HAPPY CANADA DAY!

I thought that this story would be a good celebration of Canada Day. It is a story of Coast-to-Coast SAORI connections. It also has a connection to Peachtree City, Georgia – as that is where the 2014 SAORI Conference is being held this month!

Susan Forsberg writes:

There is a SAORI Weaving page on Facebook that I frequent as a source of inspiration and community and one posting caught my heart. The cloth was attractive for the colours used and the texture of the weave. The photos were tantalizing as well as intriguing. I wondered how it was woven and kept looking to see what I could. The more I looked the more in love I was with the cloth. The weaver Janet Sponagle Hopper from Halifax called it Peach Tree City Cloth. As I was to find out later she wove it during the never ending winter on the East Coast and was intending it to go to the SAORI Conference in Peach Tree City in July 2014, the colourful weave uplifted her spirits during the cold winter. In the comments of other weavers to her post was the question about how it was woven. Janet’s answer was precise and clear as she gave her method of warping and weaving, which I printed out for future reference, as I said I was intrigued by the weave. Janet’s description of how she wound the warp and threaded it and then wove it opened new doors for me as I had not explored any of these areas in my own weaving. I kept examining the photos one after the other and the more I did the more I was in love with this cloth.

 

Finally I contacted Janet through a message and told her that I was ‘reaching for the moon’ and asked if she would part with this cloth and sell it to me and to my delight Janet said YES, I was so excited I nearly fell off my chair.

 

Soon after we talked on the telephone and got to know one another and connected on many levels and many things. Her mother in law lives in Victoria and hopefully we will get to meet on a future visit to British Columbia. A short while after that first phone call the package arrived with tissue carefully in the folds and all around it along with a lovely card saying that ‘it had been a pleasure to get to know me a bit across this vast country and to know that she had created something in the Peach Tree City cloth that brings me joy’ and that she would look forward to seeing my new garment.

 

Well I looked and looked and hugged that cloth, studied patterns for garments, and looked at the cloth some more and I loved the flow of the weaving. The more I enjoyed the cloth the more I didn’t want to cut it to pieces and reassemble it into a garment. I liked it just as it was woven and in the order that it had been woven. I made my choice to cut it once only in half. Then I hand stitched it together and made my “Joy Coat”, put it on took photos and sent them to Janet. Thankfully she was pleased with how I had chosen to create the my part. I am filled with the Joy of the Coat, and the joy of the cloth, and the joy of the SAORI Story we share coast to coast across Canada.

 

Thanks to Susan for the great story and to Janet for the photos of the cloth. This story was shared recently at the SAORI Kai in Victoria at Knotty by Nature. Great SAORI Connections!

Happy Weaving,
Terri

My website: www.saorisaltspring.com

 

I was invited to share two SAORI workshops at Citizen Clothing in Victoria once again. I loaded up the van with 6 looms, yarn, roving, treasure, chairs, shuttles and all the rest….

and headed to Victoria. On Saturday we had a SAORI Kai at Knotty by Nature (more on that in another post) and then Sunday was the workshop day. Metka brought snacks and we set up for the day…

 

 

Some people had taken my previous class and some hadn’t woven before – but all created some wonderful SAORI weaving. 13 new weavings in all!!

So much inspiration…

 

 

Each one so different. I so love sharing SAORI!!

Thanks again to Metka for organizing the workshop and setting everything up and to Patrick for the use of the great space. And of course to all the weavers who came to play!

Happy Weaving,
Terri

My website: www.saorisaltspring.com

 

Two weeks in Japan! Two weeks of SAORI inspiration! Two weeks with my friend Laura (of SAORI Studio LA)! What a wonderful time I had.

I have been trying for 4 years to get back to Japan and I finally made it. So much fun, so much SAORI – but I wish I could have stayed longer!

Imagine – an anniversary party for SAORI no Mori with over 100 people attending – all wearing SAORI. Wow.

Seeing Misao Jo again – now at 101 years old and many of the Jo families – generations of SAORI weavers. Also meeting other weavers and staff at the studio – all such wonderful, warm and fun people!

 

Learning more about SAORI, weaving, a clothing design class with the master clothing designer Masako and more.

I’ve been posting lots of photos on Instagram and Facebook and have neglected the blog. Apologies!

The Blossom Banner created at the Blossom Festival and finished at the studio has headed off to Hiroshima for SAORI Peace Weave 2014.

I’m now back at home, at my studio and looking forward to a SAORI Kai, SAORI workshops, classes and retreats including the Loom Dancer Weaving Odyssey retreat here in July with 10 people!

I’ll be writing more often – see you soon.

Happy Weaving,
Terri

PS – you can also read my newsletters linked on the right column of this blog or subscribe to them to get them in your eMailbox

My website: www.saorisaltspring.com

 

I am currently in Japan for 2 weeks of SAORI inspiration. I will post photos when I’m home, but in the meantime you can see some images on my Facebook page – www.Facebook.com/saorisaltspring. (Note: you don’t have to sign in or be part of FB to see the images.)

Happy weaving
Terri

Spring is here on the island, the daffodils and blossom trees are out and blooming. Hurrah!

It also is the time that things get busier here on the island and at the studio. Retreat season, visitors, classes & workshops, festivals, oh my! I love it 🙂

This past month we were on a couple of trips to visit family and so I wasn’t weaving much or writing at all. Starting now there is lots more to write about and so you will be hearing from me more often. I am just in the process of putting the next newsletter together as well.

Here are a few things that have been happening….

Threading up looms, some for a workshop this coming Sunday – this for one of my students…

 

A weaving recently completed at the studio by Teresa…

 

Working on designing a tunic with 3 pieces of organic cotton weaving…

 

And new items in the studio…

 

I will be at the Blossom Festival on April 12 on Salt Spring from 11-2, so I invite you to come and do some weaving on this year’s Blossom Banner!

