Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry

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

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Weaving with Cedar

This section documents many of the workshops I’ve done where an immersive experience with Western Red Cedar is my emphasis and goal, more than any product that students may create. The names of these workshops, their duration, and the project outcomes are varied to fit the venues I was invited to teach in.

Cedar From Tree To Pouch, Cedar From Bark To Basket, Artistic Cedar Weaving, Cedar Limb Bread Tray, Woven Cedar Satchel, Woven Cedar Wall Basket, Small Woven Cedar Basket, Small Cedar Projects, are some of the workshops I have offered. Also featured here are some of the wonderful teachers who offered their talents to help establish the Basketry Program at the Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network (BARN).

Woven Wearables with Mathewson & West

Mathewson and West’s October Workshop At Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network

Spend three inspired days exploring local plant-fiber use and universal fiber techniques with two contemporary plant-fiber artists, Margaret Mathewson and Melinda West, at the Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network.

Repost of a 2020 Interview with J & M Davidson for London Craft Week

Blowing the dust off of piles of past work, I found this interview from The Covid Era which may be of interest.

Ed Carriere’s Residency at Bloedel Reserve

Had a lovely visit with Suquamish Elders Ed Carriere and Marilyn Wandrey at the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

One Year Ago – Catching Up – IslandWood Artist Residency

Oh my, I am behind on my blogs, but here’s pictorial highlights of May 2018 at IslandWood during my two week Artist Residency there with Kay-Ty-Ah Lawrence Moran.

Cedar Hat

Kathey Ervin’s Cedar Workshop at BARN

Highlights from Kathey Ervin’s “Weaving With NW Gold – Pick Your Own Project” Workshop at BARN.

Basket By Polly Adams Sutton

Sculptural Weaving With Polly Adams Sutton

Polly Adams Sutton will be teaching a two day workshop at BARN, Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network, August 5th and 6th.

Folded Cedar Bark Baskets by Melinda West

Cedar Pouch Class at BARN – June 2017 Recap

This June an amazing group of students came together to make Cedar Bark Berry Picking Pouches at the new Fiber Art Studio at BARN.

Artist Sue Skelly

Basketry Workshops At Bainbridge Artisans Resource Network

Sue Skelly will teach how to make a 4′ Cedar Garden Spire at BARN in July.

Cedar Berry Pouches

One Spot Left for June 10-11 Cedar Pouch Workshop

Registration was closed, but one spot just opened up. Is it your time to learn?

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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

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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

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