Tag: Textile Art

Recap: Opening of ‘Water and Flow’ Exhibition – Phoenix Park Visitor Centre

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland1 Comment
A man with glasses and a mustache presenting at a wooden podium in front of blue artworks on a stone wall.
Conor O’Brien launched our exhibition

Feltmakers Ireland’s ‘Water and Flow’ exhibition was officially launched on Saturday, 4th April at 3 PM in the beautiful gallery of the OPW’s Phoenix Park Visitor Centre. The event was opened by knitwear designer Conor O’Brien, who shared insights into his creative journey, from studying at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) to discovering Aran knitting through a college assignment, with guidance from his grandmother. He also spoke about his strong support for using Irish-raised wool in his work, highlighting the importance of local materials and heritage in contemporary design. Learn more about Conor from his website- https://conorobrienstudio.com/

The exhibition features 67 striking pieces of felted artwork, showcasing the breadth and creativity of contemporary feltmaking. The opening was very well attended, with approximately 140 people present to celebrate the occasion. Since the launch, several works have been purchased by visitors.

‘Water and Flow‘ will continue to run until Sunday, 26th April, offering further opportunities to experience this vibrant and engaging exhibition.

Some Photos of the Launch

Photos courtesy of Tom Macagno, Loli Cox, and members’ contributions.

A group of ten people posing together in front of artwork in a gallery, with a mix of smiling expressions and vibrant clothing.
Conor O’Brien and some of the committee saying, ‘Wool’
An art gallery setting with two individuals; a woman speaking at a podium with a floral accessory, and a man casually dressed, standing nearby. Various artworks are displayed on the stone walls.
Loli Cox introducing Conor O’Brien
A man and a woman pose together in an art gallery, smiling. The man has short, curly hair and a moustache, wearing a black shirt. The woman has long, brown hair and is dressed in a patterned top featuring blue flowers. The background displays several pieces of art on stone walls.
Conor and Loli Cox
Two women standing in front of framed textile art pieces in a gallery setting. The woman on the left is wearing a knitted shawl and smiling, while the woman on the right is dressed in a coat and hat, with a neutral expression. Various artworks, including a floral piece and a vibrant sunset, are displayed on the wall behind them.
Founder Elizabeth Bonnar and Juliane Gorman
Two women smiling at a table filled with various pastries, biscuits, and cheeses in an art gallery setting, with artworks displayed on the walls.
Siobhán Healy Ryan and Elizabeth Redding setting up the refreshments
A man and a woman standing in an art gallery, smiling at the camera. The man wears an orange fleece top and jeans, while the woman has short, grey hair and is dressed in a colourful, felt vest with a decorative bag. Various artworks are displayed on the stone wall behind them.
Claire Merry and her husband Phil
A crowded gallery space filled with people attending an art exhibition. Artwork is displayed on the stone walls, and a table with refreshments is in the foreground.
The gallery was full of visitors
An art exhibition featuring a speaker in front of a gathered audience, with artworks displayed on the stone wall behind.
Conor O’Brien speaking
A crowded art gallery event with attendees socialising and viewing artwork on display. The venue features stone walls and various paintings hanging. Some people are holding drinks and engaged in conversation.
People chatting
A crowd of people viewed an art exhibition, standing in a gallery with stone walls. Various artworks are displayed on the walls and the audience appears engaged.
Visitors listening
A group of visitors exploring an art gallery featuring various artworks on display. The gallery has a stone wall and wooden flooring, with attendees engaged in conversation and admiring the art.
More people at the launch
A group of people chatting at an art exhibition, surrounded by colourful artworks on the walls and in a gallery with stone and brick architecture.
The only photo of Sam Fagan, our Treasurer, wearing her Foxford Blanket Jacket

