Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry – Growing, gathering, and weaving with plant fibers from the Pacific Northwest

Gallery: Woven and Folded Bark

Respectfully gathered Pacific Northwest materials in traditional, contemporary and original fiber art.
Gallery: Functional Ribbed Work

Bark, wood, grasses and vines are combined to create durable heirloom quality baskets for utility, gifts, and home décor.
Gallery: Wall Pieces

Modern to traditional, rich textures and elegant forms are created with local materials.
Gallery: Sculptural Blends

Plant fibers are lovingly crafted into organic forms inspired by natural landscapes.
Weaving Knowledge

My resource center for artists and educators. Let's grow together.

Large Canoe Bailer-Style Vessel made from folded cedar bark

A large free form basket made from old growth ivy vine, hazelnut limbs, cedar branch bark, cattail, willow

Detail of sculpture made from shaped wild cherry bark sewn to Madrona branch

Nest sculpture by Melinda West made from willow, ivy, apple branches, cedar paper, assorted grasses

Exposed roots of a Western hemlock growing from a nurse log in Indianola, WA

Forty years ago, while sitting on the beach playing with my young children, I made my first basket out of a pile of willow trimmings someone had tossed there. It looked wildly made like a crazy bird’s nest. While being together with my two sons on a beautiful Pacific Northwest shoreline, this simple experience of crafting with the natural materials at hand kindled a passion for creating forms using plant fibers. I thank my family, my community, and all my teachers for cultivating this gift in me.
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