About Terri Bibby
Terri Bibby started weaving in the 1980’s in Edmonton when the quilting class that she wanted to take was full – but there was a spot in a weaving class. She jumped in and joined the Edmonton Weavers Guild and took the Master Weavers classes at Olds College.
She moved to Salt Spring Island in 2004, hoping to do more weaving. When she first saw SAORI weaving in 2005, Terri immersed herself in the philosophy and practice of SAORI weaving. There was no turning back. The freedom, the colour, the textures and the beautiful philosophy of SAORI was life-changing.
Terri went on a trip to Japan in 2007 and met Misao Jo and the Jo family that carries on the philosophy of SAORI weaving and went back 7 more times to continue to learn and be inspired.
Terri offered classes, workshops and retreats on SAORI weaving, warping and clothing design for all ages on Salt Spring Island, in Victoria and across BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan – even once in New Zealand. Terri had over 1,800 people “Weave for Peace” on beautiful peace banners that have been displayed around the world and as part of SAORI Peace Weave in Hiroshima, Japan.
At the end of 2025, Terri is closing her SAORI Studio and will no longer part of the SAORI Global network.
Terri intends to continue weaving in her studio in the woods. Her weaving is inspired by the ever changing colours and textures of nature that surround her. She is looking forward to having people come to join her in the studio and also hopes to collaborate with others in various Fibre Arts.
She remains a member of the SAORI Leader’s Committee based in Japan.
Articles about Terri
SAORI – Weaving from the Heart
Article by Roger Brunt, Aqua Magazine
Photos by Alan Bibby
(turn to page 19) or pdf file
Self Discovery Through Weaving
Article by Deborah Graham
Background
Starting as a teenager and learning from my Grandmother, I have always had a passionate interest in the fibrearts…from knitting to crochet, beadwork, cross-stitch, etc.
When I first took a weaving class in 1984, I knew that this was the thread that tied things together. I jumped right in and joined the Edmonton Weavers’ Guild and got involved. After taking courses, workshops and Master Weaver classes at Olds College, I completed many types of weaving for guild sales and by commission.
I went on to study Fibre Arts at Grant McEwan Community College until the program was cut back and then cancelled, so unfortunately didn’t start soon enough to complete the whole program.
In the fall of 2005, after moving to Salt Spring Island, BC, I met a SAORI weaver and rediscovered weaving in a new way. SAORI weaving encourages expression of self, a freedom of weaving, of colour, texture and fibre that felt like a homecoming. I started weaving SAORI style as soon as I got home and never looked back.
In June of 2007, I went on a “once in a lifetime” trip to Japan with Mihoko from SAORI Worcester to take a SAORI Peace Banner to Hiroshima. I also wanted to explore the roots of SAORI weaving where it started – in Japan. We met Eiji Jo, Kenzo Jo and other family members as well as many other people involved in teaching SAORI weaving. We had a workshop with Kenzo Jo in which he shared many wonderful ideas. It was an amazing trip!
In the spring of 2010 I was able to spend time in Osaka studying with both Eiji Jo and Kenzo Jo and meeting more fabulous SAORI people. We also were there to celebrate Misao Jo’s 97th birthday! I visited Japan again in many times and hope to go as often as possible to continue the connection to Japan, to SAORI and to the Jo family.
In early 2018, Misao Jo, the founder of SAORI weaving, passed away at 104 years of age. I feel so blessed to have met her and celebrated a few of her birthdays with her. I last saw her in the fall of 2017 when I was at SAORI no Mori. Thank you Misao-sensei for all that you have brought to the world through the wonderful philosophy of SAORI weaving!
After 20 years of exploring and sharing SAORI Weaving as part of the SAORI Global Network, Terri’s weaving and Fibre Art adventures will change direction as she closes her Registered SAORI Studio and begins a journey of her own personal weaving and collaborations with other Fibre Artists.
