Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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Sydni Sterling’s Studio

February 14, 2017 By Melinda

Painter, Sydni Sterling, in the doorway of her garden studio.

I'm fortunate to live in a community filled with artists and skilled artisans, people who work incredibly hard to create a nurturing place, who generously share their knowledge, tools, encouragement, advice, and in this case, also their studio space. For countless years, Sydni has cleared out her painting studio, transformed it into … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, Community Tagged With: art, community

Art in the Woods Nov 11-13

September 22, 2016 By Melinda

Giant Hearth Basket by Melinda West

Hi friends and fellow artists. I am working on commissions and creating new work with Pacific Northwest plant fibers which will be available this November 11,12,and 13 at Sydni Sterling's Studio and gallery, in Indianola, Washington, as a part of the 2016 Art In The Woods Studio Tour. In 2017, I will be writing a workbook/resource for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, News Tagged With: art, Art in the Woods Studio Tour, culture, IslandWood, new work, residency, science, small plant fiber project, students, teachers, teaching, website upgrade, young people

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

A New Years Greeting

January 28, 2014 By Melinda

A New Years Dawn in Indianola 2014

Welcome to 2014. I have so much to be grateful for. Family, friends, health, a warm home, good food from our garden, and an occupation that I love. Weaving with plants, being outside close to the birds and the bugs, building and creating whatever comes to mind, gosh, this sounds a bit like a childhood dream! For now this dreamer is content to get … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Plants and Places Tagged With: art, cousins, craft, culture, First Peoples, kvaeoy, new year, Norway, Pacific Northwest, Sami, teaching, winter

Next Exhibit, Dec 6 – 8, 2013

November 17, 2013 By Melinda

Inner Cedar Bark, Handmade Cedar Bark Paper, Gold Paint, Plum Limbs

      … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, News Tagged With: art, Bainbridge Working Studios, new work, Sale, winter

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Recent Posts

  • Spring – It’s on the Way
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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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