Tag: Sustainability

Event: Irish Wool Celebration Day – Film Screening and All Ages Wet Felting Workshop – Wise Wool Project

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The Wise Wool Project will celebrate Irish Wool at Kate Kearneys Cottage in the Gap of Dunloe, Co Kerry, on Saturday, the 9th of November, from 11 AM onwards.

The event will include workshops, demonstrations, storytelling, screenings, discussion panels, and music, celebrating the Wise Wool Project and its culmination.

Join in on the celebrations, which will bring together local fibre artists, sheep farmers, and the wider community to better understand how to create something from this valuable resource. This is a unique event for those interested in creating a solution to the current wool waste dilemma.

Bookings are required for two of the events (which are free). See below for links.

  • The Wet Felting Workshop with Irish Wool for ages 6+ from 11 AM to 12 PM.
  • The film screening of ‘Notes from Sheepland’ at 3 PM.

For more information and to book your free tickets to the film, visit this website – https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thenaturehub/1405268?

For information about the wet felting workshop, visit this website – https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thenaturehub/1405267?

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: Fibershed Ireland’s 3rd Annual Symposium – in Tullamore

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As part of Irish Design Week, Fibreshed Ireland is hosting its third annual symposium, inviting participants to imagine how Soil-to-Soil textiles could help improve the future—not only of the textile industry, but beyond.

It will be a day of interactive presentations, craft demonstrations, breakout sessions, and engaging networking opportunities, open to both Fibreshed Ireland members and non-members.

When: Saturday, the 16th of November, 9:30 AM to 5 PM.

Where: The Bridge House Hotel, Bridge St, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

For more information and to book your ticket, visit Fibreshed Ireland’s website – https://fibreshedireland.ie/symposium-2024/

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: Katrin Thorvaldsdottir’s Sculpture from Seaweed

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Not feltmaking, but of interest concerning sustainability and textiles: For over two decades, Katrín Þorvaldsdóttir (Thorvaldsdottir) has conducted her own research and experiments to learn how to preserve seaweed as a material to use in art and design.

Working with seaweed is a craft, she says. “It is not ‘just take this and design out of the blue’. You have to know the material, you have to listen to the material, so it takes time.”

Katrin Thorvaldsdottir via Guardian article.

To learn more, visit her website – https://katrinthorvaldsdottir.com/

Also, make sure to watch this lovely video about her – https://katrinthorvaldsdottir.com/film/

There is also an interview with her at the Guardian – https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/nov/09/off-the-wrack-the-designer-using-seaweed-to-create-art-and-high-fashion

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: Panel Discussion for Wool Month – London – This Friday

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This is a bit late and not local; however, it’s still interesting: The Fashion and Textile Museum in London is having a panel discussion on Wool and Fashion tomorrow morning, Friday, the 18th.

October is Wool Month! – https://www.britishwool.org.uk/what-is-wool-month

“Panellists will share how they use wool in their collections and delve into the benefits and positive impacts of this historic versatile material. Discussions will share what it is like to work with British farms, and how the process of farm to fleece to finished garment works within the fashion industry.”

For more information and to book your ticket, visit their website – https://fashiontextilemuseum.org/museumevents/celebrating-british-wool/


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: Wool in the News

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Although these articles aren’t specifically about feltmaking, the efforts of the following companies and organisations to promote locally-raised wool are exciting news.

Cushendale Woolen Mills

There’s an interesting article about the long history and recent activities of Cushendale Woollen Mills in Agriland.

To read the article and watch a video that shows Galway Irish wool being processed into yarn and then woven, visit the Agriland website – https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/from-kilkenny-to-ny-textiles-crafted-at-cushendale-woollen-mills/

Irish Sweater Article


As many felters in Ireland know, new Aran jumpers sold in shops rarely contain Irish-raised wool as the public expects the softness of Merino, which is not a sheep that can thrive in Ireland. It is helpful to see this information being shared with the public.

To read the article, visit the Irish Examiner’s website – https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/outdoors/arid-41490926.html

Great British Wool Revival Website

The Great British Wool Revival has been set up as a central platform for sharing knowledge and resources to support the goal of elevating British wool. The website offers information on devising a supply chain, case studies of designers working with local fibre, downloadable worksheets to help users understand a product’s wool journey, and much more. There are many resources on the website! Note: Some Irish-based businesses are also included on the map.

For more information (and to play with their nifty interactive map), visit their website – https://www.greatbritishwoolrevival.co.uk/

Ériu Interviewed on RTE Countrywide

Ériu is an Irish company that produces Irish wool blankets. In a short program on Countrywide, co-founder Zoë Daly spoke of the importance and benefits of using local Irish wool in their knitted blankets.

To listen to the program, visit the RTE website – https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22428332/

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: World Circular Textiles Day – 8th of October – Online Conference

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Today, the 8th of October is World Circular Textiles Day. WCTD, held annually, examines global progress in circularity across three key themes: Products & Services, Materials, and People. The organisation’s goal is to report on, reflect upon, and celebrate the advancements in circularity, while also charting a path to achieve Full Textile Circularity by 2050.

An online panel is scheduled for today from 5:00 to 6:30 PM. The Top 10 circular textile garments of the year will be unveiled during this event. Thirty international experts have carefully selected and reviewed these circular textile products using the organisation’s six-point assessment criteria.

