Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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Bare Bones Abstracts

January 28, 2021 By Melinda

Bare Bones One by Melinda West

Those of you who are weavers, that work with plant materials you grow and gather yourself, likely understand that building a fine basket takes a lot of time. Sometimes it’s freeing to allow oneself to do a type of work that isn’t about the perfection of the weaving, but instead is more about allowing beautiful materials to breath, to gesture, like … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, Community, News Tagged With: Bare Bones, Curly Willow, Fig, hazelnut, inner cedar bark, willow, Yew

A Space to Work and Meet

January 24, 2021 By Melinda

This has been a year hasn’t it? Fear of losing family and friends to a virus that is transmitted unwittingly by those with no symptoms. Uncertainty. Misinformation. No work, or work from home. No school, or school from home. A daily bombardment from those in leadership who behave the opposite of how we hope to raise our children to behave. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Community, News, Upcoming Tagged With: branch work, Paper making, students, studio, West Woods Working

Land Acknowledgement 2020

August 22, 2020 By Melinda

Walking to the studio-image by Claire Dibble

Land Acknowledgement 2020 I acknowledge that I reside on the traditional territory of the Suquamish Peoples, People of the Clear Salt Water, whose ancestors have lived here from time immemorial, preserving the land and waters that five generations of my own family have benefitted from. I express my deepest respect and gratitude for all indigenous … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Community, My Teachers, News, Plants and Places, Resources Tagged With: Land Acknowledgement, Marilyn Wandrey, S’Klallam, Suquamish

2020 Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network Workshops

February 14, 2020 By Melinda

Cedar and Sweet Grass Basket by Polly Adams Sutton

Sadly all the workshops planned for 2020 were cancelled to reduce the spread of Covid-19 amongst our community. I’m leaving this blog up though, in case you want to get in contact with one of these amazing teachers in the future. Also, BARN now does have a number of classes they offer virtually, so it might be worth taking a look at their … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, Community, News Tagged With: Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network, BARN, BARN workshops, Basketry Programs

Northwest Basket Weavers Guild Program – January 8, 2020

December 29, 2019 By Melinda

Melinda West Plant Fiber Weaver

Welcome to the new year 2020.  I’ll be sharing a presentation at the Northwest Basket Weavers Guild meeting at Phinney Neighborhood Center in Seattle on January 8th. For information about time, how to come as a guest, info about membership, please check out their website at: nwbasketweavers.org Location is:  Phinney Neighborhood Center - Room … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Community, News, Plants and Places, Upcoming Tagged With: Northwest Basket Weavers Guild, NWBW Guild Program, Plant fiber weaving

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Recent Posts

  • Bare Bones Abstracts
  • A Space to Work and Meet
  • Cedar Bark – Useful and Beautiful
  • October 2020 London Craft Week at J&M Davidson
  • Land Acknowledgement 2020

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About Melinda

Thirty 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. The experience of weaving with the materials at hand while being together with my sons on a beautiful Pacific Northwest shoreline, kindled a passion for creating art from natural plant materials. I thank my family, my community, and all my teachers for cultivating this gift in me.
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