This Irish Design Week, we’re celebrating this year’s theme, Fáilte Future Europe, through creativity, traditional skills, repair and reuse.

Join us at The Dock Arts Centre on 12 November for two individual workshops, with something to suit whether you fancy making something from willow or giving a favourite piece of clothing a new lease of life.

Willow Asymmetric Basket Workshop

12th  November | 10am - 5pm | Booking Required €10  | Includes a light lunch

Try your hand at willow basketry with expert tutor Helen Munday, learning traditional techniques while making your own asymmetric basket.

Using Helen’s home grown willow, you’ll learn how to shape and weave the material, with plenty of room to make the design your own. To finish your basket, you can choose a handle from a selection of naturally foraged sticks, making each piece completely individual.

This is a practical, hands on workshop and a lovely opportunity to learn a traditional craft while working with a natural, renewable material.

No previous experience is needed. All materials are provided.

BOOK HERE

Visible Mending Repair Café

12th November | 11am to 5pm |  Booking Required €10  | Includes a light lunch

Join us for a Visible Mending Repair Café, led by CycleUp's experienced tutor, Margaret, and discover creative ways to repair, refresh and personalise your clothes. Rather than replacing damaged garments, this hands-on, drop-in session will explore simple and effective repair techniques that give clothing a second life.

Participants can bring along a favourite item with a hole, worn area, stain or other damage and learn how to transform these imperfections into decorative features using visible darning, patching and sashiko-style stitching. Visible mending celebrates the beauty of repair, combining practical skills with creativity to create unique, individual pieces. If you don’t have anything in need of repair, you’re welcome to bring a garment you’d simply like to embellish or personalise.

With Margaret’s guidance, you’ll have the opportunity to learn new skills, get creative and explore more sustainable ways to care for your wardrobe. Bring along a garment, discover the joy of mending and give your clothes a new lease of life!

Participants for this workshop can drop in during the day and are welcome to stay for as long as they would like. You will also have to opportunity to personalise your preloved bags, jeans and shirts with your own design using our laser engraving machines with Stuart Lawn. 

BOOK HERE

 

Taking its name from the Irish tradition of fáilte, or welcome, the event celebrates Irish heritage and contemporary creativity while creating space for people from different backgrounds and cultures to come together, share skills and make something by hand.

Across two hands on workshops, the day will explore natural materials, traditional craft, repair and reuse, with plenty of opportunity to learn, make and exchange ideas along the way.