The Gallery

A collection of various artworks displayed on a stone wall, featuring a sheep portrait, abstract and landscape pieces, and a felt art piece depicting a glass of water with animals, accompanied by information plaques.
A felted sculpture depicting a small house with the word 'Café' on it, surrounded by stones. In the foreground, a miniature figure is pulling a yellow inflatable raft with a small dog inside. In the background, there are artworks displayed on stone walls, including a black cat sculpture.
A felted portrait of a woman with long hair, exhibiting expressive features and a contemplative gaze. The artwork is framed and displayed on a brick wall, accompanied by a label detailing the artist.
Art exhibition featuring three framed artworks displayed on a brick wall. The top piece depicts a bird in flight against a cloudy sky, the left artwork features a vibrant landscape with trees, and the right piece presents a textured design with seashells and flowing blue colours. Accompanying labels provide information about the artists.
An art gallery display featuring three framed artworks hanging on a textured stone wall. The left artwork depicts a vibrant landscape with a river, the centre artwork shows a waterfall, and the right piece features abstract stone formations. Accompanied by descriptions on the wall.
An art installation featuring three pieces of felt artwork against a stone wall. The top left piece displays a white water lily on a dark background, the middle piece is a blue abstract design, and the right piece depicts vibrant elephants against a sunset scene. Artist information is displayed below each artwork.
Two decorative table lamps with unique felt shades displayed on a clear surface. The lamp on the left features a white shade with blue wave patterns, while the lamp on the right has a beige shade with blue fish designs.
A textured artwork framed in white, depicting a vertical arrangement of stones and organic shapes, set against a backdrop resembling earthy waves, displayed on a stone wall.
An art display featuring four framed artworks on a stone wall. The pieces include an abstract blue swirl, a stylized portrait with blonde hair, and a vibrant blue piece with black elements, alongside a textured blue fabric artwork. Each artwork has a descriptive plaque beneath it.
A gallery wall featuring various artworks framed and hung against a stone background. The pieces include abstract paintings in shades of blue, a portrait, and a textured textile art piece, each accompanied by informational plaques.
A gallery display featuring three artworks on a stone wall. On the left, a framed blue textile piece with abstract designs. The centre piece depicts a white bird surrounded by colourful foliage. On the right, a vibrant textile artwork showing a boat with characters sailing on a blue sea under a rainbow.
A hand-felted vase in shades of blue and teal on the left, alongside a felted landscape sculpture featuring a waterfall and greenery on the right. Both pieces are displayed in an art gallery setting with stone walls.
A wooden display stand holding a textured blue wool sculpture resembling waves, with a information card beside it.
A felted vest displayed on a mannequin, featuring a wave-inspired design in shades of blue and white, set against a stone wall in an art exhibition.
A gallery wall featuring various artworks, including a vibrant felted creature on the left, a textile piece depicting a surfer on a wave, a hanging fabric artwork with blue motifs, and a framed piece resembling a swirling vortex.
A handmade felt figurine with a serene expression, featuring brightly coloured hair and clothing, adorned with jewellery and holding a feather.
A handcrafted black cat figure made of felt, featuring bright yellow eyes and a pink nose, posed on a wooden base next to two small felt fish.
A gallery wall displaying various pieces of artwork, including felt creations and paintings, accompanied by artist descriptions. The artworks feature diverse themes such as nature, underwater scenes, and abstract designs against a stone wall backdrop.
An art display featuring various framed paintings and textile artworks on a stone wall, showcasing oceanic themes and landscapes.
An art exhibition featuring four framed artworks displayed on a stone wall, with information plaques below each piece.
A collection of four artworks displayed on a stone wall, featuring a felted piece with a swimmer, a textured vertical artwork, a circular stone sculpture, and a framed painting.
Three blue felted vases displayed on a white surface, featuring a whimsical figure dressed in blue sitting atop the largest vase. The background shows an art gallery with artworks on stone walls.
A handcrafted felt mermaid figure sitting on a display, wearing a pink hat with flowers and a textured tail.
A blue artistic shawl displayed on a stand, featuring textured floral designs and fringes, situated in an exhibition space with a stone wall background.
An art display featuring three pieces on a white wall. On the left, a floral textured painting in vibrant colours. In the centre, a blue crafted wall piece with rounded shapes. To the right, a hanging textile artwork depicting flowers and foliage, with a blue fabric flowing downwards.
An art exhibition featuring four textile artworks. On the left, a colourful tapestry of a waterfall and trees; next to it, a felted piece depicting flowing water; above, a textured artwork with leaves; and below, two smaller felted pieces in shades of blue and grey, all displayed on a white wall with accompanying artist information.

