The Bandon Walled Town Festival holds its annual Family Heritage Fun Day on Sunday, the 24th of August, and is seeking makers to demonstrate the heritage skill of felting. This event is part of National Heritage Week.
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.
On the 15th of November, Feltmakers Ireland was awarded the County Winner in the National Heritage Week Awards for the Dublin City Council local authority area. We now have a beautifully framed award to share.
Every year, the Heritage Council celebrates the work of communities and organisations that hosted National Heritage Week events, which kick off on the third weekend of August and run until the end of the following weekend. Feltmakers Ireland hosted two Open Days, where we shared the magic of wet felting with the public. One event was in Kilbeggan, County Westmeath, and the other was in Inchicore, County Dublin, at the CIE Sports Hall and Social Club, where we typically hold our monthly Sunday Sessions. In addition to sharing how wool fibres transform into felt, we displayed felted wearables and artwork created by members. A second display area had information on Irish wool, how it can be used for feltmaking, and copies of our book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’.
Thank you to the Heritage Council for recognising feltmaking as a cultural heritage. Additionally, we want to thank the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCI) for supporting our guild throughout the years.
We don’t know who kindly nominated our event for the County Dublin Award, but we are ever so appreciative! Go raibh míle maith agaibh, (which is ‘Thank you very much’ in Irish).
The Awards
In addition to County Awards, there are eight other categories:
There is a category that relates to the theme of the year. The theme of 2024 was ‘Connections, Routes and Networks’
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.
On the 15th of November, Feltmakers Ireland was awarded the County Winner in the National Heritage Week Awards for the Dublin City Council local authority area.
Every year, the Heritage Council celebrates the work of communities and organisations that hosted National Heritage Week events, which kick off on the third weekend of August and run until the end of the following weekend. Feltmakers Ireland hosted two Open Days, where we shared the magic of wet felting with the public. One event was in Kilbeggan, County Westmeath, and the other was in Inchicore, County Dublin, at the CIE Sports Hall and Social Club, where we typically hold our monthly Sunday Sessions. In addition to sharing how wool fibres transform into felt, we displayed felted wearables and artwork created by members. A second display area had information on Irish wool, how it can be used for feltmaking, and copies of our book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’.
Thank you to the Heritage Council for recognising feltmaking as a cultural heritage. Additionally, we want to thank the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCI) for supporting our guild throughout the years.
We don’t know who kindly nominated our event for the County Dublin Award, but we are ever so appreciative! Go raibh míle maith agaibh, (which is ‘Thank you very much’ in Irish).
The Awards
In addition to County Awards, there are eight other categories:
There is a category that relates to the theme of the year. The theme of 2024 was ‘Connections, Routes and Networks’
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.
Volunteers from Feltmakers Ireland started at 11 AM with a large group of participants. Our students showed great interest in the felting process and were delighted to bring home a new felted creation.
Additionally, our visitors were very impressed with our display of felted artworks and our interactive display on the Irish Wool project. In the afternoon, we taught a second group of participants.
The Irish Wool Project
As part of our Open Day, guild member Annika Berglund carded and spun Irish-raised wool fibres. If you want to learn more about felting with wool from local sheep, check out our book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’ – https://feltmakersireland.com/exploring-irish-wool-for-feltmaking/
During the event, a photographer from a local newspaper came to take photos, and the Westmeath Heritage Officer also popped in to say hello. An exciting video of Westmeath Heritage events is on the OPW’s Facebook page. Feltmakers Ireland appears at approximately the 8-second mark – https://fb.watch/uloKvaesCY/
More photos of the day
Elizabeth with students.Deirdre with students.Annika demonstrating Irish wool.Maria teaching students.
Happy Feedback
We were delighted to receive such warm feedback from our students!
Appreciation
We thank Elizabeth Redding for organising the Kilbeggan Open Day on behalf of the guild. It was vital for us to share feltmaking with an audience beyond Dublin.
Additional thanks to all the members who so kindly donated their Sunday to help share the love of feltmaking: Annika, Deirdre, Denise, Fiona, Loli, Lorna, Maria, and Marie. Their contribution to felting is deeply appreciated! We could not have taught over forty students without their help!
Wearing a red-orange t-shirt, Loli is surrounded by some students.
It was a successful day all around.
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.
On Sunday, the 18th of August, Feltmakers Ireland hosted its first of two open days in the CIE Sports Club for August Craft Month 2024. Our second event will be this Sunday, the 25th of August, at the St James Hall in Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath. This upcoming event promises to be busy – visitors who have not pre-booked may need wait for an available tutor.
Hands on Learning
Curious students gathered around guild members and learned how to create a wet felted vessel using fine Merino wool, soapy water, a flexible resist, and their hands.
Finished Vessels
Visitors were able to work with wool and take home their completed vessels.
A Lovely Day
Photographs by Guild Member Evija Mezaka
Irish Wool
In addition to learning feltmaking, there was a carding demonstration and display of raw fibre and finished pieces made from Irish wool. Volunteers Annika Berglund and Margaret Ryan Collins chaired this table. Copies of our book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’, were also available.
Artwork Display
A display of wet and needle felted artworks, which included wall art, sculptures, vessels, jewellery, hats, scarves, dresses, and even an octopus, was available for viewers to admire.
