Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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Weaving With Western Red Cedar

May 11, 2015 By Melinda

It was a lovely week at IslandWood this May, with every kind of weather. Warm and sunny, then cool winds with dramatic clouds and thunder, torrential spurts of showers, and back again to warm slightly humid air, scented with the fragrance of everything living.   I brought a simple project for both the graduate students professional … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Students, Weaving Nature, Workshops Tagged With: cordage, Eagle Rock Multi-Age School, inner cedar bark, Island Wood, Professional development, sap is up, spring, students, The Evergreen School, The Valley School, Weaving With Western Red Cedar, Western red cedar, wild rose blooms, Woodenville Montessori, woven Cedar Bark Mat Wall-Hanging

Ready to Weave a Cedar Fan

August 16, 2014 By Melinda

Setting up a Fan framework

It is a delight for me to create an art piece for a specific space in a clients home. After prepping the materials most of yesterday, today I finally got the framework set-up and the weaving started! I'm excited! Click to see finished fan in my gallery. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Cedar Fan, Commission, inner cedar bark, Lopez Wing, Siberian iris pods

Cedar and Iris Fan Is Done

February 15, 2013 By Melinda

2013,Cedar and Iris Fan, Melinda West

This fan is approximately 5' wide by 4.5' tall and 2" deep.  It is made out of my favorite ornamental plum branches, Siberian iris stalks, New Zealand flax, and inner bark of the Western red cedar.   I love the textures and smells of the materials while working.   When I conceived this, I thought I'd end up applying … [Read more...]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: 1st graders, 2nd graders, Cedar and iris Fan, Elementary students, environmental education, inner cedar bark, iris pods, iris stalks, IslandWood, negative space, New Zealand Flax, plum branches, shadows, Siberian iris, Small Plant Fiber Projects, smells, spring, Suquamish Elementary, texture, Wall piece, Western red cedar, winter

Weaving From the Garden – Wall

May 31, 2012 By Melinda

Ribbed Wall Baskets

  The Ribbed Wall Basket is one of my favorites.  It can be made in any size to serve special storage or display functions in the home.  These baskets bring the warmth and wonder of nature inside, and make perfect unique Northwest gifts.  Students learn to select and transform plant materials from Pacific Northwest landscapes and gardens … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Weaving from the Wild, Workshops Tagged With: branches, cordage-making, curing materials, decor, drying materials, function, gathering materials, grasses, inner cedar bark, leaves, mellowing materials, NW plant materials, preparing plant materials, ribbed, survey of materials, utility, vines, wall basket, Weaving From the Wild and Garden Landscapes

Weaving From the Garden – Potato

May 29, 2012 By Melinda

Potato Baskets

  The Potato Basket, refers to this ribbed-style basket in the largest size, but this style can be adapted to any size and renamed as you like.   In a medium size this makes a great bread serving basket.  Students will learn how to select and transform plant materials from Pacific Northwest landscapes and gardens into beautiful and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Weaving from the Wild, Workshops Tagged With: assorted NW plant materials, baskets, branches, bread dish, class, decor, function, garden, inner cedar bark, preparation of weaving materials, ribbed, sampler, students, utility, Weaving From the Wild and Garden Landscapes, workshop

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  • Art in the Woods Studio Tour 2019 – Nov 8,9,10, 10am-5pm
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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.
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Melinda West and basket, Indianola WA

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