Artists with their Artwork

Last year, in the blog post about our ‘Common Threads’ exhibition at the National Design and Craft Gallery in Kilkenny, we included a section featuring members alongside their pieces. As this is an engaging feature, we hope to get a photo of each member in the show.

If we overlooked you at the opening, or you have yet to visit, can you please take a photo of yourself next to your piece and email it to the following address: feltmakerIE@gmail.com

A woman with long blonde hair wearing glasses and a red scarf, standing in front of vivid artwork in an art gallery. The artworks include a framed piece depicting a bird flying in a blue sky and another abstract piece with soft blue and white colours.
Adrienne Dempsey
A smiling woman with long blonde hair stands beside a handcrafted puppet on a table, set against a backdrop of colourful artwork displayed on a stone wall.
Alison Duffy
A woman with grey hair wearing a black top and a green scarf stands next to a framed textile artwork of a figure surrounded by blue and green colours, displayed on a stone wall.
Anne Heavey
A woman with short purple hair stands in front of an abstract blue painting with yellow accents, hanging on a stone wall. She wears a patterned top and a green scarf, and a decorative necklace.
Annika Berglund
A woman in a light pink blazer stands smiling in front of a wall displaying vibrant felt art, including a white lily and a colourful abstract piece.
Audrey Murray
A smiling woman with long brown hair, wearing a blue top and a yellow scarf, stands in front of an artwork display featuring a sculpted face on a blue textile background. The walls are made of stone and there are more artworks visible nearby.
Belinda Reid
A woman with curly hair stands in front of a framed artistic portrait of a woman with blonde hair and red lips, displayed on a stone wall. She is wearing a floral patterned top and an olive green coat.
Caitríona Nolan
A person smiling in a blue coat stands next to a framed artwork featuring a serene landscape. The artwork is displayed on a stone wall, with an information plaque beneath it.
Cara Shank
An elderly woman stands smiling beside two vibrant textile artworks depicting a waterfall and nature scenes, in an art gallery setting.
Claire Merry
A woman stands smiling in front of a stone wall, displaying a felt art piece featuring a glass of water, animals, and raindrops, alongside several artworks and descriptions.
Corina Hogan
A woman with shoulder-length hair wearing a teal jacket stands smiling in front of a framed artwork depicting a portrait of a girl with long hair and a pensive expression. The background features exposed brick and a visitor information board.
Deirdre Crofts
A woman smiling and gesturing towards a framed artwork featuring a jellyfish and various sea elements, displayed on a stone wall.
Eglė Silenaite-Enyed
A woman smiling beside a vibrant textile artwork featuring a boat, sun, rainbow, and various playful animals.
Eithne O’Dea
A woman with curly hair smiles while standing next to a colourful abstract artwork in an art gallery, with exposed stone walls in the background.
Elaine Peden
A smiling woman with long hair, wearing a black jacket and a red top, stands in front of art displayed on a stone wall. The artwork includes a colourful textile piece with the word 'PHOENIX' and another depicting a figure fishing by a river.
Elizabeth Redding
A smiling woman wearing a grey beret and round glasses holds a needle-felted black cat sculpture on a wooden base, surrounded by artwork displayed on a stone wall.
Eva Salamon
A smiling woman standing beside a blue felt artwork with circular shapes on display in an art gallery.
Fiona Leech
A woman smiling in front of a framed artwork depicting an underwater scene, surrounded by colourful felted pieces on a stone wall in an exhibition.
Hedi Gotthalmseder
A woman with glasses smiles confidently while standing beside a framed artwork of leaves with water droplets. The background features various textile art pieces.
Hélène Dooley
