Mini Workshops
Our annual mini workshop meeting is always popular. This is a ‘members for members’ day when we share our knowledge with each other.
We will also have a “Sewcial table” for those who are not joining the workshops. Bring along a project of your own to work on, if you’re not joining a workshop.
Workshops run for two hours.
Six workshops will run concurrently and we plan a morning and afternoon session of each workshop.
Morning session: 10:30-12:30
Afternoon session: 13:30-15:30
Cost per workshop is €20.
Kit up to €5 (where provided)
This year’s workshops:
Weavings, Embroidery stitches - Ann Fleeton
Sashiko, Japanese-style stitching - Moira Byrne
Felting tiny vessels - Sheila Broughan
Dorset Buttons - Bronwen Murray
Gel-plate printing - Sally Hewetson
Free-motion embroidery - Eithne Carey
Members Stitch-In
Bring any project you are stitching and work alongside other embroiderers.
Petra Skyvova - Balbriggan Stockings
Petra Skyvova is the author and curator of Weaving the Threads of Heritage project.
Stash-Swap and Quiz
For our January meeting we hold a Stash-Swap, (clear out your unwanted fabrics, filaments and fibres and make room to fit someone else’s castaways) while offering financial donation to a chosen charity.
Swap is followed by our annual quiz (textile-related, of course).
Aoife Long - Eye of a Needle
Aoife Long is the founder of Spirit & Luxury, a creative studio specializing in fine art photography for artists, makers and luxury stays across Britain and Ireland. In addition to working with the best craftspeople and ethical product brands, Aoife has curated international art magazines, large scale documentary photo projects and ethical e-commerce stores. Her work has been published widely across digital and print media including the Times UK, IMAGE Magazine, The Irish Independent, RTE, Selvedge Magazine, Irish Country Magazine, the Irish Arts Review, to name a few.
Aoife will deliver a lecture titled 'Eye of a Needle' on the topic of marketing ethical products and textile art in the contemporary cultural landscape.
Katerina Knight - Stitching with Nature
Katerina Knight is an English textile artist, writer, and lecturer. Katerina specialises in one-of-a-kind handmade textile artworks that explore narratives of personal and planetary healing represented through horticulture and slow textile making.
Lucy Butler - Treasuring Remnants of Our Past
Hailing from County Mayo with a degree from the Institute of Art, Design & Technology, Dun Laoghaire, Lucy Butler is an Irish artist whose sculptural work is predominantly inspired by the historical architecture of the Irish landscape.
Summer Outing
Day Trip to Rough Circle Studio, The Butler Gallery and the National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny.
To Frame or Not to Frame…
Displaying Textile Art
Demonstration and Discussion of various methods of stretching, mounting, framing and hanging diverse textile artworks to display, to their best advantage.
Textiles of Peru & Workshop Message in a Hexagon
Josephine Whitmore is a native of Wexford town and has been sewing since she was a child. She is currently in the final year of City & Guilds Diploma in Patchwork & Quilting.
Mini Workshops (NOTE: Date - 2nd Saturday of the month)
Our annual mini workshop meeting is always popular. This is a ‘members for members’ kind of day when we share our knowledge with each other.
Stash-Swap and Quiz
We hold a Stash-Swap, (clear out your unwanted fabrics, filaments and fibres and make room to fit someone else’s castaways) while offering financial donation to a chosen charity. Swap is followed by our annual quiz (textile-related, of course).
Claire Halpin
Claire Halpin is a Dublin born and based artist who will speak about her work, encouraging an enquiry-based way of visual thinking.
Spin Me a Yarn Elizabeth O Connor
Elizabeth O Connor is a renowned spinner, well known in Irish spinning circles, and has a particular interest in flax/linen.
Her presentation will focus on flax, with a soupçon of folklore and textile history.
Mount Merrion Community Centre closed
As a mark of respect to the late Margaret Barber, manager of Mount Merrion Community Centre, the centre will be closed on Saturday 5th October.
We offer our sincere condolences to Margaret’s family and friends.
We will not hold our usual meeting on 5th October. Claire Halpin’s presentation and workshop is postponed until December 7th 2024.
Transformations Exhibition
The Irish Guild of Embroiderers presents its 2024 exhibition of members' work on the theme of “TRANSFORMATIONS”.
An Geansaí Chléire / The Cape Clear Gansey Story
Jean Long is an established hand knitter and lives with her family in East Ferry, Cork.
Yeats Sisters Symposium
Yeats Sisters Symposium, Taney Parish Centre, and related display in Dundrum library for the month of July.
Day Trip to Carrickmacross & Swallow Studios
Day trip by bus to Carrickmacross Lace Gallery, History and Lacemaking demonstration followed by a visit to Swallow Studios, Castleblaney.
Price €50 (includes light refreshments on arrival in Carrickmacross. Lunch not included.)
Layered Cloth Presentation by Caroline Moore and Workshop
Caroline is a textile artist living in Newry. She exhibits her work with Cork Textiles Network, Clanrye Lace Group and Ceangailte and responds to Open Calls and invitations. Her work is made predominantly with Irish linen and vintage pieces using a variety of cross-cultural textile and embroidery techniques to manipulate fabric.
Goldwork Presentation by Sorcha O’Raw and Workshop
Sorcha O’Raw is an embroidery artist specialising in Goldwork, a type of embroidery which uses metal threads and wires for a raised, metallic effect. She found goldwork embroidery while interning at the historic Hand & Lock. As a technique it oozes decadence and is a clear symbol of the value of whatever it depicts. Historically used by the military and the church to communicate their wealth and power, Sorcha looks to modernise it to communicate a kind of emotional wealth and a national identity for a country founded in the 20th century.
Mini Workshops
Our annual mini workshop meeting is always popular. This is a ‘members for members’ kind of day when we share our knowledge with each other.