Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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Woven Cedar Bark Satchel or Purse

February 18, 2014 By Melinda

Cedar Satchels

Explore the generous nature of the Western Red Cedar tree as you learn the basics of weaving, twining, and cordage-making using the inner bark of cedar, along with other plant fibers held in high regard and used for thousands of years by the First Peoples of the Pacific Northwest.  As you create your own small satchel or purse you will also learn … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artistic Uses of Plant Fibers, Students, Workshops Tagged With: artistic cedar weaving, Artistic Weaving With Western Red Cedar, fiber plants, First Peoples, North Cascades Institute, Pacific Northwest, preparating materials, respectful gathering, Twining, weaving, Weaving With Western Red Cedar

Images – 2011 Workshop At NCI

July 16, 2012 By Melinda

8-6-11 Linda and Nicole hard at work

I'm embarrassed it has taken me a full year to find these pictures in my computer.  Sometimes I do dream of having a personal secretary, but since that isn't likely, I hope you will stay tuned for upcoming entries with pictures from the North Cascades Institute 2011 workshop.  I still remember clearly how hard everyone worked, taking the natural … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artistic Uses of Plant Fibers, Students, Workshops Tagged With: 2011 Class, Artistic Weaving With Western Red Cedar, cedar bark, cultural art, inspiring, Lake Diablo, North Cascades Institute, preparation of Western Red Cedar, retreat, students, weaving, workshop

More NCI 2011 Class Images

July 15, 2012 By Melinda

8-8-11 Sample

  More to come..... … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artistic Uses of Plant Fibers, Students, Workshops Tagged With: 2011, Artistic Weaving With Western Red Cedar, cedar bark, cedar bark preparation, class, creative, design, inspire, North Cascade mountains, retreat, students, weaving, workshop

NCI Students Begin Their Projects

July 13, 2012 By Melinda

8-8-11 033

The following images were taken by Julie Toomey.  Thanks for sharing these Julie! Many students came with their own project ideas.  It was amazing to see how these ideas became transformed into objects.  Don is making a wall sconce for a light fixture at home. Mary wants to make a special open basket, for holding her "angel cards" … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artistic Uses of Plant Fibers, Students, Workshops Tagged With: 2011 Class, Artistic Weaving With Western Red Cedar, baskets, cedar bark, creative, design, function, inspire, North Cascades Institute, Pacific Northwest plant materials, projects, retreat, students, summer, workshop

2011 NCI Class – Finished Projects

July 12, 2012 By Melinda

8-8-11 035

What a joy it was for Elizabeth and me to see what these students had accomplished in four days.  These types of introductory workshops are always more about the process than the product, but it is meaningful for students of any age to have physical reminders of what they are learning.  I have noticed that when students begin working with Western … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artistic Uses of Plant Fibers, Students, Workshops Tagged With: 2011, Artistic Weaving With Western Red Cedar, cedar bark preparation, class, creative, design, inspire, North Cascades Institute, North Cascades Mountain Range, students, summer, weaving, Western red cedar bark, workshop

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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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