Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

The Launch of the Valkyrie – Anacortes, Washington, US

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In March, this elegant vessel was launched, after over a decade in the crafting. Our eldest son, Spencer West, has been involved for many years, along side expert boat builder Jay Smith, and other experience carvers and crafts-women and men. His whole family has been involved. It was an awe-inspiring day to watch as the ship was birthed out of the … [Read more...]

Betty Pasco – Recipient of the Bainbridge Island Museum of Arts BRAVA AWARD in 2023

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Here it is finally, full-on Spring where I live. The birds are singing and chattering, zipping by me as I wander through the garden. Thoughts of last Spring come around again and I remember being invited into the home of Betty and Duane Pasco. Betty is in her 80’s, Duane in his 90’s. They are both excellent storytellers because they have memories … [Read more...]

Knowledge is a Gift – Audrey Armstrong at Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network

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I have such gratitude for all my teachers. I’ve felt this way even before I met Joey Holmes, one of my Lushootseed language teachers who continually says with a big smile: “Knowledge is a gift”. Do we realize that enough? How do we use the knowledge that is shared with us? Does knowledge given to us come with a responsibility? What does reciprocity … [Read more...]

Audrey Armstrong Teaches at BARN – Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network

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One month ago I had the pleasure of meeting Audrey and Scott Armstrong. They arrived at SeaTac Airport, flying in from Anchorage Alaska. There they met Audrey’s daughter Alicia, and son-in-law Kai, who had also just landed after flying in from North Carolina. The family had not had an opportunity to be together physically since pre-covid times. … [Read more...]

Audrey Armstrong Inspires by Teaching Salmon Skin Sewing

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https://salmonlife.org/archived/stories/salmon-sewing/ Story & Photography by Bethany Goodrich, 2009 Bethany Goodrich is a multimedia storyteller living, loving and working in Southeast Alaska. She has worked around the globe, from Antarctica to Ghana, exploring how thoughtful story sharing can positively impact our communities, … [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