Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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Coiled Cordage Pendant

February 20, 2014 By Melinda

2013 Pendants made by 5th graders at IslandWood

Learning to make cordage from the leaves and grasses at hand is fun for every age. Discovering a bit of ancient knowledge about how to appreciate and utilize the plants around us, transforms us into makers of make beautiful and useful objects. Here are some pictures of young people making coiled cordage pendants, but this workshop is fun for all ages.

5th graders at IslandWood make cordage, 2013

Warning! Cordage-making can be addictive!

My IslandWood 2013 Lesson

My basic lesson during an Artist Residency at IslandWood, Bainbridge Island, Washington.

IslandWood 5th graders

If grasses and leaves are not available, how about those old T-shirts, fabric, or jeans. Plastic or paper bags, and other materials pulled out the the recycling bin may also work well!

Coiled Technique with newspapers

My ten year old grandson kindly made this lovely example of a coiled newspaper wall piece.

2013 IslandWood, one class is finished

One class is finished with seven more to come. Time for this group to plant some cedar trees out behind the art studio at IslandWood.

 

Filed Under: Students, Weaving Nature, Workshops Tagged With: ancient, coiled technique, cordage, grasses, leaves, sewing, Small Plant Fiber Projects, universal

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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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