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).

Community Programs at IslandWood

IslandWood is a wonderful place to learn traditional ecological lessons.

IslandWood Cedar Class Feb 8, 2015

Cedar – From Bark To Basket, at IslandWood

Western Red Cedar-Tree To Pouch

Experience the generous attributes of the Western Red Cedar.

Cedar Limb Bread Tray

Learn how to split cedar limbs and make a beautiful Bread Tray

The Cedar Experience

Projects that give students an opportunity to know the Western Red Cedar Tree as their ‘neighbor’.

Small Cedar Baskets

Learn why the Western Red Cedar is highly valued by PNW First Peoples.

Clam Basket – A Story By Ed Carriere

After decades of dreaming, and two years in the making, this story has found a beautiful way to be told.

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Recent Posts

  • Art in The Woods Studio Tour – Nov 13, 14, 15, 2026
  • Some old notes on Schoenoplectus Pungens – NW Sweetgrass
  • Harvesting Homegrown Schoenoplectus Pungens
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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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