A smiling woman stands beside blue felted art pieces, including bowls and a figurine, in an art exhibition with framed artworks displayed in the background.
Hilary Delaney
A woman smiling in front of a handcrafted textile hanging against a stone wall, featuring blue designs on a white background, showcasing her artwork.
Jacqueline Atkinson
A woman and a young girl, both smiling, pose together in front of framed artworks in a gallery. The woman wears a dark coat and a beige beanie, while the girl is in a patterned coat and a multicoloured hat holding a cup of strawberries.
Joanne Foley
A smiling woman with long hair, wearing a floral dress and a white vest, stands in front of various textile artworks displayed on a stone wall.
Joanne Turner
A woman with grey hair wearing a light blue and black garment stands alongside textile artworks in a gallery. She is smiling and appears to be engaged with the exhibit, which includes felted pieces and a vibrant landscape scene.
Juliane Gorman
A woman wearing a straw hat and a white blazer holds a framed textile artwork featuring a blue circular design with a bridge, trees, and stars, displayed against a stone wall.
Karen McSweeney
A woman stands beside an artistic display in a gallery, showcasing blue-textured textile art on a mannequin and a wooden crate. She wears a dark coat, blue scarf, and holds a matching bag.
Katarina Hruskova
A woman in a patterned yellow dress stands in front of a stone wall displaying colourful felt artwork, which includes depictions of a building and a landscape with a waterfall.
Linda Costello
A woman standing next to a piece of textile art in an exhibition, wearing a patterned sleeveless top with a blue flower brooch and black trousers.
Loli Cox
A smiling woman with glasses and long, blonde hair stands in front of an art exhibition, wearing a black coat and blue beaded necklaces. Behind her are colourful textile artworks displayed on a stone wall.
Lorna Cady
A woman stands beside a framed piece of textured artwork depicting a landscape with a river, featuring various colours and materials. The artwork is displayed in an art gallery with brick and stone walls.
Lucia Errity
A woman standing in an art gallery, smiling and wearing a black cardigan. Behind her is a colourful abstract artwork made of various materials, displayed on a stone wall.
Margaret Corroon
A woman smiling in front of a piece of artwork featuring blue and black elements, displayed in a gallery with a stone wall background.
Maggie McCartney
A woman stands beside a colourful abstract artwork featuring jellyfish-like forms, set against a textured background of blues and greens, in an art gallery.
Marie Dunne
A woman stands next to a sculpture of a cottage made from felt, featuring a scene with figures in a kayak. The background displays various artworks on a stone wall.
Marie Hopkins
A woman with glasses stands beside three pieces of felted artwork displayed on a gallery wall. Two artworks are hung above her, featuring natural elements, with vibrant colours and textures.
Marika Miklosi-Manning
A woman with wavy blonde hair and glasses stands beside a framed piece of artwork featuring a textured design of pebbles and earthy tones, with a stone wall and a window in the background.
Neasa Ryan
A woman stands beside a decorative artwork depicting a waterfall and lush greenery, crafted from wool and displayed in a wooden bowl. The setting includes brick walls and framed art in the background.
Patricia Englishby O’Connor
A woman stands in front of a wall displaying various artworks, including a circular blue piece. She is wearing a patterned blue and white blouse and blue jeans, smiling at the camera.
Patricia Conroy
A woman with long, silver hair and glasses stands smiling in front of framed artwork on a stone wall. The artwork includes a colourful landscape and other pieces, while she wears a denim jacket.
Sandra Chase
A smiling woman stands beside a framed artwork featuring a blue spiral design on a textured background, displayed on a stone wall.
Siobhán Healy Ryan

Online Catalogue

Here’s a link to Feltmakers Ireland’s online catalogue of ‘Water and Flow’

There is also a PDF version of the catalogue.

