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).

June 10 & 11, 2017, Cedar From Tree To Pouch

Back by popular demand, a Cedar From Tree to Pouch Workshop will be held at the new Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network, on June 10 & 11, 2017.

Grateful for Wonderful Students

I am grateful for this Cedar tree and for these students!

Ichi-go ichi-e: IslandWood 2-7-2016

A Japanese concept of treasuring meetings with people.

Cedar Workshop June 18+19, 2016

Registration open for the June 2016 workshop.

Gifts from the Landscape – 2016

Melinda’s 2016 class offerings.

Passing Skills to Others

Knowledge is lost unless it’s passed on.

Cedar-Tree To Pouch

Had a beautiful day with students at BARN, making Cedar bark Pouches.

Cedars Become Teachers

We did a little cedar thinning for our generous neighbors today. Ready for class tomorrow!

Cedar Workshop June 6, 2015

June 6, 2015 Cedar workshop with Melinda West

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Recent Posts

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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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