Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Fall Fireweed on Mt. Townsend

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Paul and I were happy to be able to sneak a day away from a busy fall, to visit our favorite close-by Olympic Mountain hike.  We've lived on the Kitsap Peninsula for 33 years, and we are pretty sure that this was our 33rd visit to Mt. Townsend.  Though it is mostly uphill to get there, the 2,880 feet of elevation is spread out over 4 miles, and … [Read more...]

Art Making in the North Cascades

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I was privileged to be part of a community of wonderful, artistic people this September, at North Cascades Institute, during their annual Art Retreat.  Kristen Gilje, Jocelyn Curry and I, each facilitated classes in our respective art-forms.  We were treated to the best food, all fresh from nearby Skagit Valley farms, prepared by the artisan-chefs. … [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