Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Cedars Become Teachers

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I want to thank Leslie Newman and Tim Celeski for sharing three young Western Red Cedar trees with me so I can share the wonderful attributes of this tree tomorrow with some extra special students at Bainbridge Artisans Resource Networks' interim space, in Rolling Bay Washington.  I especially want to thank my sweetheart and right-hand man, Paul … [Read more...]

Making Red Osier Dogwood Pouches

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My four year old granddaughter, Calla, is gearing up on this morning to help gather fresh Red Osier Dogwood branches to bring to her brother's class for a project we'll make.   Calla and her dad, Spence, team up while thinning out branches and trunks of the Swamp Dogwood from this overgrown riparian area along a stream on property we … [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