Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

Growing, gathering, and weaving with plant fibers from the Pacific Northwest

  • About
    • Art Resume
    • Artist Statement – Land Acknowledgement
    • Teaching, Exhibits, Projects
  • Galleries
    • Functional Ribbed Work
    • Wall Pieces
    • Woven and Folded Bark
    • Sculptural Blends
    • Community
  • Workshops
  • Weaving Knowledge
    • Workshops
    • My Teachers
    • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact

Welcome to My Blog

As a contemporary visual artist I've been exploring the traditional art of weaving with plant fibers since 1985. I gather materials respectfully, recycling bark off of trees that are being cut down, pruning selectively to encourage the growth and health of plants, and replanting at every opportunity. I enjoy sharing the lessons I've learned from my generous teachers.

Being a hands-on, low-tech type person, I will do my best to make weekly (or at least monthly) posts. I like writing about the making process, worthwhile community projects, and sharing practical ideas of what the seasons have to offer those who are longing to live creatively within the rhythms of the natural world.

Weaving Nature Workshop Fall 2022 at BARN

Hello again. I’m still here and I hope you are too! Are you interested in learning how to respectfully and sustainably gather, prepare, store and utilize fibers from the plants and trees that grow in the communities we are a part of?

Blog Categories

Weaving Project With Periscope Woodcraft

May 10, 2022

It was wonderful working with the Dream Team at Periscope Woodcraft on this fun project!

Read More
Clusters of Big Leaf Maple Flowers

Food Along the Trail – Big Leaf Maple Flower Fritters

April 14, 2022

Elise Krohn and Sable Bruce, of GRuB & Gather, Tend & Grow, have generously shared a delicious recipe during their presentation to the South Sound Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society.

Read More
Harvest Basket

Weaving Nature Workshop Fall 2022 at BARN

April 13, 2022

Hello again. I’m still here and I hope you are too! Are you interested in learning how to respectfully and sustainably gather, prepare, store and utilize fibers from the plants and trees that grow in the communities we are a part of?

Read More

Paper From Plants – A Lesson in Resilience

September 26, 2021

Port Gamble S’Klallam Community Awards Program made this artistic weekend of Paper Making With Plants possible.

Read More

Fireweed and Nettle Fiber Papers

September 15, 2021

It’s been fun experimenting with making papers from the plants that grow in my neighborhood. Fireweed and Nettle have similar useful bast fibers.

Read More

Plants Have Fibers – And Other Good Lessons

September 9, 2021

Thank you for looking at this blog. I haven’t been writing much this past year, for various reasons, but I hope to share more with you in the coming months. Last year was dedicated to working on some projects I’d started, but never seemed to have the time to finish, like the Suquamish-Indianola Storytelling Project. […]

Read More

Weaving Words – 1990 Suquamish-Indianola Oral Histories

April 3, 2021

Listen to the Suquamish-Indianola 1990 Storytellers tell about recollections of people, places and life experiences growing up in Indianola during the first half of the 20th century.

Read More

Ed Carriere’s Residency at Bloedel Reserve

March 13, 2021

Had a lovely visit with Suquamish Elders Ed Carriere and Marilyn Wandrey at the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Read More
Bare Bones One by Melinda West

Bare Bones Abstracts

January 28, 2021

I’m grateful for the opportunity to make two Bare Bones Abstracts. These pieces bring nature and lightness into the formal interior of this lovely home.

Read More

A Space to Work and Meet

January 24, 2021

I’m grateful for the West Woods Working Team, three generations who build so beautifully together. Built with love.

Read More
Cedar Yarn Basket by Melinda West

Cedar Bark – Useful and Beautiful

December 6, 2020

Time to go recollect a few projects I enjoyed working on in 2020.

Read More
Lyons, Cedar By The Sea - A

October 2020 London Craft Week at J&M Davidson

October 5, 2020

I’m grateful to have my work exhibited in the J&M Davidson’s Flagship Store in London, for the London Craft Week 2020, going on now.

Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 17
  • Next »

About Melinda

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.
Read More
Melinda West and basket, Indianola WA

Copyright © 2022 Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry | Indianola | Washington | USA

Site by LND