Tag: IFA

Of Interest: Members in the News – IFA Felt Matters

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Cover artwork by Kathy Hoath

Two of Feltmakers Ireland’s members were recently part of issue number 163 of the International Feltmakers Association’s quarterly journal, ‘Felt Matters’.

Hélène Dooley wrote an article on the five ‘Discovering Feltmaking‘ online courses of the IFA’s Education Team, and Kelly Driscoll wrote an article featuring her structural feltwork.

Photo of samples of students’ work from the IFA’s Discovering Feltmaking series of online courses
Photo of Kelly Driscoll’s piece, ‘Life Lines’, as it was being installed at the European Wool Experience exhibition in Tralee, in March. (Her artwork packing was superb!)

More information about the IFA’s Discovering Feltmaking online education program, here – https://www.feltmakers.com/discovering-feltmaking-course/

As part of the IFA’s annual membership package, members receive the magazine four times a year. Past issues can be purchased from the IFA website – https://www.feltmakers.com/shop/page/2/

Their Instagram @internationalfeltmakers @feltzen @kdriscoll_fibers

If you are a guild member and have news you wish to share, please email 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 the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Of Interest: Finale of FeltMatters Podcast with Vivienne Morpeth

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Image gallery image
A woman wearing a handmade, multicoloured felt top with varying shades of blue and grey, styled with a black long-sleeve shirt underneath. She has light hair and glasses, looking thoughtfully away from the camera.
Vivienne Morpeth wearing one of her Nunofelted tops

Season 4 of the International Feltmakers Association‘s podcast Felt Matters is drawing to a close. In it, hosts Vivienne Morpeth and Heather Potten discuss some highlights from Vivienne’s life as a feltmaker. They chat about her initial encounter with felting, the role of family and mentors, and the support and inspiration from the International Feltmakers Association. She stresses, too, the importance of teaching through experimentation. This has been particularly crucial in the development of her upcoming book, ‘Nuno Feltmaking | design, techniques and projects for the creative maker’, which she discusses here with her daughter, Raphaela.

Season 4 Episode 3 Vivienne Morpeth | A Legacy in Felt

To listen to the podcast, visit their YouTube – https://youtu.be/8HvfaRUypU0?si=9TI-8qerxNUeRdkv

Vivienne’s website – https://viviennemorpeth.uk/

Vivienne’s Instagram – @vivienne_morpeth_

IFA’s Instagram – @internationalfeltmakers

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: IFA’s Quintet of Online Felting Courses – January 2026

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The International Feltmakers Association (IFA) online courses for wet feltmaking are currently open for enrollment. There are five different courses, and each covers a specific area of interest to felters:

The January-February Coursework access begins on the 2nd of January, 20206 and ends on the 28th of February, 2026. The courses run three times a year with a period of access to the online material. The other two slots are scheduled in May/June and October/November.

The workshops are delivered step-by-step, on-screen, and as downloadable or printable PDFs through the Ruzuku platform. Students work at their own pace and can use the online group forum to ask the course mentor any questions. Students can also share their work through peer feedback and discussions.

Fibre packs can be ordered if needed.

Feltmakers Ireland guild member Hélène Dooley is one of the mentors with the IFA Discovering Feltmaking Courses. She masterfully guided us through the ‘Cracked Earth’ and ‘Geode’ techniques during our April 2023 Sunday Session!

For more information and to register, visit the IFA’s website – https://www.feltmakers.com/discovering-feltmaking-course/

The IFA also has a branch for all of Ireland – Region 14. To join, visit here – https://www.feltmakers.com/join-the-international-feltmakers-association/

These online courses are open to both IFA members and non-members, and would make a perfect gift for oneself!

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: IFA’s Quintet of Online Felting Courses – Now Open

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The International Feltmakers Association (IFA) online courses for wet feltmaking are currently open for enrollment. There are five different courses, and each covers a specific area of interest to felters:

The October-November Coursework access begins on the 1st of October and ends on the 30th of November, 2025. The courses run three times a year with a period of access to the online material. The other two slots are scheduled in January/February and May/June.

The workshops are delivered step-by-step, on screen and as a downloadable or printable PDF through the Ruzuku platform. Students work at their own pace and can use the online group forum to ask the course mentor any questions they may have. Students can also share their work through peer feedback and discussions.

Fibre packs can be ordered if needed.

Feltmakers Ireland guild member Hélène Dooley is one of the mentors with the IFA Discovering Feltmaking Courses. She masterfully guided us through the ‘Cracked Earth’ and ‘Geode’ techniques during our April 2023 Sunday Session!

For more information and to register, visit the IFA’s website – https://www.feltmakers.com/discovering-feltmaking-course/

The IFA has a branch for all of Ireland – Region 14. To join, visit here – https://www.feltmakers.com/join-the-international-feltmakers-association/

The online courses are open to IFA members and non-members.

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: New FeltMatters Podcast – Season 3 Episode 4 – Felting Together

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The latest episode of the International Feltmakers Association’s (IFA) FeltMatters podcast is now available.

In this episode of Felt Matters, hosts Vivienne Morpeth and Heather Potten explore Heather’s deep-rooted connection to Orkney. Heather shares her fascination with her Orcadian heritage and jewellery from her childhood, specifically pieces by the innovative designer Ola Gorie. As they discuss their shared love of Celtic and Norse art, the conversation evolves into a felting project primarily inspired by these cultural symbols. The episode unfolds with tales of Heather’s formative years in Orkney, weaving in elements of mythology, family, and creativity, resulting in unique felted pieces representing these rich influences. – from the episode’s listing.

To listen to episode 4 of season 3, visit the IFA’s YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UUvZpfeyMM

To see examples of what Heather and Vivienne created, visit the FeltMatters’ Instagram page – @feltmatters.thepodcast

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.

Of Interest: New FeltMatters Podcast – Season 3 Episode 2 – Felting, Bees, and Collaboration

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
FeltMatters the Podcast hosted by Vivienne Mortpeth and Heather Potten. The Bees - Lydia Needle's Fifty Bees CIC Project.

In Season 3, Episode 2 of the International Feltmakers Association‘s podcast, Felt Matters, hosts Vivienne Morpeth and Heather Potten delve into the theme of artistic collaboration, featuring an interview with needle felting artist Lydia Needle, whose surname fittingly mirrors her medium. Lydia shares her transition from teaching to working with wool and explores the ecological and artistic motivations behind her ambitious 50 Bees project, which highlights the importance of bee conservation.

The episode underscores the impactful role artists can play in confronting global issues, highlighting how informal, creative education and collaborative expression can drive meaningful change.

To listen to this specific episode, visit their YouTube page – https://youtu.be/neCFqU87gzA?si=unAXZE-CPy9hklwy

This page on YouTube links to all of the podcasts- https://www.youtube.com/@internationalfeltmakers

Also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Lydia Needle’s Instagram – @lydianeedle Her 50 Bees Project on Instagram – @fiftybeescic

FeltMatters Instagram – @feltmatters.thepodcast

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.