This webinar, ‘Working with Galleries,’ is part of Visual Artists Ireland’s Connected Horizons programme. It explores how artists across the island of Ireland can engage with established galleries and institutions. Hear from: • The MAC (Belfast) @themacbelfast • The Glucksman (Cork) @theglucksman • Gasworks (London) @gasworkslondon Each organisation will present their work, outline available opportunities, and share advice on how artists can connect with them. The session will end with a live Q&A. Connected Horizons aims to: • Strengthen cross-border and East-West connections • Facilitate collaboration between artists and organisations • Support professional development and long-term networks • Increase regional visibility for artists
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.
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.
Some students share their still-in-process, wet-felted eyeglass cases created during a hybrid workshop with Judit Pocs. From left to right: Clodagh, Siobhan, Breda, Dee, Adrienne, Elizabeth, and Hélène.
Hybrid Workshop with International Tutor
On October 6, 2024, eighteen members of Feltmakers Ireland came together at the CIE Sports Hall in Inchicore, Dublin, for an innovative hybrid workshop. Taught remotely by renowned Hungarian artist and tutor Judit Pócs via Zoom, this innovative course blended the advantages of group learning with international expertise. The project, a wet-felted eyeglass case with intricate embellishment options, challenged participants to develop their advanced felting skills.
Students introduce themselves to tutor Judit Pocs – via Zoom
Getting acquainted. Grateful for committee member Suzanne’s expertise with Zoom and projectors! She is wearing a black jumper with a red stripe down the sleeve.
For the workshop, students could use deliciously coloured Merino wool kits from Feltmakers Ireland and Design and Crafts Council (DCCI) member Leiko Uchiyama (https://www.leikofelt.com/shop/) or fibre from their own stashes.
Wool Kit from Leiko Felt
Students working away at the CIE Sport Hall and Social Club
As the projects were small, we shared tables.
Everyone could see the projector where the Zoom was cast.
Some students opted to wear gloves.
Fulling a section of the project.
We organised the CIE Sports Hall’s tables in three rows, with a ‘U’- shape of tables surrounding it. We wanted to ensure all the students could see the projector screen AND be able to get up and walk around the room.
Students show their work to Judit via the Zoom connection
Adrienne shows her case.Hélène shows her case.Clodagh shows her case.Helen shows her case.Elizabeth shows her case.
With the class structured as a hybrid—our teacher, Judit, in Hungary, and the students gathered together in Dublin, Ireland—we had to adapt creatively. If we had been taking the class individually, each of us would have worked in front of our own computers and shared our work directly. With our hybrid session, we interacted differently since we used only one laptop to communicate with our teacher. Consequently, we took turns lining up to share our progress with Judit. Special thanks to committee member (and fellow student) Suzanne Phelan for her excellent expertise in using Zoom and for kindly loaning us her hardware – her laptop, projector, and screen. THANK YOU!!!
Some of the finished eyeglass cases
Felted Eyeglass Case by Hélène Dooley.
Felted Eyeglass Case by Maria McGarry.
Felted Eyeglass Case by Breda Fay.
Felted Eyeglass Case by Siobhan Ryan
Felted Eyeglass Case by Sam Fagan.
Felted eyeglass case by Zivile Zeniauskaite.
Finished case by Elizabeth Redding.
Finished case by Clodagh Mac Donagh.
Felted Eyeglass Case by Helen Kiersey.
Each student used creative decision-making to ornament the outside of her case, and each one came out uniquely!
We sincerely apologise if you attended our class in October and we missed the photo of your felted eyeglasses case. Please email your photo to us, and we’ll happily add it to the slideshow above.
Conclusion
Our class with Judit Pocs was a rewarding experience. Students enjoyed the process and significantly advanced their feltmaking skills. Completing intricate eyeglass cases showcased their ability to master advanced techniques such as shaping three-dimensional felt, attaching gradient cords, using prefelt for patterning, and devising sturdy closures.
We can’t wait to see how they bring these newly acquired skills into their future creations, pushing the boundaries of their artistry even further!
Judit has several pre-recorded classes available to purchase from her website, along with live ones. For more information, visit her website – https://pocsjuditstudio.hu/workshop/
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.
Feltmakers Ireland is excited to announce that we are holding a hybrid online workshop with renowned Hungarian artist and tutor Judit Pocs on Sunday, October 6th, from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
We have ONE spot remaining, now open to non-members for 105 euros.
In this course, Judit Pocs’ Online Workshop – Eyeglass Cases with Special Closure via Zoom, we will make an eyeglass case with an interesting shape and closure, the surface of which we will decorate with pre-felted patterns. The long nose of the lid extends to the back of the case, where the closure strap is located. The case closes by pulling the long nose through the strap. The two tendril-like extensions make its shape more organic, and a spiral line can also be felted into the design. Self-made prefelt patterns make the surface rich and exciting.
We will work with 19-micron Australian merino wool tops.
Judit recommends this course for beginners and advanced alike.
Where: The workshop is a hybrid as it will be held at the CIE Sports Hall in Inchicore, Dublin, and conducted via Zoom. Judit will teach us from Hungary. This is a class of 18 students.
Students should bring their felting supplies and a packed lunch. Complimentary tea and coffee will be provided. Wool kits from Leiko Felt will be available on the day of the class for 22 euros per kit if interested.
