Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Asha Gives an Origami Lesson

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My seven year old grandson, Asha, like many young people I know, has found a passion for working with his hands making things, and lately he's all about folding paper. He loves watching the DVD called "Between The Folds", and we both highly recommend it to everyone! Here is his first origami lesson for me. Thank goodness he is patient. I know if … [Read more...]

Gathering Cedar Bark

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Here's my crew! Asha and Calla are in charge. The owners of this property have decided they need to remove these two Western Red Cedar trees. Passiko and Dean waited to get them cut down, until the sap was up, so that we could gather the inner bark. We've all made our personal apologies to these beautiful cedars for what we are about to … [Read more...]

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