Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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Learning About Pollinators

February 2, 2015 By Melinda

The Pollinator Garden Fence at IslandWood, by Melinda West As a plant fiber artist inspired by nature, learning the life stories of important native Pacific Northwest pollinators has been one of the most delightful aspects of making this fence, and is one example of how art and science are interwoven.  This fence defines a border for ‘a garden … [Read more...]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: ancient, art, bamboo, cedar limbs, Commission, IslandWood, milled cedar splints, pollinator garden, pollinators, science, sustainable, universal, wattle fence, Western red cedar

Coiled Cordage Pendant

February 20, 2014 By Melinda

Coiled Cordage Pendant

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 … [Read more...]

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

The Faering is Launched

December 6, 2012 By Melinda

2012 Nov 25, faering on Puget Sound

In 2009-2010 our eldest son, Spencer West, had the privilege of working with a team of excellent wood carvers who were gathered at Duane and Betty Pasco's to carve the Raven Canoe.  This canoe was being created for a Canoe family to be paddled on the Canoe Journey to Neah Bay.  The first of these canoe journeys, in recent times, was held in 1989 at … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Community, News Tagged With: ancient, Betty Pasco, canoe, community, Duane Pasco, faering, four oar boat, gokstad viking boat, grateful, Mt Rainier, Mt Tahoma, Raven canoe, Salish Sea, Spencer West, viking

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Recent Posts

  • Porch Papermaking With Food Plants – Cardoon and Kale
  • Paper from the Ditch – Weathered Reed Canary Grass
  • Late Winter Papermaking – Mixing Siberian Iris Leaves and Lichens
  • More Spring Porch Papermaking – With Ivy Leaves
  • Here’s What’s Cooking – Porch Paper Making

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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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