 

 

Happy Weaving,
Terri

My website: www.saorisaltspring.com

 

Last fall, Tara was asked to do a commission weaving for a Pentecostal Liturgical Stole. There were some sizes given (width, length, etc.) as well as preferred colours and style and the rest was up to Tara.

Tara worked on this at the studio over many weeks – setting up the warp, choosing colours and doing the intricate weaving. She ended up doing two sections – one for the long sides and another for the back neck piece which was to be narrower. It was wonderful to watch this stole evolve and the results are stunning.

The full stole…

 

A close up…

 

And a detail of the back of the neck. This section is a combination of a cross and a sun done with an inlay and embroidery technique…

 

She and I were able to go together to present it to the recipient – who loved it. She is giving it as a gift to someone who will be graduating from Theological College.

Congratulations Tara!

Happy Weaving,
Terri

My website: www.saorisaltspring.com

 

 

Last week I hosted a SAORI Kai at Knotty by Nature in Victoria…

 

It has been a long time since we’ve had a kai and it was great to see everyone, share our weaving and be inspired by each other.

I was so excited I forgot to take photos of most of it and so missed many of the lovely pieces!

Here is the ‘firebird’ warp that I made, woven by Tara…being discussed by Eve, with Lynn in the photo in her wonderful boat neck top…

 

An amazing find by Jean – she was at a Thrift shop and found this yellow SAORI dress that we all think must have been made in Japan. I wonder what the story behind it is? It now has a home where it is treasured…

 

Tara’s Cirque de Soleil jacket …

 

Looking at fabric…

 

Marie shared a lot of what she has been working on, including upcycling sweaters, making bags and more. I missed photos of all of her work, but here is a photo of her…

 

She now has an ETSY shop where you can see some of her work – and buy it too!

I love to see what people have been working on and hear the stories behind them. Two new weavers were at the Kai and it was great to hear about their experiences with SAORI weaving. Claudia (Claudia’s images) was also there. Catherine Mick – also known as the Rag Lady – brought some things she has woven from kilts – repurposed into beautiful weaving and clothing.

So much fun and inspiration!

Thanks to all who were able to come. We’ll have another in a couple of months – dates tba.

Back to Salt Spring in the fog. Fulford….

 

Mt. Maxwell…

 

Happy Weaving,
Terri

My website: www.saorisaltspring.com

 

 

I have been working on some pieces in a series called “Organica” – all on organic cotton pre-wound warps with organic cotton weft.

My latest weaving was trying out the w-w-w way of weaving (#5 on page 84 of the SAORI Self Innovation book)…

This style of weaving can be used to add some great texture to your weaving…

 

 

If you do the w-w-w each row, the cool thing is that since there is so much extra weft in each row, once the weaving is off the loom you can stretch it out to the sides…

 

This warp was 22 cm at the reed, once it came off the loom, it’s natural relaxation with the extra weft was 33 cm…

 

 

Once it was stretched out, it was 55 cm…

 

It makes a lovely random lacey effect…

 

and looks wonderful in a window…

 

It takes a long time to weave, as each row requires manipulation of the weft yarn. Once I got into the rhythm of it, I enjoyed it though and it was so much fun after to see how it would turn out!!!

Next, to wash it and see what that does to it!

Note to self – textured yarns make it more difficult to stretch it out…

Happy Weaving,
Terri

My website: www.saorisaltspring.com

 

SAORI Red Boat Necked Top

 

Just in time for Christmas…

Lynn came by last week and we always have fun doing a show and tell (a mini SAORI Kai!). Lynn brought a fabulous new top that she made…

SAORI Boat neck top

I loved the colours, of course, and it was so comfortable to wear that I didn’t want to give it back. Well, the next best thing was examining how she made it, and with her help and hints making one of my own!

I just happened to have this fabric that last year had been hanging in my house – now ready for some clothing 🙂

Dreaming of Peru SAORI Cloth

The pattern is from the Self Innovation book and is very easy to make. My fabric was narrower than the pattern called for, so I cut one length of fabric down the middle lengthwise and added it to the edge of the fabric to make it wider before beginning the construction.

Front….

SAORI Red Boat Necked Top

Back….

Red SAORI top

SAORI Top

Ready for Christmas! – or anything!!

SAORI Clothing Design

Happy Weaving,
Terri

My website: www.saltspringweaving.ca

SAORI Salt Spring Island

Yesterday, I posted this photo on Facebook:

Here’s the rest of the story…

I had finished weaving a piece this summer and it has been waiting to be made into something. Yesterday was the day!! I had an idea to make a shawl/jacket based on the pattern in the “blue” SAORI clothing design book – pattern # 28.

I measured my weaving and it was approximately the same width and the exact length – go figure! So I got started and made a few modifications to the design as I put it together.

When I was finished, I asked Alan to take some photos. I don’t like having my photo taken at the best of times – but it didn’t work on the dress form, so here I am modelling it.

With the large collar down….

With the large collar back…

With the large collar up as a hood….

With it rolled into a bulky collar…

From the back…

And then when I got tired of modelling (you know, where to put your hands? where to look? how to stand? – a model I’m not!), I jumped up in the air…Alan kept taking photos and so that’s how we got the photo that I posted yesterday.

Today, I found a few more ways to wear it. What to call it – a tunic, a shawl, a jacket, a vest – it is all of these….

And….so simple to construct…

Just 3 pieces sewn together along the selvedge edges with holes left for the arms!

Happy Weaving,
Terri

My website: www.saltspringweaving.ca