Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Suquamish Elementary Students

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In 1985, our eldest son, Spence, began kindergarden at Suquamish Elementary, the first year of his public school experience.  Our youngest son, Jeff, was three years old then, and I  had recently transitioned away from my nursing job in Seattle, to become a full-time "Home-Maker". By a gift of good fortune, I was then able to begin studying Art, in … [Read more...]

The Odyssey Program 1st and 2nd Grades

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This May I was happy to be invited to teach an ethnobotany lesson to Peggy Koivu's 1st and 2nd graders in the Odyssey Program, from the Bainbridge Island School District, at Camp Indianola, in Indianola, Washington. Here is one group of students making 'nature beads' out of 1" lengths of Red Osier Dogwood and Swamp Willow twigs, that were … [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