Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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Cedar Pouch Class at BARN – June 2017 Recap

July 14, 2017 By Melinda

Folded Cedar Bark Baskets by Melinda West

This June, the Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network opened the doors to eleven artisans studios, with several common spaces for programs and intermingling. Located on Bainbridge Island, Washington, this center for artisans has been a dream in the making for many years. Not everyone is fortunate to have a studio space. Many of us have spent periods … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Community, News, Resources, Students, Weaving with Cedar, Workshops Tagged With: Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network, BARN, BARN workshops, Berry Pouch, Cedar Pouch, community, Island Wood, students

Sydni Sterling’s Studio

February 14, 2017 By Melinda

Painter, Sydni Sterling, in the doorway of her garden studio.

I'm fortunate to live in a community filled with artists and skilled artisans, people who work incredibly hard to create a nurturing place, who generously share their knowledge, tools, encouragement, advice, and in this case, also their studio space. For countless years, Sydni has cleared out her painting studio, transformed it into … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, Community Tagged With: art, community

A Fun Weekend – Many Thanks

August 15, 2014 By Melinda

I'd like to shout out a big thank you to Sydni Sterling and Mike Dillon, who opened up their garden and studio for a twice annual exhibit of new work. Thanks to all the guests, friends, and visitors who stopped in. It was wonderful to see everyone! One of my grandson's, Asha, shared his origami.  His work definitely brightened up the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, News Tagged With: community, Indianola Days Art Sale, Mike Dillon, summer, Sydni Sterling, Sydni Sterling Studio

The Faering is Launched

December 6, 2012 By Melinda

2012 Nov 25, faering on Puget Sound

In 2009-2010 our eldest son, Spencer West, had the privilege of working with a team of excellent wood carvers who were gathered at Duane and Betty Pasco's to carve the Raven Canoe.  This canoe was being created for a Canoe family to be paddled on the Canoe Journey to Neah Bay.  The first of these canoe journeys, in recent times, was held in 1989 at … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Community, News Tagged With: ancient, Betty Pasco, canoe, community, Duane Pasco, faering, four oar boat, gokstad viking boat, grateful, Mt Rainier, Mt Tahoma, Raven canoe, Salish Sea, Spencer West, viking

My Studio is a Place of Joy

May 31, 2012 By Melinda

My Studio

Yes, it can also be a place of creative chaos when I bump into materials hanging off the walls and knock down piles of bark drying in the corners as I reach for a tool.  But mostly, it is a place I feel so much love and creative energy. I think the love comes from the fact that my wonderful husband and sons, along with many dear friends, built this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, News Tagged With: community, family, new work, space to make art, Spencer West, spring, stick shed, storage, studio, timberframe, WestTimberCraft.com

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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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