Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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Cedar Bark – Useful and Beautiful

December 6, 2020 By Melinda

Cedar Yarn Basket by Melinda West

There is something quite amazing about the qualities of the inner bark of the Western Red Cedar. These qualities have been understood by the Indigenous Peoples of the Pacific Northwest for thousands of years. It means a lot to know that some people in todays easy shopping world, where a container for yarn is but one-click away on a computer or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, Plants and Places

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

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

Kathey Ervin’s Cedar Workshop at BARN

March 6, 2018 By Melinda

Cedar Hat

Hello Fellow Weaving Friends.  I have been neglecting my blog, and I do apologize. It means I have been busy with life, weaving, learning, and being present in the seasons. One thing keeping me busy is the unique opportunity to be able to create a Basketry Program within the Fiber Art Studio at the fabulous new Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Community, Plants and Places, Upcoming, Weaving with Cedar, Workshops

Spring Branch Sorting

May 3, 2017 By Melinda

winter branches to sort

I've been enjoying the tasks of late-winter/early-spring.  Our vegetable garden is filled with Kale, over-wintered spinach, with arugula, mache, and cilantro as the dominent "weeds", which we love. Nettles are always there at the edges for a good green in pesto, soup, or for tea.  In March one group of 5th graders at IslandWood made me a beautiful … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Plants and Places Tagged With: branches, early spring, Hazelnut shoots, ornamental plum, winter, yellow willow

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  • Bare Bones Abstracts
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  • Cedar Bark – Useful and Beautiful
  • October 2020 London Craft Week at J&M Davidson
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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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