Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Art in The Woods Studio Tour – Nov 13, 14, 15, 2026

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Greetings. I hope this note finds you well. Perhaps, like me, you are in the midst of Huckleberry picking, and daily harvests of garden vegetables, and fruits, like the ripening Asian pears. Here, the Osprey are perching on the broken tips of dying Madrones on our bluff, emboldened since the Eagles that nest nearby have left, gone to their favorite … [Read more...]

Lissa Hunter’s Take Two Online Workshop

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Yes, this is an advertisement for a fun workshop with Lissa Hunter, a fantastic fiber artist and teacher. Since she lives on the other side of this broad country, we may never have had the chance to meet. I’ve admired her work from afar through fiberart and craft magazines, so when Take Two provided the opportunity for me to learn from her last … [Read more...]

The Community Completes the Artist

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There are lots of reasons artists create their work…necessity (pay the bills), compulsion, yearning, expression, exploration, joy, invention, obligation….but many of us do our work alone. One of the beautiful things that happens when artists open up their studios to the outside world…is the interaction and exchange of ideas with friends, neighbors, … [Read more...]

Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026 – Weaving Nature

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Join us for an extraordinary celebration of American craft as BARN participates in Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026. This unprecedented week brings accomplished artists from our region and beyond for intensive workshops that will transform your creative practice. Handwork Week offers a unique opportunity to learn from nationally recognized … [Read more...]

Weaving Nature – Seasonal Gifts of Plants for Basketmaking

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It’s been a busy fall gathering many of the plants we’ll be using in this workshop. I’m grateful to Jennifer Hemmingsen at Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network for putting together this article. Please be sure to click on “Handwork: Weaving traditions, stewardship and place with Melinda West” to view this article and links to registration and the … [Read more...]

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.
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Melinda West and basket, Indianola WA