Tag: Helene Dooley

Of Interest: 4 Articles from the Felting and Fiber Studio

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Four recent blog posts from the Felting and Fiber Studio may be of interest to readers:

The first one is by Feltmakers Ireland member Hélène Dooley, who has written an article about her experiments with natural dyeing, using tea, pine cones, and the roots and bark of a plum tree. Of special interest is her experiment with felting WITHOUT soap! Instead, she used vinegar.

To learn more, visit her blog post at the Felting and Fiber Studio – https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2025/06/19/experimenting-with-household-garden-stuff-and-fibre/

As it is sunny outside in Ireland (today), it may be a good time for wool washing. Or not. If you are wondering how to wash MORE wool, TWO blog posts from the Felting and Fiber Studio may be of interest. Canadian feltmaker, Jan, explores creative ways to use agricultural equipment for washing larger volumes of wool fleece.

To learn more, visit these posts – https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2025/07/05/72651/ and this one https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2025/06/25/upgrading-my-fiber-prep-system/

The fourth article, also by Jan, is relatively recent, dated August 4. It is about demonstrating needle felting and includes invaluable tips on how to engage in conversations with the public. She even describes how, when working on 2D pictures, the application of wool can be similar to using traditional art supplies such as pastel, watercolour, or acrylic paint. You will also have a laugh, as she writes in a humorous style.

To read this post, visit here – https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2025/08/04/demoing-felting-question-how-dose-that-work/

Note: You can ‘subscribe’ to the Felting and Fiber Studio’s blog in order not to miss any posts. Just like our website, there is a sidebar with a box to enter your email address.

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 the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Education: Hanging Felted Spiral Online Class – Hélène Dooley

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Helene Dooley - Hanging Felted Spiral Online Class

Registration is open for the Felting and Fiber Studio‘s ‘Felted Hanging Spiral Course‘, taught by Feltmakers Ireland member Hélène Dooley. Adding movement to an art piece takes it to a new dimension. The shape becomes fluid, even mesmerising.

Have you been interested in learning more about sculptural felt? This is a great way to learn about laying out fibre for increased elasticity, using a book resist with multiple ‘leaves’, and Hélène’s ideas on how to further develop these concepts into future projects.

This is a four-week course, and it is delivered through the following media:

  • A series of short videos which take students step-by-step through the process. Each video forms a single unit in the process. The result is that students can easily pick up where they left off and do not need to devote huge chunks of time to making their spirals in one or two sessions.
  • A set of PDF files which tie into the videos.
  • Daily access to the classroom chatroom for the duration of the course.

The course starts on Friday, the 2nd of May.

For more information, visit the Felting and Fiber Studio’s website – https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2025/04/22/registration-opens-for-hanging-felted-spiral-online-class-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.

Education: Members with Upcoming Workshops

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Several members of Feltmakers Ireland teach their skills.

Here are some of the upcoming workshops they offer. We’re sorry we missed many of the March events—we were busy with our exhibition!

Gelli Plate Workshop with Mel Bradley – Co Louth

Mel Bradley is running a Gelli Plate printing workshop in her studio, Gallery 13, Millmount Craft Quarter, on Saturday, the 12th of April.

For more info & to contact- https://melbradleysilks.ie/contact/

IFA’s Discovering Feltmaking – Online Courses

Guild member Hélène Dooley is among the tutors for the International Feltmakers Association’s five online felting courses, which start on May 1st and end on June 30th.

For more info – https://www.feltmakers.com/discovering-feltmaking-course/

Needle Felting Workshop with Lucia Errity – Co Meath

Guild member Lucia Errity is teaching a needle felting workshop on the 11th of May.

Contact her via Instagram @luciaerrityart

2nd Annual Soul Dolls Retreat – Co Sligo

Guild member Caoimhe Tuthill is again pairing up with Shelly Ann Szigli for Sould Dolls Retreat in November 2025.

For more info – https://www.souldolls.ca/ireland-2025-soul-dolls-gathering

If you are a member of Feltmakers Ireland and offer workshops, please get in touch with us at feltmakersIE@gmail.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.

Education: Hanging Felted Spiral – Online Class – Hélène Dooley

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Registration opens today for the Felting and Fiber Studio‘s ‘Felted Hanging Spiral Course‘, taught by Feltmakers Ireland member Hélène Dooley. Adding movement to an art piece takes it to a new dimension. The shape becomes fluid, even mesmerising.

This is a four-week course, and it is delivered through the following media:

  • A series of short videos which take students step-by-step through the process. Each video forms a single unit in the process. The result is that students can easily pick up where they left off and do not need to devote huge chunks of time to making their spirals in one or two sessions.
  • A set of PDF files which tie into the videos.
  • Daily access to the classroom chatroom for the duration of the course.

The course starts on Friday, the 11th of October and runs through the 8th of November.

For more information, visit the Felting and Fiber Studio’s website – https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/classes/hanging-felted-spiral/

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.

Of Interest: Guild Members Create News

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Many of our Feltmakers Ireland’s members use wool to create beautiful felted creations, while some express their creativity through additional mediums. The talent within our community continues to shine, as evidenced by two of our members who recently authored articles that were successfully published.