Two women smiling in an art gallery featuring various artworks on the walls, standing close together.
Annika and Fiona after all of their hard work

Appreciation

Thank you to everyone who helped make this exhibition such a success.

Many thanks to Conor O’Brien for launching the exhibition with his interesting talk, to our members for contributing their fantastic artwork, and to Annika Berglund and Fiona Leech for displaying everything so beautifully. Additionally, we would like to thank Loli Cox for introducing our guest speaker. We’re also very grateful to the committee members for organising and setting up the lovely refreshments. Finally, we want to thank the OPW Phoenix Park Visitor Centre for again inviting us to use their stunning gallery for our annual exhibition.

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.

Exhibition: Feltmakers Ireland Presents ‘Water and Flow’ Exhibition – Phoenix Park Visitor Centre Gallery – Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
'Water and Flow' Feltmakers Ireland Group Exhibition poster, featuring felt artwork by Joanne Turner. Details about the exhibition location at Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, dates from 2nd to 26th April, and opening hours. Announcement of a launch event with knitwear designer Conor O'Brien on the 4th.

Feltmakers Ireland is delighted to present ‘Water and Flow’, a vibrant group exhibition featuring the contemporary artwork of 68 members. This showcase explores the many interpretations of water through the rich and versatile medium of felt.

From gentle streams to powerful oceans, ‘Water and Flow‘ explores the many moods of water: its energy and stillness, its capacity for renewal, and its connection to human emotion, from sorrow to joy.

Using fibres ranging from imported Merino wool to locally sourced Irish fleece, members have created a diverse body of work that highlights both traditional and contemporary felting practices. Featuring an array of textile techniques, including wet felting and needle felting, guild members have created three-dimensional sculptures, wall art, and wearable pieces, each offering a unique perspective on the theme, reflecting the creativity and individuality of the artists involved.

The Opening

The exhibition will be officially launched by knitwear designer Conor O’Brien on Saturday, 4 April at 3 PM.

Where and When

The exhibition is at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre Gallery and runs from Thursday, the 2nd of April, to Sunday, the 26th of April. The hours are 9:30 AM to 5 PM, daily, with the exhibition closing on its final day at 3 PM.

The gallery is conveniently accessible by Dublin Bus number 99 and is located within the historic Phoenix Park. There is ample parking near the Centre.

For further details, including maps and directions to the park, visit https://www.phoenixpark.ie/directions.

The artwork featured on the exhibition poster is ‘Waterfall’ by Joanne Turner.

Her Instagram @olannoriginals

We warmly invite you to join us for the opening or visit throughout the month to experience this dynamic and engaging exhibition celebrating feltmaking in Ireland.

Online Catalogue

A link to Feltmakers Ireland’s online catalogue of ‘Water and Flow’

There is also a PDF version of the catalogue (if the above link is not working for you).

Of Interest: Wool Map of Ireland – World’s Largest 3D Knit Scene

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Image from Irish Independent Newspaper with headlines of 'Huge wool map of Ireland ratified by GUinness as world's largest 3D knitted scene'. Also includes a photo of the women who knitted the map.

The Guinness Book of Records has said that the huge knitted wool map of Ireland, created by a group of knitters at Carnew Community Care, in Co Wicklow, is the largest 3-dimensional knitted scene in the world! The map is 5 by 4 metres, took over four years and thousands of hours to make. It includes buildings and places iconic to Ireland.

To read more, visit here (There ~may~ be paywall for the full article) – https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexford/gorey-news/huge-wool-map-of-ireland-ratified-by-guinness-as-worlds-largest-3d-knitted-scene/a1011522360.html

If you missed seeing the map on display at Gifted at the RDS, it can be viewed in person at Carnew Community Care in Carnew, Co Wicklow. For more information, visit this website – https://visitwicklow.ie/listing/knitted-map-of-ireland-carnew-community-care/

There is also a short, cute video on the above website – so many cool details!

