Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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IslandWood Artist Residency Spring 2018 – Blog Catching Up

June 5, 2019 By Melinda

Students plant young Cedar Trees

I’ve never gotten to teach with a baby on board, but having 7 week old Verite with us for some of our teaching time added to the experience of sharing sharing skills in a more traditional way - as a family. Verie’s mom, Kah-Ty-Ah Lawrence Moran, was team-teaching with me for the two weeks of my IslandWood Artist Residency in May of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Community, News, Students, Weaving Nature Tagged With: Cedar Mat Necklace Pouch, IslandWood, IslandWood Artist in Residence, Suquamish

One Year Ago – Catching Up – IslandWood Artist Residency

May 31, 2019 By Melinda

Greetings! I’ve been working this year, but I haven’t kept up with my blog entries about the wonderful students I’ve been fortunate to meet and interesting work I’ve had the pleasure of doing this past circle of seasons.  So here is a little pictorial of last May at IslandWood, during my 16th Artist Residency there. I spend two weeks each year … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Community, News, Students, Upcoming, Weaving with Cedar, Workshops Tagged With: Barbara Lawrence, cedar bark, Cedar life cycle, IslandWood Artist in Residence, Kah-Ty-Ah Lawrence Moran, lessons of cedar tree

2019 Basketry Program Workshops at BARN

March 22, 2019 By Melinda

Ellen Miyasato was our BARN class assistant

2019 BASKETRY WORKSHOPS AT BAINBRIDGE ARTISANS RESOURCE NETWORK March 2, 2019 - CHASING BEAR GRASS WITH POLLY ADAMS SUTTON https://bainbridgebarn.wildapricot.org/event-3116631 Those of you who have had the good fortune to take a basketry class with Polly Adams Sutton at BARN, know that she is a master basket weaver and phenomenal teacher. … [Read more...]

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

Peeta Tinay Teaches The Art of Twining With Reed At BARN

March 18, 2019 By Melinda

Peeta Tinay Teaches at BARN

After the snow has melted, the bulbs are up, Daphne is bloomed and even Trillium dare to expose themselves, it was time to gather for a workshop at BARN, (Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network), with Peeta Tinay. Students came from as far as north as the Gulf Islands in Canada and as far south as Astoria to spend two days learning multiple … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, Community, News, Students, Workshops Tagged With: Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network, BARN, BARN workshops, Peeta Tinay, The Art of Twining With Reed, Wickerwork

Polly Adams Sutton teaches “Chasing Bear Grass” Basket at BARN

March 2, 2019 By Melinda

Polly Adams Sutton - Chasing Bear Grass Basket at BARN

On the West Coast of North America, where I live, it is hard to complain about the mostly mild weather, but after several weeks of snow and freezing temps, it felt good to get out and gather with others at the Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network, BARN, and spend a fun day weaving together under the steady guidance of Polly Adams Sutton.  Polly … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, Community, News, Workshops Tagged With: Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network, BARN, BARN workshops, Chasing Bear Grass, Polly Adams Sutton, Small Cedar Bark Basket

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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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