Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

North Cascade Institute’s Summer Art Retreat On Lake Diablo

By

Here are the students from my "Weaving From the Northwest Landscape" workshop at the NCI retreat in July.  They are all awesome individuals who each have inspired me in different ways.  Be sure to check the North Cascades Institute web site for other fantastic classes.  They offer scholarships too. … [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.
Read More
Melinda West and basket, Indianola WA