Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

  • About
    • Art Resume
    • Artist Statement – Land Acknowledgement
    • Teaching, Exhibits, Projects
  • Galleries
    • Functional Ribbed Work
    • Wall Pieces
    • Woven and Folded Bark
    • Sculptural Blends
    • Community
  • Workshops
  • Weaving Knowledge
    • Workshops
    • My Teachers
    • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact

Ed Carriere Receives the National Heritage Fellowship Award in September 2023

November 5, 2023 By Melinda

Ed Carriere has been working steadily for eight decades keeping Suquamish weaving traditions alive. I’ve always known him to be a unique and talented individual, a good friend, and a teacher. One of the lessons I carry from knowing Ed is that a love for learning can take you places you never dreamed possible. I am so happy Ed Carriere is being … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Community, My Teachers, News, Resources, Upcoming Tagged With: Dale Croes, Ed Carriere, National Heritage Fellowship Award 2023, Suquamish, Suquamish elder, Washington DC

Audrey Armstrong Teaches at BARN – Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network

November 4, 2023 By Melinda

One month ago I had the pleasure of meeting Audrey and Scott Armstrong. They arrived at SeaTac Airport, flying in from Anchorage Alaska. There they met Audrey’s daughter Alicia, and son-in-law Kai, who had also just landed after flying in from North Carolina. The family had not had an opportunity to be together physically since pre-covid times. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Artwork, Community, My Teachers, News, Resources, Students, Upcoming, Workshops Tagged With: Anchorage Alaska, Athabascan, Audrey Armstrong, Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network, BARN, BARN workshops, Dolly Vardon, Educators, Environmentalists, fish skin sewing, Halibut, Koyukon, October 2023, salmon, sewing, Suquamish

Land Acknowledgement 2020

August 22, 2020 By Melinda

Walking to the studio-image by Claire Dibble

Land Acknowledgement 2020 I acknowledge that I reside on the traditional territory of the Suquamish Peoples, People of the Clear Salt Water, whose ancestors have lived here from time immemorial, preserving the land and waters that five generations of my own family have benefitted from. I express my deepest respect and gratitude for all indigenous … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Community, My Teachers, News, Plants and Places, Resources Tagged With: Land Acknowledgement, Marilyn Wandrey, S’Klallam, Suquamish

IslandWood Artist Residency Spring 2018 – Blog Catching Up

June 5, 2019 By Melinda

Students plant young Cedar Trees

I’ve never gotten to teach with a baby on board, but having 7 week old Verite with us for some of our teaching time added to the experience of sharing sharing skills in a more traditional way - as a family. Verie’s mom, Kah-Ty-Ah Lawrence Moran, was team-teaching with me for the two weeks of my IslandWood Artist Residency in May of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Community, News, Students, Weaving Nature Tagged With: Cedar Mat Necklace Pouch, IslandWood, IslandWood Artist in Residence, Suquamish

Ed Carriere – Culture Carrier – June 9, 6:30 – 8, 2017

May 11, 2017 By Melinda

Ed Carriere and Great-grandson Cody

http://bainbridgebarn.wildapricot.org/event-2485430 Please join Suquamish Elder, Master Weaver, carver, craftsman, and culture carrier, Ed Carriere, who with Plant Fiber Artist, Melinda West, are opening up the brand new Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network with an evening of learning. Ed Carriere will share some his own story of how weaving … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Community, My Teachers, News, Upcoming Tagged With: Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network, Ed Carriere, Master Weaver, Suquamish

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Search the site

Subscribe

Blog Categories

Connect with Melinda

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Recent Posts

  • Local History – Interview With Barbara Ann Lawrence – Suquamish Tribal Cultural Teacher and Storyteller
  • Porch Papermaking With Food Plants – Cardoon and Kale
  • Paper from the Ditch – Weathered Reed Canary Grass
  • Late Winter Papermaking – Mixing Siberian Iris Leaves and Lichens
  • More Spring Porch Papermaking – With Ivy Leaves

Popular Blog Topics

art Art in the Woods Studio Tour Artistic Weaving With Western Red Cedar Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network BARN BARN workshops cedar bark Cedar From Tree To Pouch Clam Basket A Story By Ed Carriere class community creative Cultural Arts Foundation NW design early spring Ed Carriere English ivy Fall First Peoples grasses inner cedar bark IslandWood ivy Katie Jennings leaves new work North Cascades Institute NW sweetgrass Pacific Northwest papermaking Paper making Small Plant Fiber Projects spring students summer Suquamish Sydni Sterling Sydni Sterling Studio teaching weaving Weaving With Western Red Cedar Western red cedar winter workshop

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

Copyright © 2025 Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry | Indianola | Washington | USA

Site by LND