Gallery: Woven and Folded Bark

Cedar Travel Dreams Basket - by Melinda West
Cedar & Dogwood by Melinda West
Cedar Bark & Roots; Twig, Glass or Metal Beads, Cotton Cords
Cedar Bark, NW Estuary Sweet Grass
Cedar Bark, NW Estuary Sweet Grass, Stones
Cedar Bark, NW Estuary Sweet Grass, Stones
Cedar Bark, NW Estuary Sweet Grass, Stones
Cedar Bark, NW Estuary Sweet Grass
Cedar Bark Vest (Detail) by Melinda West
Cedar Bark Vest by Melinda West
Woven Cedar Basket by Melinda West
Canoe Bailer-Style Vessel (Detail) by Melinda West
Woven Cedar Mail Basket (Detail) by Melinda West
Woven Cedar Mail Basket
Cedar Quiver by Melinda West
Cedar Pouches by Melinda West
Cedar Mail Basket
Detail, Little Gem by Melinda West
Little Gem by Melinda West

Cedar Bark, Bull Kelp, Lungwart, Lichen, Cedar Root, Stone
Cedar Bark Tray by Melinda West
Fig Bark Scroll by Melinda West
Fig Bark Scroll (Detail) by Melinda West
Cedar Bark Tray by Melinda West
Cedar Mail Basket

Woven cedar bark, NW estuary sweetgrass, cedar and willow limbs
Cedar bark, Sweetgrass & Plum limb tray
Cedar bark & Sweetgrass trays
Cedar Bark, Sweetgrass, Bear grass, Maidenhair fern Necklace
Wild Cherry inner and outer bark
Cedar bark and Sweetgrass visor
Cedar bark, sweetgrass. Plum limbs, cedar bark paper

Folded and sewn cedar bark, cedar paper, woven cedar, NW sweetgrass and Bear grass, plum limbs
Cedar bark &Wild Turkey feathers
Cedar bark, Plum limbs, Cedar bark paper, false sinew

Folded and sewn cedar bark, cedar paper, plum branches, river stone
Cedar Satchels

Woven cedar bark, NW sweetgrass, Bear grass, Yew wood buttons, leather straps
Woven Cedar Tray

Woven cedar bark, NW sweetgrass, plum feet, can hang or sit on a surface
Cedar Tray, back view

Woven cedar bark, NW sweetgrass, plum feet
Cedar Berry Basket

Open weave, cedar bark and root
Cattail and Cedar
Detail, Cattal and Cedar
Wetland Cattail Basket
Two Cedar Boxes

Folded and sewn cedar bark, inner bark braid, bone and Yew wood buttons
Cedar Bark, Vine Maple Buttons, Cedar Bark Paper
Cedar Bark Sweetgrass Cordage, Ceramic Button, Cedar Bark Paper
Cedar Bark Box

Folded and sewn cedar bark, root, cedar braid, vine maple buttons
Large cedar Bark Harpoon Pouch with Salmon Skin and Cedar Root
Cedar Canoe Bailer-Style Vessel

Folded cedar bark, Hemlock root, cedar root
Cedar Canoe Bailer

Folded cedar bark, cedar paper, driftwood
Large Canoe Bailer-Style Vessel
Even Larger Canoe Bailer-Style Vessel

Folded cedar bark, cedar limb handle, root lashing
Woven Cedar Bark Baskets

Inner cedar bark, NW sweetgrass, plum
Northwest Coast Burden Basket of Cedar Limbs and Cedar Roots

Split cedar limbs and roots in an open wrap-weave
Clam Basket of Cedar Limbs and Cedar Roots

Split cedar limbs and roots in an open weave
Shredded Bark Leggings

Pounded cedar bark, twined with cedar, rabbit fur
Cedar Bark Pouch

Fold and sewn cedar bark, cedar braid, hazelnut limb, feather
Woven Cedar Wall Basket

Cedar bark, NW sweetgrass, Bear grass, grapevine, Maidenhair fern
Cedar Hat, inside
Cedar Hat, back
Madrona Bark Forms

Inner and outer bark of the Pacific Madrona, cedar bark paper, stones
Large Folded Cedar Vessel

23"tall, 41" wide, 24"deep, made with one large piece of Western Red Cedar, folded, lashed with cedar roots to an Alder branch handle. Inspired by the Salish Canoe Bailers used in the region to bail water out of canoes.
Cedar bark, Plum limb, Grapevine, False sinew, Legal feathers (26”t,17”w,6”d) 1989
Cedar bark, Cedar root, Wisteria vine (24”t,10”w,7”d) 1994
Cedar bark, Madrona limb, Handmade cedar paper, Linen, Stone (41”t, 20”w, 15”d) 2008

To order or or more information please contact 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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