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: Magdalena Abakanowicz Artwork in 3 Locations – The Netherlands

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

There’s an interesting trio of exhibitions in the Brabant region of the Netherlands devoted to the work of sculptor/installation artist Magdalena Abakanowicz.

The TextielMuseum in Tilburg, Het Noordbrabants Museum, and Provincial House of Noord-Brabant, ‘s-Hertogenbosch – are the three institutions.

“Abakanowicz was fascinated by the texture of textiles and the structure of natural fibres. She used this fascination as a basis for her weavings, but also to depict the human body. She travelled all over the world to set up her exhibitions herself and placed the sculptures in the middle of the space to create an ‘environment’, a world of her own. With this spatial concept, she was one of the forerunners of installation art.”

from the TextielMuseum in Tilburg

The exhibition runs through the 24th of August.

There is a free symposium about Magdalena Abakanowicz on Thursday, the 12th of June at Provincial House of Noord-Brabant, ‘s-Hertogenbosch. To book your ticket, visit this site – https://www.hetnoordbrabantsmuseum.nl/bezoek/activiteiten/symposium/

For more information, visit the overall exhibition website – https://www.grootsinbrabant.nl/en/

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: Orla Kiely Retrospective at National Design & Craft Gallery in Kilkenny

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Poster for Orla Kiely retrospective at the National Design & Craft Gallery - DCCI - Kilkenny

The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland presents ‘Orla Kiely A Life in Pattern’, an exhibition showcasing the work of designer Orla Kiely.

“Orla Kiely is one of the UK and Ireland’s most successful designers. Her stylised graphic patterns are innovative, influential and instantly recognisable. With a global audience in thrall to the rhythms and repeats of her designs, this exhibition explores the power of decoration to transform the way we feel.” – From the DCCI’s website.

Location: The National Design and Craft Gallery, The Castle Yard, The Parade, Kilkenny⁠

Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 10 AM – 5:30 PM

Please note, the National Design & Craft Gallery will not be open on Good Friday 18th April, or Easter Monday 21st April.

The exhibition runs until the 19th of July, 2025.

For more information and to take a virtual tour of the exhibition, visit the DCCI’s website – https://www.dcci.ie/events/orla-kiely-a-life-in-pattern-exhibition/

Orla Kiely’s website – https://orlakiely.com/en-eu

Instagram: @orlakiely

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.

Learning: Transfer Printing onto Felt and Other Fabrics with Lindsey Tyson

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland3 Comments

By Adrienne Dempsey

Winner of Feltmarker’s Ireland’s Educational Bursary of 2024, Adrienne Dempsey, attended Lindsey Tyson’s online course, ‘Transfer Printing onto Felt and Other Fabrics’.

I would like to thank Feltmakers Ireland and guild member Doris Reinisch for the generous bursary prize of €250 award for 2024. Doris’s name was originally pulled from the draw at our annual AGM. However, due to her having previously won the bursary prize, Doris kindly permitted us to randomly select another name from the draw and give the prize to another member. {You can read about what Doris studied HERE on the blog.}

To my surprise and joy, I was informed I had won the bursary prize. I chose an online course, ‘Transfer Printing onto Felt and Other Fabrics’, with Lindsey Tyson. The bursary prize money contributed towards this course.

I first saw Lindsey’s printed felt products on Instagram and her website, Lindsey Tyson Art. Lindsey had a successful career in textiles, has been printing on felt for many years, and has developed her own techniques. I am amazed at her printed felt products and how she mastered such clear, precise and detailed images – especially onto felt. The course is not a felting course; it consists of How to Transfer Prints onto Felt and other Fabrics. Lindsey has produced a comprehensive pre-recorded course to share her expertise. Lindsey’s video tutorials provide hours of demonstration, which is backed up by documentation that can be printed out, which I found really useful.

