Karena Ryan

Karena is a multi-award-winning textile artist whose work is rooted in a deep respect for material provenance. She works primarily with Irish wool sourced from local farmers and processors, blending it with vintage Foxford blankets, embroidered linens, and found fabrics. 

Karena is a strong advocate for sustainability and the preservation of Irish wool traditions through contemporary textile art, bringing a strong ethos to the Leitrim community with her passion and skills. Both felt workshops draw on Karena’s practice of working with Irish wool, sustainability, and storytelling through stitch.

All workshops are €10 and include tea or coffee. Places for each workshop are limited, and booking is essential.

Participants who attend both workshops will have the opportunity to develop work across the two sessions. Those who create a felted base in the wet felting workshop can bring it back to the needle felting workshop if they wish and further embellish it.

Wednesday 5 August, 11am — 4pm

This hands-on wet felting workshop introduces participants to the traditional process of transforming raw wool fibres into felted fabric using water, soap and agitation. Working with Irish wool, participants will learn how to layer fibres, blend colour and texture, and create a small felted artwork inspired by the Irish landscape. This workshop offers an engaging introduction to a sustainable heritage craft and invites participants to connect with material, process and storytelling through stitch and fibre. Suitable for beginners.

Wednesday 12 August, 11am — 4pm

In this needle felting workshop, participants will explore the tactile and creative possibilities of wool through the art of sculpting with fibre. Using Irish wool and needle felting techniques, participants will create a decorative textile piece inspired by landscape, nature and texture. The workshop will introduce participants to building surface, blending colour, and creating detail through a slow, mindful making process. Suitable for beginners and those with some experience. Participants will also have the opportunity to further embellish their work through hand stitching, embroidery and hand beading, adding layered detail and personal expression to their piece.