Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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New Work

July 6, 2014 By Melinda

fig Bark Scroll Inside

Trying to keep life simple, true, and uncluttered! How does one do that!? Perhaps I'll experiment with that idea in my work? Fig Bark, sweetgrass cordage, Curly Willow. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: brown turkey fig bark, fig bark, folded bark pouch, new work, scroll, simple, summer, uncluttered

Warning – Pealing Fig Bark Can Cause a Phototoxic Skin Reaction

October 19, 2011 By Melinda

Last summer our fig trees needed pruning. So these workers pealed the trimmings last July, using metal butter knives and their nimble fingers. They created some very inventive pouches which smell like the sweetness of figs to this day. But one word of warning!  After working with the fresh bark, please wash your hands very well and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Plants and Places Tagged With: bark pouches, brown turkey fig bark, burn, caution, fig bark, phototoxic, skin contact, summer, use of fig bark, wash well, wear gloves

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Recent Posts

  • Bare Bones Abstracts
  • A Space to Work and Meet
  • Cedar Bark – Useful and Beautiful
  • October 2020 London Craft Week at J&M Davidson
  • Land Acknowledgement 2020

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About Melinda

Thirty 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. The experience of weaving with the materials at hand while being together with my sons on a beautiful Pacific Northwest shoreline, kindled a passion for creating art from natural plant materials. 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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