Guild member Jane Fox went on a trip of a lifetime – a Felt and Culture Retreat in Kyrgyzstan for thirteen days. Included in her trip were eight feltmaking and textile workshops, along with cultural and natural highlights.

This photo of Jane comes from the IFA’s Instagram page – https://www.instagram.com/internationalfeltmakers/

To read about Jane’s incredible adventure, visit the International Feltmakers Association blog – https://www.feltmakers.com/felt-and-culture-retreat-in-kyrgyzstan/

Over the summer, guild member Hélène Dooley had two articles published.

Her first article concerns her thought-provoking experience of using treasured textile materials to create new artworks. If you have a ‘stash’ of fibres and fabrics that you are ‘saving’, this article may inspire you! The article is published on the ‘Felting and Fiber Studio Blog’. – https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2024/08/17/rethinking-old-sayings/

This photo comes from the Felting and Fiber Studio website.

Hélène’s second article, featured on the Ashford Handicrafts’ blog, is a valuable resource for anyone interested in feltmaking. It’s a detailed, step-by-step tutorial that shares her experiences as a feltmaking tutor and guides readers through the process of creating a wet felted, Frilled Vessel. https://www.ashford.co.nz/felted-frilled-vessel/

This photo comes from Hélène’s Instagram account – https://www.instagram.com/feltzen/

Additionally, Hélène made a thorough video demonstrating how to create the Felted Frilled Vessel – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHKXsQceuXg

Let’s give these two members, Jane and Hélène, a round of applause for learning, creating, and sharing their unique experiences with the world. We couldn’t be prouder of their achievements!

If you, as a member of Feltmakers Ireland, have a textile-related award, exhibition, or experience that you’re proud of and want to share, we encourage you to do so. Your unique experiences and achievements make our community so vibrant and inspiring.

Please email us at feltmakersIE@gmail.com to share your story!

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.

Exhibition: ‘Opposites Attract’ – the Inspiration

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland8 Comments

Feltmakers Ireland chooses a theme for each of our annual exhibitions. Last year’s theme was ‘Bountiful’, and the year before, it was ‘Building Bridges’. This year’s theme is ‘Opposites Attract’.

Having a theme can be both inspiring or constraining, depending upon the individual artist. Sometimes, both emotions are experienced within a member as she works through the feltmaking process!

In today’s blog post, we share six of our members’ pieces and how they interpreted ‘Opposites Attract’.

The Series

The complete series of posts on our Members’ Inspiration can be found here:

  1. Includes: Sandra Reynolds, Sandra Coote, Patricia Conroy, Hélène Dooley, Maria Mc Garry, and Audry Murray.
  2. Includes: Astrid Tomrop-Hofmann, Breda Fay, Lory Cotti Cottini, Neasa Ryan, Ramona Farrelly, and Ursula Heiting-Wiese.
  3. Includes: Heather Byrne, Tamzen Lundy, Bernie Hennessy, Adrienne Dempsey, and Joanne Turner.
  4. Includes: Claire Merry, Caitríona Nolan, Margaret Ryan Collins, Caoimhe Tuthill, and Fiona Leech.
  5. Includes: Jane Fox, Elizabeth Redding, Joanne Foley, Sandra Chase, and Loli Cox.
  6. Includes: Valerie Nowak-O’Ceallaigh, Helena Mc Guinness, Eithne O’Dea, Eva Salamon, and Juliane Gorman.
  7. Includes: Irina Lampadova, Karena Ryan, Annika Berglund, Marie Dunne, Elaine Peden, and Marika Miklosi Manning.

Sandra Reynolds

Sandra Reynolds – ‘Midnight Mood’

My piece is inspired by the forces of the moon and its effects on nature. The opposites of light and dark, the power of electricity, and the magnetic forces surrounding us.

Sandra Coote

Sandra Coote – ‘Nature’s Duet’

2024, the year it rained continuously, but on occasion, the sun peeped through to produce the most magnificent of rainbows. ‘Nature’s Duet’ brightly represents this occurrence when the opposites of our weather come together harmoniously to create a spectacular spectrum of colour.

Patricia Conroy

Patricia Conroy – ‘Doolin sunset’

This piece is inspired by a sunset in Doolin in April 2024. It depicts the beauty that dark and bright can create. The hills are black, but as a result the beauty of nature’s contrasts can be experienced.

Nature provides us with opposites that attract and that go together to create the beauty we see every day.

Hélène Dooley

Hélène Dooley – ‘Hiking in the foothills of Mount Cook, NZ’

Nature is truly magnificent and packed with contradictions!

While hiking in the foothills of Mount Cook, NZ, the clouds disappeared, and we were treated to the most stunning and, according to locals, a rare view of the mountain. There were so many opposing elements: the light and dark of the mountain range, our presence in a lush and colourful terrain against a stark mountain backdrop, the permanence of this young mountain range compared to the transience of the flora surrounding us, the differing temperatures which were governed by height. Fragility surrounded us, yet there was a certain reassurance that the mountain would prevail in spite of humanity’s destructive decisions.