I pondered for some time before signing up for this course, as I knew this printing method would involve a certain amount of equipment and software. I decided not to rush out and buy a laser printer or a heat press. I used local resources around me, as I had access to a laser printer that I could use. I had been a member of a print studio, and I arranged to use their textile heat press to get me started.

The course covers in great detail how to design and manipulate images. It includes tutorials on using free software as well as paid software like Photoshop. I had an old version of Photoshop on my desktop that I could use, and I had great fun at the start trying to remember how to use this software, as it’s been a few years since I used it. I found Lindsey’s Photoshop tutorials a great guide, and I hope to get more proficient using Photoshop.

I’ve enjoyed all the course content very much, especially the fabric design elements. I was delighted to find a way of combining my line drawings, paintings, and photographs. I learned how to design my own imagery and patterns so that I could transfer my designs onto felt. I also learnt about fabrics suitable for printing.

This course taught me the importance of choosing the right type of paper to transfer onto felt when using a laser or inkjet printer. I used Lindsey’s paper recommendations and purchased paper from her website.

I experimented a lot. I had several prints with which I was not pleased with the print quality. I discovered that the quality of your print can be down to not using the right temperature, pressure, and trimming on the heat press.  

I felted large squares of felt in white 19-micron Merino wool, and I also bought prefelt Merino wool in preparation to print. To practice printing onto felt, I used free image resources recommended in the course, my photography, line drawings, and paintings.

The First One

For my first attempt at printing, I used free images printed on 19-micron Merino wool.

First Attempt: Free images printed on 19-micron Merino - a Seagull, a deer, and an owl.

Floral Experiment

Next, I worked with a flower photograph that I edited in Photoshop, ready to print and transfer onto extra-fine prefelt. I wanted to see how clear I could get this image from a photograph printed onto paper and then transferred onto felt. I hoped this image would pick up the shadows and colours that I liked about the original picture. It was interesting to see the printed results when transferred onto felt.

Repeat Patterns

Experimenting with a repeat pattern, tree images were transferred onto a 19-micron Merino.

Three-Dimensional Work

I really enjoyed making the below nature-printed pebbles and brooches using core wool and 19-micron Merino wool. I am pleased with the finished printed results.

Line drawing flower printed onto a felt pebble.

A robin painting printed on three felted pebbles, with a free robin with a holly branch image transferred onto a felted brooch.

Conclusion

I highly recommend this course if you want to learn to print onto felt and other fabrics. The beauty of the pre-recorded online course is that you can access it indefinitely, always revisit parts if you are unsure, and can take it at your own pace.

Ongoing course support is great. There is a private Facebook group where you can share your ideas, questions and any problems you may have, and Lindsey is always on hand to answer your questions and ensure you have all the information you need to succeed via email and Facebook.

Lindsey Tyson is having a Moving-On course sale on ‘Transfer Printing onto Felt and Other Fabrics’. She is moving away from feltmaking and printing to focus solely on her painting practice. NOTE: Registration for the class closes on the 30th of April. But once you purchase this course, you will have unlimited access.

To register for Lindsey Tyson’s ‘Transfer Printing onto Felt Course’ visit this page on her website – https://www.lindseytyson.art/transferprint-1

Or if you have questions, contact her directly – transferprint@lindseytyson.com

Instagram: @lindseytysonart

Feltmakers Ireland would like to thank Adrienne Dempsey for her lovely report and congratulate her on these brilliant course results.

We will hold a raffle for another Educational Bursary at our AGM in May. If you have not done so already, please renew your membership for a chance to win!

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: Timelines – Growth and Catastrophe – Cork

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

‘Timelines Growth and Catastrophe’ is a collaboration between eight contemporary Irish tapestry weavers. It showcases one large tapestry and eight individual works. The artists are the following: Muriel Beckett, Tish Canniffe, Pascale De Coninck, Frances Crowe, Lorna Donlon, Terry Dunne, Catherine Ryan, and Heather Underwood.

