Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

The Launch of the Valkyrie – Anacortes, Washington, US

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In March, this elegant vessel was launched, after over a decade in the crafting. My eldest son, Spencer West, has been involved for many years, along side expert boat builder Jay Smith, and other experience carvers and crafts-women and men. His whole family has been involved. It was an awe-inspiring day to watch as the ship was birthed out of the … [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