Tag: Keep Well Campaign

Keep well campaign- Liadian de Butlear

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Back in February my phone rang, and it was a call from a fellow Feltmaker, who I have always enjoyed working with in CRAFTed over the years but we never actually worked together. She told me she had received funding as part of the Keep Well campaing and wanted to get a group of like-minded felters together for a collaborative project.

I was feeling the post Christmas lockdown and told her that I felt I was creatively stuck in a rut and would be delighted to get on board and do a collaborative project.

Nikki put our dream team together.  The idea was that we would each present an hour-long workshop working on different stages of the felting process to create stained glass effect felt pieces which would be exhibited later in the year. Niki went about advertising the free workshops and they were oversubscribed in a day leading to further workshops.

Fox by Breda Fay

Caolfhionn got the tough job of hosting the first workshop which shows how to create prefelts and blending colours to create your fabric for your picture. Niki did the design layout for our work and I got the job to do the stained glass effect dry felting work.

Each class had 35 participants and we did three classes each to facilitate the large numbers in our groups. We also supported each other during the workshops which was fantastic and made it a lot easier.

I was delighted to find that Breda Fay who was a long-time student of mine when I did workshops in Johnstown Craftspun yarns is now the treasurer of Feltmakers Ireland and she was attending the three-part workshop. It was great to see familiar faces on the screen. The best part about the project was the collaborative process and having the support of fellow felt makers and being able to bounce ideas off each other.

We have set up further classes in May and August this year which will be either online of face to face, depending on where we are.

We also have an exhibition to look forward to: online in August and physical in October and we look forward to inviting back participants to celebrate their feltmaking.

Collar Project

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

News of a collar project : Think it sounds really exciting and I LOVE projects that don’t need more space than my kitchen table.

Link to Application Form below where all the details are explained as well as lovely stories about 2 crafters from the past! Just reading it inspired me to root out a collar my grandmother made in 1925 … probably by oil lamp/candleI also like the suggestion that you can collaborate with another crafter!!!!

As part of the Government’s “Keep Well” campaign, DCCI has developed an online exhibition. Switch off Be creative.
Design a Collar, Ruff or Cuffs. Collars, ruffs, cuffs, lunula & torcs are universal forms of adornment that have been worn for generations.

Your entry must be wearable, creative, innovative & contemporary in design, it can be made in any material i.e. silk, wool, linen, paper, wire, metal etc. or combined materials and can be created in any discipline utilising any techniques, be handcrafted or created using digital technologies. Collaborations will be accepted i.e. a glass artist working with a lace maker; a basket maker with a milliner; a metalsmith with a feltmaker… the possibilities are endless. All entries will feature in an online exhibition, on DCCI’s social channels and on www.dcci.ie/learners/keep-well. Collars must be photographed on a plain black background and submitted with the completed application form. Apply here https://www.cognitoforms.com/DesignCraftsCouncilOfIreland1/DesignACollarRuffOrCuffs   #KeepWell. gov.ie/healthyireland

Breda- GANS and DCCI link committee member

GANS MEETING- report update

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Hi Folks

Breda Fay here reporting on February GANS Meeting ( Wednesday 17th Feb, via Zoom). I’ve decided that I will do a short report rather than linking you to DCCI page. You can always follow DCCI web page for more info.

Meeting started with condolences being offered on death of David Shaw Smith – not sure how many of you are as old as I am … but I remember his series of programmes on Telly about crafts in Ireland and actually bought the book HANDS which was published about the series. His work was certainly a catalyst in protecting as well encouraging the native crafts of Ireland. If any of you have memories of it, Hillary @making.ie would love you to pen a few lines.

Congratulations to all the guilds who are participating in “Getting Creative during Covid” Mental Health projects – Feltmakers Ireland are one of the guilds who have received funding for a project “Keep Well and Felt with Us” being organized by Niki Collier (in conjunction with Caoilfionn Murphy O’Hanlon and Liadain de Buitleir). You’ve probably seen it advertised and interest has been amazing …. So much so that instead of a session with each of the feltmakers … there will now be three with each. Good luck Niki. I got my pack today!

There were a number of presentations which all emphasized that despite all the difficulties of isolation, it is really important for each guild to maintain our presence. Many are doing projects which encourage members to work at home with a particular focus…. maybe putting all the pieces together to form one collaborative piece, some are organizing online exhibitions….. Presentations this morning:

  • Showcase Ireland’s first virtual event
  • The Glass Society of Ireland on it newly published book (only 5 left)
  • The Irish Guild of Embroiderers on their recently published (and still available) book “Twenty Twenty”. The cover design is by Colleen Prenderville (known to many of us) 
  • Borris Lace Group’s partnership with South Armagh Lace Collective in “Laces Across the Borders”

Some things you might be interested in:

  1. The Quilters Guild of Ireland are looking for 10 inch submissions from members/non-members on the theme HOME for quilts (they’re planning 10) which will be sold/auctioned to support women’s shelters (quiltersguildireland.com)
  2. DCCI are going to make a callout for COLLARS for an online exhibition – watch this space!
  3. Society of Cork Potters are calling out for items themed “ON HOME GROUND” for an exhibition which will be run in conjunctions with  A Taste of West Cork in September (www.corkpotters.com)
  4. Any members down around the Cork area, watch out for Bench Space, an organisation that is making an equipped workshop available for crafts people. Currently it has mainly woodworking tools but hope soon to have equipment for textile, iron, glass work

SO JUST TO SIGN OFF FOR NOW FOLKS

I think it is really important that there be a FELTMAKING presence in the August Craft Month Project. Let’s use it as a way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of DCCI AND we might be in the park again by then! Think small but maybe collaboratively??? Get back to me with ideas and offers of help!!!

I’m really missing our Sunday Sessions. Have done a few online courses – see previous blog of recommendations by Annika. It was great to see so many participating in Feltmakers Ireland first online course with Gabi McGrath – hugely successful, nationally and internationally. I’m not sure if there are spaces on Niki’s course. You might have some ideas for online activities or courses????? Let us know hellofeltmakersireland@gmail.com

Also keep in mind our draw for paid up members which will take place beginning of March.

Cheers for now – Breda

Felt with Us and Keep Well

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Felt with Us and Keep Well-

Workshops are being offered by 3 experienced Feltmakers- made possible by funding received from DCCI under the keep well initiative.

Classes will be taught by Caoilfionn Murphy O’Hanlon, Niki Collier & Liadain De Buitlear

Have you tried the Stained Glass technique in felting?
Join your tutors for three online classes to try felting, spark your passion for fibres and discover a fun
technique for making colourful pictures in felt.

All materials included.


This project was made possible with funding from DCCI under the Keep Well initiative.
See details here:


28th Feb 11am -12 noon Making a Felt Picture with Caóilfíonn Murphy O’Hanlon

7th Mar 11am – 12 noon Patchwork Felt Niki Collier

14th Mar 11am – 12 noon Making a Stained Glass Finish on a Felt Picture Liadain de Buitlear

To book classes, go here https://www.nikicollier.com/keep-well-campaign

After the workshops you will be able to submit your piece for an exhibition called Evie and Us.
Deadline for submission 1 st September. Exhibition will launch 1 st October 2021.