SAORI Salt Spring – Past Events
- SSISSA – Salt Spring Island Summer SAORI Arts 2025 – 5 day workshop on Salt Spring
- MISSA – 5 day workshops in 2022, 2023, 2024
- Hollyhock – 5 day retreat in 2023
- Parallel Art Show – 2021, Salt Spring Island, BC – entry in juried show
- Virtual Exhibit – Words to Weave, 2021
- Japanese Textile and Craft Festival Exhibit – London, England, May 26-30, 2021
- Roots: Untamed Connections in Fibre Exhibit – London, England, January 23-24, 2021
- Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts (MISSA) – 5-day workshop 2019
- Spaces Between – a solo exhibit at the Green Raven Centre – July 2018
- Workshops with Loom Dancer Weaving Odysseys on Salt Spring Island, BC – 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
- Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts (MISSA) – 2-day workshop 2018
- Classes at Four Corners Collective, Victoria, BC
- Classes at Poppet Creative, Victoria, BC
- Classes at Pacifica Paddle, Brentwood Bay
- Classes at Knotty by Nature, Victoria, BC – started in 2009
- Current Threads show at Ladysmith Waterfront Art Gallery in Ladysmith, BC – August 2 – 28, 2008 presented by the Vancouver Island Surface Design Association
- Wintercraft sale – at Mahon Hall, Salt Spring Island, 2008
- Waterfall banner in New York City exhibits hosted by Loop of the Loom
- ArtCraft sale – at Mahon Hall, Salt Spring Island, 2008
- Eye for Colour II – an exhibit at ArtSpring – Salt Spring Weavers and Painters guild collaborative show, 2008
- Earth Day Banner – April 20, 2008
- Weaving with GIFTS (Gulf Islands Families Together Society) – a six week program, 2008
- Providence Farm Workshops – March 10 & 11, 2008
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‘Weaving a Tapestry of Faith’ in Chemainus, BC, February 11-15, 2008
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Endless Possibilities with Saori Weaving February 9, 2008 at Dreamspin, Lake Cowichan, BC
- Saori Garment Design – Salt Spring Weavers and Spinners Guild, January 31, 2008
- Winterfest & Weaving for Climate Change Action Day – Salt Spring Centre School, Salt Spring Island, BC, December 8, 2007
- Engaging Disability – “Weaving without Boundaries – Workshop at the University of Victoria’s Disability Institute, November 9, 2007
- Speaker at the Salt Spring Rotary Club on Peace Weaving and Saori Peace Weave 2007 for Hiroshima, Japan, November 7, 2007
- Peace Weaving with PeaceWorks! at the Salt Spring Centre School on October 24, 2007, the United Nations Birthday
- Program at the Salt Spring Weavers Guild on Saori weaving and Texture, October 18, 2007
- Presentation at the Deep Cove Weavers Guild on Saori weaving and Peace Weaving, September 25, 2007
- Peace Weaving at the Salt Spring Fall Fair, September 15 & 16, 2007 and on International Peace Day, and September 21, 2007
- Peace Weaving at Gibson’s Landing as part of the Gibson’s Landing Fibre Festival, August 17-18, 2007
- Saori Weaving Workshop at Gibson’s Landing Fibre Festival – “Endless Possibilties with Saori Weaving”, August 15-16, 2007
- Saori weavings in a juried show at the Gibson’s Landing Fibre Festival, 2007
- Saori Weaving Hands-on Demo at the Salt Spring Fibre Festival, July 21, 22, 2007
- Saori Tour of Japan hosted by Mihoko Wakabayashi of Saori Worcester, June 7-21, 2007
- Saori Peace Weave 2007 for Hiroshima, Japan, May 2007 on Salt Spring Island with 150 people participating
- Article for Fibre Focus (a magazine published by the Ontario Handweavers and Spinners guild) on “Weaving for Peace”, December 2006 Issue
- Saori Weaving at the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre in Vancouver, BC, November 2006
- Attended the Saori Canada-USA conference in Worcester, MA in July 2006
- Saori Peace Weaving at the World Peace Forum in Vancouver, BC, June 2006