Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Gratitude for Winter Projects

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Spring is here, and like most plant weaving folks I'm in the midst of all the designing, constructing, gathering, and preparing of materials that the season demands. But before I rush off to all the new explorations of materials, and adventures in learning through art-making, I'd like to express my gratitude for the work I was able to complete … [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.
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Melinda West and basket, Indianola WA