Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Harvesting Homegrown Schoenoplectus Pungens

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Hi Friends, For some of you who are learning to grow your own materials for basketmaking, it seems early to me, but I harvested my first pot of basketmakers sweetgrass, Schoenoplectus Pungens, that I grow at home. I live in a canopy of beautiful big conifers. Over the years we’ve emulated “bog” conditions in our sunniest spots, which means … [Read more...]

Ernestine Hayes – “Here We Are Together – Our Only Future Is a Future Together. As Humans.”

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To listen to Earnestine Hayes in this beautiful short profile is a gift to any heart that aches for the ills in the world today. I’m so grateful that she found her gift of writing. I hope you enjoy! “I believe that the things that we learn about balance and about sharing and kinship and survival and dependence are not strictly Indigenous values … [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...]

Craft 2026 – Upcoming Workshop at Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network

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I am thrilled to be leading a five day workshop: WEAVING NATURE - SEASONAL GIFTS OF PLANTS FOR BASKETMAKING. It will be held in the Seattle area at Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network (BARN) next April 27 through May 1, 2026. I’m gratefully enjoying the gathering of oodles of materials for students now. For more information about Craft 2026: Craft … [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