Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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Cedars Become Teachers

June 5, 2015 By Melinda

I want to thank Leslie Newman and Tim Celeski for sharing three young Western Red Cedar trees with me so I can share the wonderful attributes of this tree tomorrow with some extra special students at Bainbridge Artisans Resource Networks' interim space, in Rolling Bay Washington.  I especially want to thank my sweetheart and right-hand man, Paul … [Read more...]

Filed Under: My Teachers, Weaving with Cedar, Workshops Tagged With: BARN, berry picking, cedar, Cedar From Tree To Pouch, Folded Bark Pouches, Leslie Newman, teacher, Tim Celeski, WeavBainbridge Artisan Resource Network, Weaving With Western Red Cedar

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

Western Red Cedar-Tree To Pouch

February 21, 2014 By Melinda

Gathering Cedar from Freshly cut Tree

Draw inspiration and creativity from the Western Red Cedar Tree as you learn about local First Peoples traditional knowledge of cedar and other plant fibers which has been passed along over thousands of years in the Pacific Northwest. Students learn the techniques of folding, sewing, multiple braiding and cordage-making. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Students, Weaving with Cedar, Workshops Tagged With: Cedar From Tree To Pouch, classes, First Peoples, folded cedar bark pouch, Weaving With Western Red Cedar, Western red cedar, workshop

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Recent Posts

  • Local History – Interview With Barbara Ann Lawrence – Suquamish Tribal Cultural Teacher and Storyteller
  • Porch Papermaking With Food Plants – Cardoon and Kale
  • Paper from the Ditch – Weathered Reed Canary Grass
  • Late Winter Papermaking – Mixing Siberian Iris Leaves and Lichens
  • More Spring Porch Papermaking – With Ivy Leaves

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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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