Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Here’s What’s Cooking – Porch Paper Making

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Hi Friends. I haven’t forgotten you are out there. In the midst of current affairs it is important to know there way more wonderful humans, like you, who are doing their best to be good citizens, good neighbors, good people, and to live creative and purposeful lives. Against the darkness of our political times, there are many examples of people … [Read more...]

Spring Branch Sorting

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I've been enjoying the tasks of late-winter/early-spring.  Our vegetable garden is filled with Kale, over-wintered spinach, with arugula, mache, and cilantro as the dominent "weeds", which we love. Nettles are always there at the edges for a good green in pesto, soup, or for tea.  In March one group of 5th graders at IslandWood made me a beautiful … [Read more...]

Season for Dreaming and Making

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The shortening days are sneaking up on us now. We've been eating well out of the garden, putting plenty of food up for winter, and now I'm actually delighted with the rains and the darkness.  The weather is helping me focus on weaving and  making art.  In the cozy studio I'm coming face to face again with materials that I've had the opportunity to … [Read more...]

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