Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Images – 2011 Workshop At NCI

By

I'm embarrassed it has taken me a full year to find these pictures in my computer.  Sometimes I do dream of having a personal secretary, but since that isn't likely, I hope you will stay tuned for upcoming entries with pictures from the North Cascades Institute 2011 workshop.  I still remember clearly how hard everyone worked, taking the natural … [Read more...]

Artistic Cedar Weavers at North Cascades Institute

By

This summer I had the privilege of spending four days on Lake Diablo, in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington State.  But I certainly wasn’t roughing it.  I got to stay in a beautiful lodge, and eat wonderful, fresh, organic food, artfully prepared.  The best part of my experience was being able to share time with the amazing group of students … [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.
Read More
Melinda West and basket, Indianola WA