To book a spot at this online conference, visit Eventbrite- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/8-october-is-world-circular-textiles-day-2024-5-630pm-tickets-949092720877?aff=oddtdtcreator

For more information about WCTD, visit their website – https://worldcirculartextilesday.com/about/

To read about case studies and activities which aim to make the textile industry more circular, visit the Knowledge Hub Circular Economy’s website – https://knowledge-hub.circle-economy.com/wctd/cases?_sort=1&collections=298%3D0

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: Irish Wool Events at Dingle Food Festival

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Several wool-related events are scheduled for this year’s Dingle Food Festival.

The Irish Grown Wool Council will participate in the Wool Marquee at the Dingle Food Festival this Saturday and Sunday.

In addition, Wool in School will share its ‘Feirm VR’, their agricultural virtual reality program that enables viewers to understand the importance of wool and shearing in relation to sustainable farming practices.

The virtual reality experience of ‘Future Tapestry‘ will also be shown. It is an artistic response to Irish wool production’s history, legacy, and contemporary currency, developed following a research period with sheep farmers who harvest wool. The work is directed and produced by artist John Conway, with a virtual reality experience by Nóho. It is structured around an ode written and performed by theatre maker Aisling Byrne – a verbatim text based on her engagement and conversations with Kildare Sheep Farmers.

On Saturday and Sunday, panel discussions will be at 2 PM.

For more information about the event, visit the festival’s website – https://www.dinglefood.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.

Event: IMMA – Earth Rising Eco Festival 2024

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

EARTH RISING at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) is a three-day festival where art meets activism and offers visitors a unique opportunity to engage with our time’s most pressing environmental issues. Over the weekend, EARTH RISING will present a diverse range of eco-themed installations and exhibitions, workshops, screenings, and thought-provoking discussions that invite participants to reflect on their role in the global climate movement.

All events and experiences at EARTH RISING are free of charge; the festival is drop-in and accessible to all. Spaces for talks and workshops are allocated on a first-come basis. Some workshops require booking, and ticket links can be found on the festival app on the workshop event page.

Fibreshed Ireland will offer short workshops, demonstrations, and talks throughout the event. From Seeds to Textile Sovereignty is an interactive space that will help festival-goers visualise and understand how seeds turn into textiles and why agrobiodiversity is key in this process.

When: Friday, the 20th through the Sunday, the 22nd of September.

Where: IMMA – Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Military Rd, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, D08 FW31

For more information, visit IMMA’s website – https://imma.ie/whats-on/earth-rising-2024/


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.

Events: Wonderful Wool Talk and Panel – Belfast

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Step into the world of Wonderful Wool, where we will delve into the potential of Irish-grown wool as a sustainable natural material. Attendees can look forward to a thought-provoking panel discussion featuring keynote speakers from the Irish Grown Wool Council (IGWC). There will be a presentation and interactive seminar featuring craftspeople from across Ireland who champion the benefits of wool in various ways.

The keynote speakers are members of the Irish Grown Wool Council, a dedicated body that promotes Irish-grown wool both locally and globally. Be inspired by their insights and learn about the innovative efforts to advance the standard and create markets for Irish-grown wool.

There will be a networking lunch after the talks for attendees to engage with the panel and peers on all things wool. There will also be a maker’s demonstration and exhibit celebrating all things wool!

When: Friday, the 16th of August 2024, from 10 AM – 1:30 PM.
Where: Conor Lecture Theatre, Ulster University

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

  • Panel Discussion: Dive into the world of wool with keynote speakers from the Irish Grown Wool Council (IGWC).
  • Interactive Seminar: Engage with talented craftspeople from across Ireland.
  • Networking Lunch: Connect with our panel and fellow wool enthusiasts.
  • Maker’s Demonstration & Exhibit: Celebrate the beauty and versatility of wool.

PANELISTS:

  • Chris Weiniger, General Manager, @donegalyarns
  • Jayne Harkness-Bones, Wool Collection, Grading & Trading, Ulster Wool
  • Laura Perrem, Artistic Director & Club Manager, @stolenstitches
  • Alison Gault, Senior Lecturer & Researcher, Belfast School of Art, @ulsteruni

Don’t miss this chance to celebrate wool’s beauty and sustainability!

This event is part of August Craft Month.

To book your free ticket, visit Eventbrite – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wonderful-wool-tickets-927179507867

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.

Open Call: Innovative Materials Collaboration and Residency – Indonesia

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Design Matters Lab seeks product and material-related designers from Indonesia and Europe to collaborate with micro-factories and co-create groundbreaking solutions by utilising alternative materials, creating meaningful products, and enhancing sustainable production systems.

Editor’s note: The prospectus does not directly mention wool, but perhaps there is an opportunity within the ‘Agro waste materials’ option.

  • Mycelium-based materials
  • Coffee ground-based materials
  • Agro waste materials
  • Concrete-based materials
  • Food waste leather-like materials

Deadline: Friday, the 9th of August 2024.

For more information, visit the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland’s website – https://www.dcci.ie/opportunities/design-matters-lab-open-call/

The actual application is through another organisation and can be found here – https://airtable.com/appfJWAzAGgtqM541/shrDjKSZaEC9JFSuZ

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.