Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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Lessons Learned Through Weaving

March 27, 2016 By Melinda

Wooh! No way am I ever going to be a "mad"weaver. But what a great time I had sharing this learning time with IslandWood graduate-student Lucy. We so enjoyed the opportunity to learn from one of my favorite artists, Dawn Walden, who makes the kind of baskets that really do take my breath away.  I won't share any of the humbling moments of this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: My Teachers, Resources Tagged With: Dawn Walden, Jo Hart, mad weave

Community Support For Artists

November 9, 2015 By Melinda

Many thanks to all who visited us during this Art In The Woods Studio Tour. We hope to see you again next year.  Please watch for Sydni Sterling's new website to be launched in 2016, and for my new contemporary work and traditional woven pieces to be presented here on my website.  Every year infuses us with new experiences and life lessons that are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, Resources Tagged With: cafnw, Cultural Arts Foundation NW, Grateful for support, new work, thank you

Suquamish Museum Presentation

September 17, 2015 By Melinda

The Suquamish Museum, in Suquamish Washington, is the heart of this lovely community, which was also the home and burial place of Chief Seattle. the museum houses the cultural artifacts of this ancient Salish community, from it's origins to the present. Every month the Suquamish Museum offers a free family film night. Tonight, filmmaker Katie … [Read more...]

Filed Under: My Teachers, Resources Tagged With: Clam Basket A Story By Ed Carriere, Ed Carriere, Huchoosedah Teachings of the Heart, Katie Jennings, Skagit elder Vi Hilbert, Skokomish elder Bruce Miller, Suquamish Film Night, Teachings of The Tree People

New Suquamish Museum

October 18, 2012 By Melinda

New Suquamish Museum Opens

One sunny day this past September, something wonderful happened.  Like watching a birth, I became a witness to the opening of the new Suquamish Museum. Documentary film maker, Katie Jennings and I, were fortunate to attend a special dedication for this beautiful new museum.  How nice that "Crow" made a special appearance as we met for tea before … [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Resources Tagged With: Barbara Santos, Ed Carriere, Gloria Nusse, Greg George, Karen James, Katie Jennings, Martha George, Media Alley, Suquamish, Suquamish Museum, Suquamish Peoples, Washington

Clam Basket – A Story By Ed Carriere

September 3, 2011 By Melinda

Suquamish Master Weaver Ed Carriere

This 15 minute Cultural Art Film is Now Available - New Canoe Media After decades of dreaming, and two years in the making, this story has found a beautiful way to be told. For the Puget Sound Coast Salish People of the Suquamish Tribe, weaving baskets from cedar limbs and roots and digging clams are age-old traditions that come together in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: My Teachers, News, Resources, Weaving with Cedar Tagged With: 15 minute film, Clam Basket A Story By Ed Carriere, cultural art film, cultural art story, DVD, Ed Carriere, Katie Jennings, Media Alley, purchase directly from Ed Carriere, short film, story by Ed Carriere, Suquamish, Suquamish elder

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  • Weaving Project With Periscope Woodcraft
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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

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