updates


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: Felting a Holiday Star with Annika Berglund

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland1 Comment

Felted Holiday Star

Examples of Wet Felted Holiday Stars, designed by Annika Berglund

On the 17th of November, our Sunday Session will be a mini-workshop with artist and guild member Annika Berglund.

We will make a wet-felted Holiday Star for window decoration – perfect for Christmas or year-round!

There will be a choice of three finished models using wool yarn, Merino wool, and, for one version, Wensleydale locks.

What to bring:

  • One large and one small towel.
  • Sewing pins
  • Small sharp scissors
  • Bubble wrap – approximately sized at 25 by 50cm
  • Soap and water bowl
  • Ball brause or sprinkler
  • A plastic bag

Bio of Annika Berglund

Portrait of Annika Berglund

Annika Berglund, a graduate of NCAD, has shown work in solo and group exhibitions nationally and abroad and has won several awards, including the Crafts Council’s price for Best Craft in the Garden 2008 and the NUI Art and Design Prize 2010.

Moving from ceramics, glass, and bronze to felt in 2020, one of her earliest felt pieces depicting the COVID-19 virus was acquired by the National Museum of Ireland. Having had one solo show and many group shows featuring Felt, Annika was a primary contributor to Feltmakers Ireland’s research project around Irish wool and the resulting book, Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking. She is currently Treasurer of Feltmakers Ireland.

Annika’s upcoming solo exhibition, Tapestry, opens on the 17th of November at 15:00 in the Olivier Cornet Gallery (after the Sunday session). She would like to welcome you all to attend if you have the opportunity.

For more information about her exhibition, visit the gallery’s website –https://www.oliviercornetgallery.com/tapestry-annika-berglund


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: Knitting and Stitching Show Opens Next Week – Belfast – Members and Friends Will be There

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland


Members and friends of Feltmakers Ireland will be exhibiting at The Knitting and Stitching Show in Belfast. This includes Tamzen Lundy, Sandra Coote, and a raft of volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland, Feltmakers North, and the International Feltmakers Association.

  • When: The 7th through the 10th of November.
  • Where: The Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast.

Say ‘Hello’

Tamzen Lundy Designs

Guild member Tamzen Lundy‘s felted Brussel sprouts and other Christmas ornaments will be available at the CraftNI Gallery Showcase – Booth E86.

Crafts of Ireland – Sandra Coote

Guild member Sandra Coote’s business, Crafts of Ireland, will display her Irish wool Needlefelting kits, Lumra kits, and other creations at Booth D53.

Three Felting Guilds

Volunteers from Feltmakers North, The International Feltmakers Association, and Feltmakers Ireland will collaborate to demonstrate wet and needlefelting at Booth G30. Editor’s Correction: We will be at G34.

Discount Code

Lastly, the Knitting and Stitching Show has arranged a discount code for us: Use code FELTMAKERSIR  to save £2* at checkout! 

T&Cs: Save £2.00 on adult and concession tickets. This is for Standard Single-Day Adult tickets. It is not valid on VIP, Two-Day, or group tickets. Codes expire at 11:59 PM, November 3rd, 2024. £3.50 transaction fee applies per e-ticket order.

For more information and to book tickets, visit the Show’s website – https://knittingandstitchingshowbelfast.seetickets.com/content/ticket-options?

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: 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.