Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

  • About
    • Art Resume
    • Artist Statement – Land Acknowledgement
    • Teaching, Exhibits, Projects
  • Galleries
    • Functional Ribbed Work
    • Wall Pieces
    • Woven and Folded Bark
    • Sculptural Blends
    • Community
  • Workshops
  • Weaving Knowledge
    • Workshops
    • My Teachers
    • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact

Spring Branch Sorting

May 3, 2017 By Melinda

winter branches to sort

I've been enjoying the tasks of late-winter/early-spring.  Our vegetable garden is filled with Kale, over-wintered spinach, with arugula, mache, and cilantro as the dominent "weeds", which we love. Nettles are always there at the edges for a good green in pesto, soup, or for tea.  In March one group of 5th graders at IslandWood made me a beautiful … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Plants and Places Tagged With: branches, early spring, Hazelnut shoots, ornamental plum, winter, yellow willow

Lady Fern and Trillium

May 10, 2012 By Melinda

Lady Fern and Trillium

  Just about the time I'm feeling that winter will never end, the green tops of bundled trillium leaves start pushing their way through the flakes of moist earth, pronouncing in three part harmony from one leaf to the next: Spring is here, spring is here, spring is here!  Days are getting longer! Warmth will come! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Plants and Places Tagged With: early spring, native plant, Pacific Northwest, perennial

Bear Grass is Blooming

May 5, 2012 By Melinda

Bear Grass

In the Pacific Northwest, this perennial herb has been utilized by basket weavers for a long time.  With great care and delicacy, individual leaves, and only a few from each plant, would be pulled from near each stem.  It had, and still has, value to First Peoples cultures for decorative work on baskets and hats, and was and still is used as a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Plants and Places Tagged With: baskets, bears, decorative design-work, early spring, forest, huckleberry, limited gathering, meadow, mountain blueberries, preparation, sharp edges, sweet scent

Smells Like Spring!

April 18, 2012 By Melinda

Skunk Cabbage

Over a month ago, in the lush valley by our vegetable garden, skunk cabbage, or swamp lantern, (Lysichiton americanum) sprouts began pushing their way through the boggy, sandy, soils they so love. For me, this perennial plant is a harbinger of spring.  As it's giant, sun-bright yellow hood opens, a large spike is revealed covered with small … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Plants and Places Tagged With: attract fly pollenators, ball, early spring, food, native plant, Pacific Northwest, smell, stink, toy making

The Signs of Spring

March 19, 2011 By Melinda

Since the beginning of March, even under the darkness of storm clouds, with flooding rains, and fierce winds that have tested the tallest trees, purging them of their weakest branches, the signs of spring are all around us. Perhaps because of the darkness overhead, I've been noticing more of the subtle details than ever before. How the leaves of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Plants and Places Tagged With: Deciduous Huckleberry, early spring, Indian Plum

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Search the site

Subscribe

Blog Categories

Connect with Melinda

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

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

Popular Blog Topics

art Art in the Woods Studio Tour Artistic Weaving With Western Red Cedar Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network BARN BARN workshops cedar bark Cedar From Tree To Pouch Clam Basket A Story By Ed Carriere class community creative Cultural Arts Foundation NW design early spring Ed Carriere English ivy Fall First Peoples grasses inner cedar bark IslandWood ivy Katie Jennings leaves mixed grass paper new work North Cascades Institute NW sweetgrass Pacific Northwest Paper making Small Plant Fiber Projects Spencer West spring students summer Suquamish Sydni Sterling Studio teaching weaving Weaving With Western Red Cedar Western red cedar winter workshop

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

Copyright © 2023 Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry | Indianola | Washington | USA

Site by LND