With Appreciation
Many thanks to the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCI) for setting up August Craft Month and helping to fund our event. With appreciation to Heritage Ireland for listing our event on their website and helping us connect with our community. Also, thanks to guild member Leiko Uchiyama for dyeing such beautifully coloured wool roving.
A huge thank you to Deirdre Crofts and Loli Cox for helping to organise the Inchicore August Craft Month open day. Lastly, the Guild appreciates all the volunteers who ensured the day ran smoothly: Adrienne, Annika, Clare, Deirdre, Elizabeth, Eva, Hilary, Juliane, Lorna, Margaret, Marie, and Sam.
A video of our Open Day can be found on Instagram and/or on Facebook.
Note: We have received some questions about the green-coloured sprinkler devices that go onto plastic drinking bottles. This item was found on AmazonUK and is often used for gardening. Not all brands of bottles fit the devices – a good opportunity to do a selective clean-up near a local school. 🙂
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.
Vessels by Feltmakers Ireland guild member Astrid Tomrop-Hofmann – includes Galway wool fibre
The Irish Native Rare Breed Society (INRBS) will display a selection of rare breeds in Bunratty Heritage and Folk Park in Co Clare on August 18th from 10 AM to 5 PM.
Furthermore, as part of this Heritage Week event, an art exhibition will highlight the wonders of native Irish Galway Wool and its pivotal role in our textile cultural heritage. If you missed the Galway Wool Co-op’s Meitheal in Athenry, this event is an excellent opportunity to see some of the work. Plus, there will new pieces made from Irish wool. At least three of Feltmakers Ireland guild members will have felted art in the show: Astrid Tomrop-Hofmann, Karena Ryan, and Juliane Gorman.
This incredible display, curated by artist Michelle Hickey Legge, showcases how our Native Irish wool-growing heritage can once again become the sustainable strength behind a revived—REAL and 100% Irish-grown woollen Sector, the communities it could support, and its ecological footprint.
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.
On the 18th of August from 11 AM to 3 PM at the CIE Hall/Inchicore Sports and Social Club Library Square, Inchicore, Co. Dublin, D08 PA07
On the 25th of August from 11 AM to 3 PM at St James Hall, Dublin Road, Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath, N91 XA32
Time: Both events run from 11 AM to 3 PM.
This year, we will be teaching how to felt a small round vessel out of wool roving using soapy water and your hands!
Curious about sheep and Irish wool varieties? Explore the unique reactions of different Irish wool types that have been needle and wet felted. There will be an opportunity to browse and purchase our book, ‘Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking’, a rich resource on forty breeds of Irish-raised sheep.
There will be a display of felted artworks and wearables crafted by our talented members, showcasing the beauty and versatility of feltmaking.
If you are a member of Feltmakers Ireland and you are having a felt-related event as part of August Craft Month, please contact us so we can include you in our August Craft Month posts – 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.
Community Arts Facilitator Beth Murphy from Willow Wonder came up with an idea to celebrate Brigid 1500 by facilitating a number of community arts workshops. The project began in Feb 2023 and was called “A New Dress for Brigid”.
Feltmakers Ireland member Liadain Butler represented the craft of Feltmaking.
A wire form of Brigid was constructed around which there will be tiers of different materials. Designed to be displayed outdoors, these tiers will be made of durable weather-resistant materials or materials that can be replaced periodically. The tiers will be made of copper, felt, crochet and embroidered fabrics; the clay face using model Skye, Liadain’s daughter, felted hair, bark ‘growing baskets’, grass, and rush woven belts will all be included.
Based in Kildare town, the project brought together a number of craftspeople to explore traditional crafts and share knowledge. Each workshop was led by a different practitioner, allowing the whole group to experience each other’s practices and skills – skills passed down through generations but now in danger of being lost.
These ancient skills and crafts include crochet, embroidery, weaving, felting, sketching, clay, and braiding using natural materials such as wool from the Curragh sheep, grasses, willow, and copper. Many of the skills would have been practised in the time of Brigid using these same locally available materials.
The project will continue into 2024, but Heritage Week has provided an opportunity to view the journey so far. The beautiful setting of the Kildare Cathedral provided a wonderful exhibition space.
The completed piece will be exhibited in the square in Kildare on February 2024 as part of the closing ceremony for Brigid 1500.
As part of August Craft Month, Feltmakers Ireland member Tamzen Lunday is teaching on Sunday, 20th August, from 1pm-4pm at the lovely studio and shop – Brookwood Pottery in Marino Mart, Fairview Dublin.
Only 4 places are available, at €60 each, all materials provided.
This half-day class will offer you an insight into wet feltmaking. You will learn some skills like making a bobble. Making a rope and trying out 3D feltmaking by making a small pod. She will also show and hopefully inspire you to try out these different techniques.
How might you apply these in your creative development? Are you a TY Student going on to study Art at Leaving? This would give you a new skill, textiles and sculpture combined!
Are you starting out on a PLC course in September? Perhaps putting together a portfolio?… This taster session might inspire you for projects to include that will set you apart.
Or are you just looking for something new, a new craft? Wet felting is very sensory; learn to explore your own creativity and try it out with this taster.
Feltmakers Ireland 