SAORI Weaving Retreats
SAORI Weaving Retreats
SAORI Weaving Retreats here at the studio on Salt Spring Island are as individual as the people who come. I love having people come and immerse themselves in SAORI and the island life.
You can weave at the studio for a few hours or a few days. No weaving experience is necessary – just come in and enjoy exploring colour, fibre and texture in new ways as you discover weaving and discover yourself in the SAORI way.
Retreats will focus on SAORI as always and will allow you to slow down to island time. A real chance to get away to the Studio in the Woods. Instruction time will be a minimum of 4 hours per day between the hours of 10 and 4. Once the retreat starts you will be able to continue to weave on your loom between the hours of 8 am and 7 pm.
2024 Rates:
$250/person/day plus materials* (plus tax) for group retreats (2-4 people) – if you are coming on your own, but are open to others joining in on the class, this rate will apply.
$350/person/day plus materials* (plus tax) for one-on-one retreats, minimum 2 days – this is for times you want specifically one-on-one help
*Materials fees will be in addition to the class fees based on what you weave.
2025 Retreat Dates: $695 for the 3-days, including lunch on the last day.
- April 25-27, 2025 – 1 space left
- May 23-25, 2025 – 3 spaces available
- June 17-19, 2025 – 2 spaces left
Accommodation on the island
The Cottages on Salt Spring – accommodations close to town, but set on a small lake. A variety of sizes of private cottage accommodations. Please let them know you are taking a workshop with SAORI Salt Spring.
Salt Spring Accommodation Group – www.saltspringaccommodation.ca – a searchable website for many other accommodations on the island.
Getting Here
Getting Here – Salt Spring Island has lots to see and do and I recommend bringing a car if possible. The studio location is not on a bus route (though there is bus service on the island from the ferries to town – and a few other places). Car rentals, while possible, are expensive on the island. Taxi service is also pricey, but available.
If you are coming from outside of the Vancouver or Victoria area, the easiest airport to fly into is Victoria. It is a small airport and only a 10 minute drive or taxi ride from Swartz Bay – the ferry terminal. A taxi is about $25-30 CAD.
If you decide not to bring a car, we can pick you up in town (Ganges) and bring you up to the studio. We charge $10 per trip to cover gas costs – it is a 15-minute drive. This must be arranged ahead of time to make sure we are available to provide this service.
AND, if you want help with logistics and recommendations for how to get here, please call or email me and I’m happy to walk you through the options!
Ferry Service Details
Ferry routes and schedules are available from: BC Ferries
From Victoria-
Swartz Bay near Victoria to Fulford Harbour on Salt Spring – Victoria International Airport is a 10 minute drive from the Swartz Bay terminal.
From Vancouver:
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Tsawwassen (south of Vancouver) to Long Harbour on Salt Spring
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Tsawwassen (south of Vancouver) to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island and transfer to the Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour ferry to Salt Spring (ask for a ‘through fare’ when you purchase your ticket at Tsawwssen).
From mid-Vancouver Island
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Crofton (south of Nanaimo) to Vesuvius on Salt Spring
Sea Plane Service
Sea plane services are available daily from downtown Vancouver and the Vancouver International Airport to Ganges Harbour. You can also fly from Seattle to Ganges with Kenmore Air during the summer.
Harbour Air : www.harbourair.com
Seair Seaplanes: www.seairseaplanes.com
Kenmore Air : www.kenmoreair.com
Transportation on Salt Spring
Salt Spring Car Rentals : saltspringcarrental.com
Taxi service : Silver Shadow Taxi Service
Bus service: BC Transit Information
Bicycle Information: Island Pathways
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Thank you for supporting us in our journey, Terri. There are so many layers to the Saori journey. What starts out as learning about a style of weaving turns into an adventure with so many discoveries. Developing community, sharing ideas and inspiring one another is such a big part of it. It all starts with the safe, warm, welcoming space that you have created. You have encouraged so many of us to explore our creativity and to feel we are a part of something bigger than our own journey.
“I love to create lifetime memories with my travels and my family. You truly made such an impact. I’m sure we will return to this amazing place again.”
I just wanted to thank you for the other day, it was really nice to meet you, you’re a fantastic teacher, your studio is very calming and I loved the creative freedom of the Saori weaving. I look forward to taking another class with you in the future.
“Thank you so very much for the wonderful SAORI time. I am so excited to have my first pieces of weaving made into clothing – love every piece.”
“My two days in your studio were fun, relaxing and eye opening. So much colour = bliss! The SAORI way is freeing and calming. No Mistakes = New Design. Thank you.”
“Your presentation, ‘Weaving without Boundaries’ has contributed to the larger discussion of definitions of disability, impairment and illness as well as to specific discussions about the interplay of arts and (dis)ability. We are pleased you have been able to be part of Engaging Disability.”
“The cottage, the studio, the island and your presence is just all so magical. I felt like I had come home the minute I drove onto the property. And the weaving! what a joyful and uplifting experience – so many options. It opened up my creative spirit and took me places I hadn’t imagined.”
“There are not words, but I am going to try anyway. This last week has been magical, healing and a refreshing space to ponder and just be. I go home seeing with new eyes. Sharing creative energy, bouncing ideas back and forth until the very air sparkles with possibility.”
“How do I start? An amazing class – not just weaving, but philosophy as well. It fit right in where I am! Thank you for your kind guidance and encouragement. I look forward to seeing you again – our paths will cross.”
“Thank you so much for coming and running such a brilliant workshop! People have been talking about it for weeks. As coordinators we could not have been happier.”
“What a wonderful two days. Wish it were longer! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and expertise and for your easy way of teaching. Thanks too for your help with our logistics and suggestions for what else to do on the island.”
“What a fabulous experience to create such a beautiful weaving with my daughter under your guidance. It was a wonderful example of how Spirit takes a bit of color here and a mistake there to weave together the fabric of our living.”
“Thank you so much for your fabulous presentation at the 2009 Sewing, Needle & Fibre Arts Show. You are an amazingly talented & creative woman”
“What a great week! Loved the encouraging atmosphere and your gentle nudge to try something new. I learned a lot that I will take with me and use.”
“Thanks so much for helping us make our theme “Weaving a Tapestry of Faith” meaningful to our children. Your patience with all of us is greatly appreciated. Thank you for sharing your expertise and love of weaving with our school.”
“What an amazing week! I’m grateful for your sharing your works, stories, so many techniques and of course – the SAORI philosophy. I’m thrilled beyond words to more fully embrace this way of seeing when I weave, design and ultimately – live my life. Peace.”
“Come alive! Begin SAORI! The inner weaver awaits. Thank you so much Terri, for your kindness and patience as you introduced me to SAORI. I felt supported and encouraged in exploring my creativity in my first weaving effort. A true joy bubbling up from inside.”
“I spent a leisurely Wed afternoon on the deck unboxing and assembling the loom. Packed well and in perfect condition. What a gem – so slick the way everything slips into place so easily. By last evening I had a warp on and started to weave. It is really well designed for simplicity.”
Now booking for 2025
Retreats on Salt Spring Island
Now booking for Spring/Summer/Fall 2025