Where: LHQ Gallery, County Library, County Hall, Cork.

The exhibition continues until 28th February 2025.

Their Instagram – @timelines_tapestry

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: Don’t Be Absurd – Art Exhibition in USA – The CAMP Gallery

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The Contemporary Art Modern Project Gallery (CAMP Gallery) invites fibre artists to submit proposals for the 7th edition of their annual exhibition, ‘Women Pulling at The Threads of Social Discourse: Don’t be Absurd’.

“The exhibition will explore absurdism, referencing Franz Kafka, Albert Camus, Simone de Beauvoir, Jose Saramago and/or Samuel Beckett. Artists will apply the ideas and concepts in these works to our modern world, through which industry and politics are still and often dehumanised. Sub-topics include but are not limited to childhood in industrial societies, sexuality, gender, women’s rights, and education. We asked artists to create circular fibre works to symbolize the continuation of hope in our present experience as we strive to overcome a certain sense of nothingness.” – the gallery’s website.

They ask that artists submit a proposal first, detailing how their piece complements the chosen text, with an accompanying sketch and/or render. Please do not make any pieces before notice of acceptance.

The exhibition is in North Miami, Florida (USA) and runs from the 10th of October – the 20th of December 2025.

Last day to submit proposals for large-scale work – March 15, 2025
Last day to submit proposals – April 15, 2025

For more information, visit the gallery’s website – https://thecampgallery.com/news/38-open-call-don-t-be-absurd-the-contemporary-art-modern-project-is-officially-accepting/

@threadsofsocialdiscourse @thecampgallery

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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: Helena Mc Guinness – The Journey – Solo Show – Ballyfermot Library – Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Feltmakers Ireland guild member Helena Mc Guinness is presenting a solo exhibition of her multidisciplinary work at the Ballyfermot Library Gallery in Dublin. The exhibition, titled ‘The Journey,’ reflects her creative path, which began at the age of nine when she sold her first three knitted garments. Over the years, Mc Guinness has explored a variety of artistic media, now coming full circle as she returns to working with wool.

When: The exhibition runs from the 4th to the 28th of February, with the official opening on Saturday, the 8th, from 2 to 4 PM. Feltmakers are warmly invited to attend!

Where: Ballyfermot Library, Art Space 1 – Ballyfermot Rd, Kylemore, Dublin, D10 WV02.

For more information on the venue’s hours, visit the website – https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/libraries/find-library/leabharlann-bhaile-formaid

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: Lenore Tawney & Toshiko Takaezu – London – Show Closes Saturday

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
Lenore Tawney & Toshiko Takaezu: A Remarkable Friendship - photograph of installation in gallery.

We’re sorry for posting this one at the last minute, as it closes on Saturday, but this art exhibition looks inspiring. Online sources are filled with excellent pictures and information if you cannot instantly travel to London in Dr Who’s TARDIS.

The Alison Jacques Gallery presents ‘Lenore Tawney & Toshiko Takaezu: A Remarkable Friendship’, which is a two-person exhibition dedicated to the work and 50-year friendship of Lenore Tawney (1907-2007) and Toshiko Takaezu (1922-2011).

According to Tawney’s website, her “career as an artist did not begin in earnest until the age of fifty.”

For more information, see the gallery’s website – https://alisonjacques.com/exhibitions/lenore-tawney-toshiko-takaezua-remarkable-friendship

Lenore Tawney’s website – https://lenoretawney.org/

If you cannot make it to the show, textile artist Kim Winter has an excellent review post with many photographs of the installation in the gallery! https://kimwinter.co.uk/2025/01/09/lenore-tawney-toshiko-takaezu-a-remarkable-friendship

Kim is a former feltmaker, who now focuses on basketry. She has a long-running and informative blog that is worth following.

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.