Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Students Visit From Japan

By

Language is only a small barrier when it comes to learning a fiber technology. This week I had the privilege of sharing a project with ten bright young ladies visiting from the Tokyo, Japan. Along with their two chaperones, all quickly learned, first by observing, then by jumping right in. It was a pleasure to share this time together! … [Read more...]

Lushootseed Speakers

By

Last weekend I had the privilege of teaching Cordage-Making to participants of the fourth annual Lushootseed Speakers Conference, held at Seattle University. I don't know the words yet to describe what it was like to be in a room filled with with speakers of an ancient living language. My best attempt would be to imagine myself sitting near water, … [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.
Read More
Melinda West and basket, Indianola WA