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

Search the site

Subscribe

Subscribe to my blog
and get updates by email.

Blog Categories

Connect with Melinda

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Recent Posts

  • Bare Bones Abstracts
  • A Space to Work and Meet
  • Cedar Bark – Useful and Beautiful
  • October 2020 London Craft Week at J&M Davidson
  • Land Acknowledgement 2020

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 baskets 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 new work North Cascades Institute NW sweetgrass Pacific Northwest Small Plant Fiber Projects Spencer West spring students summer Suquamish Sydni Sterling Studio teaching vines weaving Weaving With Western Red Cedar Western red cedar winter workshop

About Melinda

Thirty 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. The experience of weaving with the materials at hand while being together with my sons on a beautiful Pacific Northwest shoreline, kindled a passion for creating art from natural plant materials. 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 © 2021 Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry | Indianola | Washington | USA

Site by LND