Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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Weaving With NW Plant Fibers – Classes at BARN

April 12, 2017 By Melinda

Cedar Bark and Bear Grass Basket

I am happy to let you know that the Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network, or BARN has some wonderful teachers offering to share their skills. June 17, Saturday, Nancy Sigo will teach a "NW Coast Cedar Basket" workshop. July 8 + 9, Sue Skelly will teach how to make a "4 Foot Cedar Garden Spire with Finial" in a two day workshop. August 5 + … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Community, News, Upcoming, Workshops Tagged With: Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network, BARN workshops, Nancy Sigo, Polly Adams Sutton, Sue Skelly

Cedar Workshop June 18+19, 2016

January 18, 2016 By Melinda

Cedar From Tree To Pouch (Please copy and paste the link below for more info) https://bainbridgebarn.wildapricot.org/event-2138845 I'm looking forward to teaching "Long Life Maker" or Cedar From Tree To Pouch, this coming June 18 and 19, at the "Rolling Barn" in Rolling Bay, Washington.  The class is limited to 8 students to allow the time … [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Weaving with Cedar, Workshops Tagged With: Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network, BARN, berry picking pouches, Cedar From Tree To Pouch, Folded Cedar Pouch, Long Life Maker

Cedar-Tree To Pouch

June 8, 2015 By Melinda

I am grateful to my friend and neighbor, Suquamish elder, Ed Carriere, for teaching me how to make folded bark pouches, and for giving me his blessing to teach this class!  If Ed weren't so busy teaching for the Burke Museum, researching and making replicas of 2000 year old baskets, and having others documenting his life for publication and in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Students, Weaving with Cedar, Workshops Tagged With: Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network, BARN, berry picking pouche, Cedar From Tree To Pouch, Folded and Sewn Pouch, gathering cedar bark, quiver, respectful gathering, students, Weaving With Western Red Cedar

BARN-A Place For ‘Makers’

May 25, 2015 By Melinda

Known by the acronym BARN, Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network, is now developing programs for artisans. Located just a ferry ride away from Seattle, on Bainbridge Island, Washington. For more information please go to the BARN website. Https:/bainbridgebarn.org   … [Read more...]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: artisans, Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network, BARN, crafts, makers, programs

Cedar Workshop June 6, 2015

May 12, 2015 By Melinda

Cedar Bark Pouch

June 6, 2015, I'll be teaching a workshop at the Rolling Barn, in Rolling Bay Washington.  I'll be bringing in a freshly cut Western Red Cedar tree so students can learn from the tree to the finishing, how to make a folded cedar bark pouch.  The class size is limited so every person will get plenty of individualized attention. There will be enough … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Students, Weaving with Cedar, Workshops Tagged With: Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network, BARN, Cedar From Tree To Pouch, spring, students, Weaving With Western Red Cedar, Western red cedar, workshop

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Recent Posts

  • Spring – It’s on the Way
  • Water Is Life – A Song Worth Hearing
  • Suquamish Elder Ed Carriere is a 2023 National Heritage Fellow
  • Our Sacred Obligation – A Story Worth Spreading
  • Basketry Program at BARN-Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network

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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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