Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

Herbs and Flowers Ready For Class

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I love to weave, but I love the gathering of materials equally, if not more. It's the being outside, most often in stunningly beautiful surroundings. In preparation for teaching the Wild Twined Herb and Flower Basket class tomorrow, over the past two weeks I've been harvesting herbs and flowers from our garden, yarrow from the wild borders, and … [Read more...]

Wild Twined Baskets July 19 Class

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Here are four versions of one basic twined basket pattern I'll be teaching this Saturday. Using different materials gives lots of variety. The largest basket here, done in an open weave, uses grapevine. The smallest is mostly lavender stems, ivy and akebia vine. The two middle sized are ivy, Iris leaves, New Zealand flax, cedar limb bark, with … [Read more...]

Workshop Sat July 19, 2014

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Wild Twined Herb & Flower Basket with Melinda West When Saturday, July 19, 2014 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Location Rolling Bay Center, 11272 Sunrise Dr. NE, Bainbridge Island Registration BARN Family Member - $72.00 (USD) BARN Member - $72.00 (USD) Non-BARN member - $80.00 (USD) Learn to make a "Wild Twined Herb and Flower Basket" … [Read more...]

Wild Twined Basket Class 7-19-14

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There is a wonderful new resource for artisans brewing on Bainbridge Island, in Washington State.  It is called the Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network, or BARN. A place for artisans to learn, share tools, practice skills, and have space and opportunity to work and network. BARN has developed site and building designs with generous help from … [Read more...]

Western Red Cedar-Tree To Pouch

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Draw inspiration and creativity from the Western Red Cedar Tree as you learn about local First Peoples traditional knowledge of cedar and other plant fibers which has been passed along over thousands of years in the Pacific Northwest. Students learn the techniques of folding, sewing, multiple braiding and cordage-making. … [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