Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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Passing Skills to Others

September 20, 2015 By Melinda

Traditional knowledge of all aspects of the world in which we live is the foundation for much of the art, science, and technology in our modern world.   Pollen records indicate that Traditional First Peoples of the Pacific Northwest have been utilizing all parts of the Western Red Cedar tree for at least 5,000 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Students, Weaving with Cedar, Workshops Tagged With: cedar bark hat, IslandWood, mentor, Primitive skills, student, vine maple bow

The Woman With A Bird On Her Hat

September 10, 2015 By Melinda

Cedar Hat

Lauren Silver writes a beautiful blog.  She commissioned a cedar hat some years ago, and it is a prominant character in this sweet essay: "The Woman With A Bird On Her Hat".   … [Read more...]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: cedar bark hat, Lauren Silver, The Woman With A Bird On Her Hat

Lauren Likes Her New Hat

September 8, 2010 By Melinda

Cedar Hat Inside

An artist is never happier than when she/he is encouraged to create.  This encouragement comes in very practical forms, such as commissions from those who appreciate the art we practice.  Thank you Lauren for this opportunity.   Lauren wears her Cedar Hat well! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Plants and Places Tagged With: cedar bark hat, Western red cedar

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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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Melinda West and basket, Indianola WA

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