Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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Cedars Become Teachers

June 5, 2015 By Melinda

I want to thank Leslie Newman and Tim Celeski for sharing three young Western Red Cedar trees with me so I can share the wonderful attributes of this tree tomorrow with some extra special students at Bainbridge Artisans Resource Networks' interim space, in Rolling Bay Washington.  I especially want to thank my sweetheart and right-hand man, Paul … [Read more...]

Filed Under: My Teachers, Weaving with Cedar, Workshops Tagged With: BARN, berry picking, cedar, Cedar From Tree To Pouch, Folded Bark Pouches, Leslie Newman, teacher, Tim Celeski, WeavBainbridge Artisan Resource Network, Weaving With Western Red Cedar

Working on a New Wall Piece

January 6, 2013 By Melinda

2013 Jan 4

I'm happy to finally make time for a promised wall piece for a friend.  It feels wonderful to have completed so much in 2012, and now to have a fresh start.  I can't wait to wake up tomorrow so I can work on this wall piece.  So far, I'm using plum branches, New Zealand flax, Western red cedar bark, and Siberian iris stalks. I'll let you … [Read more...]

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Leslie Newman, New Zealand Flax, Newman Design, ornamental plum branches, Weastern red cedar, winter

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Recent Posts

  • Hazelnut In Spring
  • Food For Thought – No Reconciliation Can Come Without Truth
  • Weaving Project With Periscope Woodcraft
  • Food Along the Trail – Big Leaf Maple Flower Fritters
  • Weaving Nature Workshop Fall 2022 at BARN

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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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