NOTE: The link is for non-members. If you are a member of Feltmakers Ireland, please email feltmakersIE@gmail.com to reserve the spot.
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.
Feltmaker and tutor Dagmar Binder has a series of interesting three-dimensional feltmaking classes on offer. Each topic is a stand-alone course.
These online workshops take place over two days during one weekend, with a three-hour live Zoom session each day, supported by video and PDF instructions for you to work independently at home. Videos are accessible for two more months after each class. There are three groups available for the different time zones
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.
Important Update: Join Minding Creative Minds via Zoom for a Workshop with Cli Donnellan. She will teach you how to apply for the Arts Council of Ireland’s valuable Agility Award. This online webinar will also include how to reference your introduction, support material, and work with collaborators.
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.
Breda Fay’s felted purse was created in Aniko Boro’s/Baribon.HU’s online course.
Guest Post by Feltmakers Ireland member Breda Fay.
Pebble Shoulder Bag Workshop with Anikó (Baribon.hu)
Anikó’s Boros course, creating a felted Pebble Shoulder Bag, was designed to take place on the Zoom platform over two days (five hours daily). The learning goals were to make a small bag with a flap top and a closure with an enclosed pebble, to use organza as a surface decoration, and to dye the bag to create a gradient or ombre effect. The “enclosed pebble” is almost a trademark of the Baribon experience, and in this case, it would provide the weight for the bag flap to stay closed.
A list of materials and a clear and well-illustrated step-by-step PDF of the instructions were sent to all students in advance so that they had time to be prepared. There were also suggestions on colour choice, pebble size and weight, and dyeing. While my preferred option was to work alongside Anikó during the live Zoom meeting, there was also an option to receive the recorded material and work at your own time and pace.
Having previously done three courses with Aniko, I was well aware of the teaching competencies of the Baribon Community – Anikó, who is the tutor; Andrea, her wonderful humorous hostess/translator; and her hubby and son, who are in charge of the IT.
Day 1
After a short introduction, including technical info and a general description of the process, we started cutting out the template for the bag and the pebble closure from resist material, cutting the pattern for the embellishment, and then the fabric itself. Some participants could not find the needed embellishment fabric and instead substituted other fabric. Then, we proceeded to lay out the complex arrangement of fibres and wet them down, following along with Anikó’s instructions.
DAY 2
On the second day, we finished felting the bag and proceeded to fulling and shrinking. Anikó is a believer in being thorough and having no shortcuts. So hot water and vigorous rubbing were very much reserved only for the final shrinking process. Our bag was complete, rinsed and stuffed to dry before our coffee break.
The dyeing process began after the break. I used Leiko Uchiyama’s hand-dyed merino and silk for my outer layer of fibre and consequently did not want to dye. However, the dyeing provided a better gradient of colours in a much easier way than laying out fibres.
We then created the cord. I was delighted to achieve a wrinkle-free, strong cord – but it took well over an hour of felting, fulling and shrinking.
We all showed our work at the end and had a chat about what we had learned. There was also a raffle among the participants for a Baribon piece of jewellery.
What I Liked and Learned:
There was a second template of a small phone bag for those who wanted to work on a smaller scale.
Opportunity to ask questions and present your work during the course.
Loved the sheen and exciting surface of the embellishment fabric; it is similar to wood bark. But it did take work to get it incorporated – I can’t wait to try it again!
Opportunity to ask questions throughout the presentation and chat with participants during the breaks.
An opportunity to join a Facebook page to see the work of all – and for any further queries.
Editor’s Note: We recommend signing up for the email newsletters of instructors that you are interested in. That way, you are informed of upcoming courses.
Editor: Thank you, Breda, for your interesting article about your experiences with the Pebble Bag Workshop. If you are a member of Feltmakers Ireland and want to share your educational experiences with our readers, please email feltmakersie@gmail.com
They also have a Trading Online Voucher Webinar for Fingal County residents on the 30th of January, along with other business development classes that may be of interest.
Teacher and artist Dagmar Binder offers several online feltmaking classes via Zoom.
Dagmar’s workshops take place over two days during one weekend, with three hours of live Zoom sessions each day. The classes are supported by video and PDF instructions for students to work independently at home. Videos are accessible for two additional months after each class.
There are three sections available for different time zones.
The teaching of Anikó Boros inspired Feltmakers Ireland member Annika Berglund to enrol in the Hungarian Felting Camp this past September. (You can read about Annika’s fantastic experience on our blog or watch her presentation on our YouTube channel.)
Anikó will be teaching an online Ginkgo Earrings and Necklace Workshop in November.
Date: Saturday, November 11th, 2023 (6PM CET, which equals 5 PM Irish Time).
What you will learn:
Creating a jewellery set with ginkgo leaves in the spotlight.
The characteristic ginkgo leaves are created using fine-micron wool.
Making earrings by felting in the smallest possible scale.
Making a thin cord with a slip knot, with the help of which the length of the necklace can be adjusted.
“Planting” a ginkgo leaf onto the cord, using the encased pebble technique.
Creating a gradient/ombre effect ginkgo leaf.
Special, unique design solutions, ideas and inspiration for your very own ginkgo necklace design.
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.
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