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...]

Clam Shell Rattle Necklaces

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I was delighted to be invited by teacher, Peggy Koivu, to share the cultural art and science story that my practice of art imparts, with her first and second graders at their Environmental Education Camp retreat. Part of the Bainbridge Island Public School system, this was a class from their Odyssey Program, an alternative program involving lots of … [Read more...]

Images – 2011 Workshop At NCI

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I'm embarrassed it has taken me a full year to find these pictures in my computer.  Sometimes I do dream of having a personal secretary, but since that isn't likely, I hope you will stay tuned for upcoming entries with pictures from the North Cascades Institute 2011 workshop.  I still remember clearly how hard everyone worked, taking the natural … [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