Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Some old notes on Schoenoplectus Pungens – NW Sweetgrass

By

Growing and Harvesting Your Homegrown NW Sweet Grass. 9-3-2024 Melinda West Not everyone is fortunate to have there own land to cultivate, or even a place to call home, but perhaps you have a balcony on your apartment, or a friend with space in their garden, or access to a public Pea Patch? That’s all you need besides a large pot without holes … [Read more...]

August 16, 2010 Harvesting Grasses and Leaves

By

Summer has peaked in the Puget Sound area with temperatures in the 90's, clear skies, and gentle breezes from the North. This is the time my thoughts flow to the harvesting of foliage from the many long-leaved plants and grasses I love to use for making cordage for weaving. From our garden, or with permission from the gardens of others, I harvest … [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