Festive Workshops with CELT
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- Dec 3, 2025
- 4 min read
Make your own Festive Season Gifts!
One Day Workshops
Sun, 30 Nov | 10 - 4pm
Location: Slieve Aughty Centre, Kylebrack, Loughrea, H62DX77
One Day Stone Carving Workshop with Tommy our tutor teach the fundamental skills of stone carving, achieved by creating a stone "sketchbook" and work step by step as a group creating a beautiful and unique piece of art and practicing a host of different skills and techniques.
Lessons to learn included...
which tools are needed and what they're for, the maintenance and correct use of said tools
the preparation of the stone
the process of transferring design onto the stone
how to use the hammer and chisel
Different texturing and cutting techniques to create different effects.
This sketch book workshop is an ideal workshop for beginners as you become familiarised with most basic stone carving tools and techniques. This is an excellent foundation to go on to create future carvings supported at our 2 day workshops at our annual Weekend in the Hills, Festival of Tradtional Crafts which takes place every year in May,July & September
For full information on our upcoming events and to book your place please visit us at -
Places are limited so please book early not to be disappointed..
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One Traditional Craft Day Doll Making Workshop
Sun, 30 Nov | 10 - 4pm
Location: Slieve Aughty Centre, Kylebrack, Loughrea, H62DX77
Sun, 30 Nov | Loughrea
A perfect Christmas gift!
The type of dolls made by tutor Laura are known as Waldorf or Steiner dolls. They are crafted entirely from natural materials such as cotton, sheep’s wool, yarn, and fabric. As a result, they are gentle on both the planet and the recipient.
These dolls are characterised by their simple features—just a small nose, and eyes and mouth that are delicately embroidered. They are warm and soft to hold, offering a comforting tactile experience.
"Doll making is something humans have done since the earliest times, and it is a skill that has largely been lost due to the widespread availability of mass-produced plastic dolls," says Laura.
The dolls can be made entirely by hand. The workshop was structured in clear steps: beginning with the creation of the head and facial features, followed by stitching the body, cap, hands and feet and then assembling the doll. The doll we are making at this one day workshop will be an ideal gift for babies and young children. If you have a special fabric you would like to use Laura encourages you to bring it along, otherwise a selection of simple cottons were available on the day.
For full information on our upcoming events and to book your place on our annual Weekend in the Hills, Festival of Tradtional Crafts which takes place every year in May,July & Septembe please visit us at -
Places are limited so please book early not to be disappointed..
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Make your own Festive Season Presents with Needle Felting.
Sun, 30 Nov | 10 - 4pm
Location: Slieve Aughty Centre, Kylebrack, Loughrea, H62DX77
A lovely way to slow down and spend a creative day learning the beautiful art of needle felting!
Learners spent a creative day with artist/ tutor Kate Hayes, learning the art of needle felting using local natural sheep's wool. Guided step by step, you'll create simple treasures. A snow friend and a festive pudding, each made slowly, by hand, with care. These small heartfelt pieces make beautiful gifts for others, or gentle keepsakes for your own home.
No experience is needed. You'll be guided step-by-step.
Kits will also be available to buy on the day so you can continue making beautiful presents at home.
Please note: Materials for the workshop are an additional 20 euros, payable directly to the tutor.
Lunch is included in this workshop.
For full information on our upcoming events and to book your place on our annual Weekend in the Hills, Festival of Tradtional Crafts which takes place every year in May,July & Septembe please visit us at -
Places are limited so please book early not to be disappointed..
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Handmade Chocolate with a Wild Twist with Olwyn The Wild food Specialist!
Sun, 30 Nov | 10 - 4pm
Location: Slieve Aughty Centre, Kylebrack, Loughrea, H62DX77
Untempered Chocolate, Chocolate Bark and Easy Truffles with CELT’s renown Forager and Wild Food Specialist, Olwyn Williams
Nothing beats handmade chocolate! Learners were offered the opportunity to make a rich, dark, untampered chocolate bar from scratch, a crunchy chocolate bark and foolproof 3-ingredients-only milk chocolate truffles. Maybe one would gift them to loved ones, or maybe just keep them all for themrselves!
This is chocolate with a twist though, a wild twist. Participants personalized their chocolate bars using foraged ingredients such as powdered spruce tips, dried flowers, seaweed, mugwort and common hogweed seeds (and others). There was also be a selection of ingredients such as toasted nuts, Christmassy spices, dried fruit and cacao nibs to choose from.
Although there wasn't foraging on the day, people learned about the foraged ingredients, such as how to identify them, what season to harvest them, their habitat, how to process them to store them, and other ways to use them in cooking or desserts.
The ingredients used are organic and fair-trade…
For full information on our upcoming events and to book your place on the annual Weekend in the Hills, Festival of Tradtional Crafts which takes place every year in May,July & Septembe please visit us at -
Places are limited so please book early not to be disappointed..
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Christmas Craft Market -
CELT were also delighted to have some of our tutors host a stall at the Christmas Market at the Slieve Aughty Centre showcasing sustainable gifts including some of our Weekend in the Hill Craft workers products for sale..with lots of tips and information for a Sustainable Festive Season, waste prevention and the alternatives to the traditional overconsumption of the precious resources of Mother Earth that takes place at this time of year!
On Saturday, December 14th – Christmas Craft Market -
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