Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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Gratitudes For the Cedar Exhibit at Heronswood

March 27, 2019 By Melinda

Darlene Peters S’Klallam Cultural Teacher & Weaver

I am overwhelmed with gratitude for every person here. Hannah Jones who made this exhibit so beautiful & Deb Sweet who helped build the weaving programs at BARN. Dan Hinkley, one of the original Heronswood Founders, who now offers his guidance and expertise as the Port Gamble S’Klallam Foundation breathes life back into the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, Community, My Teachers, Upcoming Tagged With: Betty Pasco, Clam Basket A Story By Ed Carriere, Dan Hinkley, Darlene Peters, Denise Dumouchel, Duane Pasco, Ed Carriere, Ellen Miyasato, Hannah Jones, Heronswood Garden, Heronswood Garden House Exhibit, Jessica Henderson, Joan Garrow, Karen Salsbury, Katie Jennings, LeeAnn Woolery, Makita Wilborn, Melissa Streun, Polly Adams Sutton, S’Klallam, Skagit elder Vi Hilbert, Skokomish elder Bruce Miller, Sue Skelly

Suquamish Museum Presentation

September 17, 2015 By Melinda

The Suquamish Museum, in Suquamish Washington, is the heart of this lovely community, which was also the home and burial place of Chief Seattle. the museum houses the cultural artifacts of this ancient Salish community, from it's origins to the present. Every month the Suquamish Museum offers a free family film night. Tonight, filmmaker Katie … [Read more...]

Filed Under: My Teachers, Resources Tagged With: Clam Basket A Story By Ed Carriere, Ed Carriere, Huchoosedah Teachings of the Heart, Katie Jennings, Skagit elder Vi Hilbert, Skokomish elder Bruce Miller, Suquamish Film Night, Teachings of The Tree People

Clam Shell Rattle Necklaces

May 24, 2014 By Melinda

2014Odyssey

I was delighted to be invited by teacher, Peggy Koivu, to share the cultural art and science story that my practice of art imparts, with her first and second graders at their Environmental Education Camp retreat. Part of the Bainbridge Island Public School system, this was a class from their Odyssey Program, an alternative program involving lots of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Students, Weaving Nature, Workshops Tagged With: Bainbridge Island, clam basket, clam shell rattle necklace, cultural art, Ed Carriere, Environmental Science, first and second graders, First Peoples, Katie Jennings, Media Alley, Odyessy Program, Pacific Northwest, Peggy Koivu, public schools, Small Plant Fiber Projects, spring, Suquamish elder

New Suquamish Museum

October 18, 2012 By Melinda

New Suquamish Museum Opens

One sunny day this past September, something wonderful happened.  Like watching a birth, I became a witness to the opening of the new Suquamish Museum. Documentary film maker, Katie Jennings and I, were fortunate to attend a special dedication for this beautiful new museum.  How nice that "Crow" made a special appearance as we met for tea before … [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Resources Tagged With: Barbara Santos, Ed Carriere, Gloria Nusse, Greg George, Karen James, Katie Jennings, Martha George, Media Alley, Suquamish, Suquamish Museum, Suquamish Peoples, Washington

Clam Basket – A Story By Ed Carriere

September 3, 2011 By Melinda

Suquamish Master Weaver Ed Carriere

This 15 minute Cultural Art Film is Now Available - New Canoe Media After decades of dreaming, and two years in the making, this story has found a beautiful way to be told. For the Puget Sound Coast Salish People of the Suquamish Tribe, weaving baskets from cedar limbs and roots and digging clams are age-old traditions that come together in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: My Teachers, News, Resources, Weaving with Cedar Tagged With: 15 minute film, Clam Basket A Story By Ed Carriere, cultural art film, cultural art story, DVD, Ed Carriere, Katie Jennings, Media Alley, purchase directly from Ed Carriere, short film, story by Ed Carriere, Suquamish, Suquamish elder

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  • Spring – It’s on the Way
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  • Suquamish Elder Ed Carriere is a 2023 National Heritage Fellow
  • Our Sacred Obligation – A Story Worth Spreading
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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

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