Ann Margaret Keller

Born in Dublin, Ireland, and with a background in Art History and Interior Design, Ann is a designer, lacemaker and teacher, also an artist working in miniature and as a muralist. She teaches Bobbin Lace at her home in South Dublin, Ireland, and also travels to give Bobbin Lace workshops. She has taught on three continents and is happy to teach students of all ages from 5 to 105, either experienced or newcomers. She teaches a variety of Bobbin Lace styles, both traditional and modern, and particularly encourages original design.

Ann also works with Mountmellick, the Irish whitework embroidery traditionally known as ‘Mountmellick Lace’.

From her teaching experiences, Ann has written and published eight books of original patterns with instructions for Bobbin Lace, also two folios of original Mountmellick designs. Recently Ann has been collaborating with Slovenian Bobbin Lace designer and teacher Simona Strgulc Krajsek on a new book Lace Bookmarks. Launched autumn 2024, this book is already being well received around the world and a further collaboration project is now being discussed.

Small group classes in Bobbin Lace can be enjoyed at Ann’s home in South Dublin, also full day Workshops (a great day out with homemade lunch included!), and most months on the third Saturday of the month, Ann teaches at the Laceday of the Guild of Irish Lacemakers in Dundrum, Dublin.  She also teaches residential Bobbin Lace courses at An Grianán ICA College, Termonfechin, Co. Louth, twice a year, in Spring and Autumn. She is also available to give workshops around Ireland and overseas by arrangement. Within Ireland, Ann can supply on loan all equipment for beginner classes.

Ann will create original designs and make lace on commission for weddings, christenings and other special occasions. Work can be either in Bobbin Lace or Mountmellick.

In Artwork, for many years Ann decorated English style lacemaker’s bobbins, needle cases and other small objects with miniature art, creating designs ranging from floral and wildlife to illustration of myth and legend, also painting pet portraits from photographs on commission.

In contrast, Ann also paints murals on commission and has worked in several countries on projects from small corners of a townhouse to expansive full walls of a large conservatory, also the themed interiors of multiple rooms in a boutique hotel. Her favourite places to work on are awkward dark corners of a private home which are in need of life, also the ‘moveable mural’, a large board that can have a different image on each side, facilitating seasonal change such as Christmas scene to summer view.

A leading member and past Chairman of the Guild of Irish Lacemakers, also former Irish representative for OIDFA Ireland, the Irish branch of the international lace organisation, Ann is keen to promote lacemaking as a living art form, relevant to the 21st century and to young generations. In our increasingly technological world, Ann believes it is very important to preserve traditional skills, to continue developing personal individual skills based in tradition and to value handmade creations. The challenge of the 21st century is to find ways to keep work such as lacemaking relevant and to produce designs that can be financially viable yet accessible to the ordinary person.

For details of lace classes, workshops and all Ann's current projects, please see Classes, Workshops & Commissions.