Maria McGarry

Maria McGarry – ‘Winter Solstice, Newgrange’

On the 21st of December 2023, as the dawn broke in Newgrange, we witnessed dazzling rainbow clouds, and I could see a dove form through the clouds. Spiritually, it reflected our silent collective prayer for peace in the world. (ethereal opposite to earthly).

Audrey Murray

Audrey Murray – ‘Tree of Life’

‘The Tree of Life’ symbolises the connection between heaven and earth, body and mind, and the physical and spiritual. The angel represents a messenger between heaven and earth and the addition of the cherry blossom flowers continues the theme of connecting birth, death and rebirth.

We hope that you enjoyed learning about what inspires these artists. This series will continue over the coming weeks. ‘Opposites Attract’ is at the Phoenix Park Visitors Centre. The gallery is open from 10 AM until 4 PM daily.


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.

Education: Hanging Felted Spiral Online Class with Hélène Dooley

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The Felting and Fiber Studio is again offering Hélène Dooley’s ‘Felted Hanging Spiral‘ course, which starts Friday, the 12th of April. Adding movement to an art piece takes it to a new dimension. The shape becomes fluid, even mesmerising.

This is a four-week online course, and you don’t have to be present at any particular time. You can access videos and Hélène’s support throughout the course and download the PDFs for future reference.

Classes are purposely small and intimate so that you can get to know your fellow participants and build networks both at home and abroad.   

Note: Hélène is a long-standing member of Feltmakers Ireland.

Contact Helene at feltzentextiles@gmail.com if you would like to find out more.

For more information, please check out the following link:  https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2024/03/30/registration-opens-for-hanging-felted-spiral-online-class

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.

FYI: Felting and Fiber Studio Blog Covers Ireland’s Felt-related Events

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The Felting and Fiber Studio is an online community with feltmakers from around the globe, including Canada, the USA, Europe, and beyond.

In addition, they have an excellent and active blog which covers a wide variety of topics, including needle felting, wet felting, and other textile-related adventures. The blog has categories and is keyword-searchable, too!

Features

In order not to miss any posts, subscribe to their blog.

More Goodies

In addition, the Felting and Fiber Studio offers several online classes, including an ongoing, three-part Wet Felting for Beginner’s Online Class.

In our Sunday, September Session, Feltmakers Ireland guild member Annika Berglund shared a sample from the Felting and Fiber Studio’s Nuno Felting with Paper Lamination class.

A Forum

Plus, the Felting and Fiber Studio has a Community Forum with quarterly feltmaking challenges. It is also an excellent place to ask questions and research topics related to felting.

Feltmakers Ireland member Hélène Dooley is also a Felting and Fiber Studio member. Recently, she wrote a blog post for them about all the felt-related activities that happened in Ireland! And what a busy month September was!

Hélène shared the cracked mud and geode techniques in our April Sunday session.

From Feltmakers Ireland’s September Sunday Session

Feltmakers Ireland founder Elizabeth Bonnar and her granddaughter at our September Sunday Session.

There was Sculpture in Context at the National Botanic Gardens, our September Sunday Session, where we created felted flowers to go on a Floral Tapestry to celebrate our 20th Anniversary, the opening of our juried group exhibition, ‘Bountiful’ at the Phoenix Park Visitors’ Centre, and finally, the official launch of our new book, “Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking”.

Read her Post

To read Hélène’s entire delightful post and see all her fantastic photographs, visit the Felting and Fiber Studio website – https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2023/10/20/september-adventures

Then, scroll down and read all the interesting comments from the readers of the Felting and Fiber Studio!

Education: Felted Hanging Spiral Course with Hélène Dooley

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Feltmakers Ireland member Hélène Dooley has two spaces left on her Felted Hanging Spiral course, which starts Friday, the 13th of October. Adding movement to an art piece takes it to a new dimension. The shape becomes fluid, even mesmerising.

This is a four-week course, and it is delivered through the following media:

  • A series of short videos which take students step-by-step through the process. Each video forms a single unit in the process. The result is that students can easily pick up where they left off and do not need to devote huge chunks of time to making their spirals at one or two ‘sittings’.
  • A set of PDF files which tie into the videos.
  • Daily access to the classroom chatroom for the duration of the course.

For further information, please check out the following link: https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/classes/hanging-felted-spiral/

Or contact her directly at feltzentexiles@gmail.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.

Exhibition: ‘Bountiful’ Exhibition Opens Tomorrow

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

In one day, Feltmakers Ireland’s juried exhibition, ‘Bountiful’, will open. The event will be introduced by Pippa Hackett, sheep farmer and Minister of State and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.

In addition to our members’ wet and needle-felted creations, copies of our recently published book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ will be available.

Lastly, as part of the celebration of our founding twenty years ago, we will unveil our collaborative Floral Tapestry.

In the meantime, here are snippets of two members’ pieces.

Photo 1 – Hélène Dooley’s ‘Visualising the Beauty of the Sunflower Field’.

To see more of Hélène’s work, visit her Instagram page – https://www.instagram.com/feltzen/

Photo 2 – Clare Brophy’s ‘Treasury Trees’.

To see more of Clare’s work, visit her on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/clarepbrophy/