Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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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

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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  • Bare Bones Abstracts
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  • Cedar Bark – Useful and Beautiful
  • October 2020 London Craft Week at J&M Davidson
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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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