About
BARN Member: $160
Non-member: $195
Saturday & Sunday, June 18 & 19 from 10 am to 4 pm
Materials fee: $80 (check to Melinda West or cash) collected in class
"Long Life Maker" Western Red Cedar From Tree to Pouch
Pacific Northwest landscapes are home to a wealth of native and introduced plants known to have a long, rich history of fiber use by the First Peoples of the region. “Long Life Maker” is one of the many names the Western Red Cedar tree has been called. Students will learn why, as they are introduced to a multitude of uses gleaned from this generous tree. Melinda West will bring a freshly cut cedar tree to class on Saturday, so students can learn all aspects of what it means to peel their own pieces of bark. The class project is a folded Cedar bark pouch which Ed Carriere, Suquamish Elder and Master Weaver, taught Melinda to make, and has given his blessing for her to teach.
Students will learn basic techniques for gathering, preparing, storing and weaving with all parts of the Western Red Cedar as they are guided through the construction of the folded and sewn bark pouch, traditionally made in the Salish Sea region for gathering berries or holding implements. Bark removing, measuring, scoring, sewing, inner bark preparation, multiple flat braiding, and 4 strand round braiding, will be techniques students learn through the creation of their own beautiful pouches.
This class is appropriate for beginners.
Students will need to bring: $80 materials fee, sack lunch, garden gloves, small bucket, work scissors, chip-knife (if you have one), old towel, clothes that are OK to stain.
INSTRUCTOR: Melinda West, of Indianola Washington, has been practicing the art of plant-fiber weaving since 1985. She has studied with many native and non-native weavers and artists, the foremost being Ed Carriere, of the Suquamish Tribe. Her inspiration comes from nature and the First Peoples of the Pacific Northwest whose cultures embrace the rich traditions of natural fiber use; knowledge in the land; and artistic skill development in all aspects of life. Melinda enjoys sharing her love of natural history, environmental stewardship, and an appreciation of indigenous cultures through the arts, teaching at the Seattle Art Museum, Olympic College, Coupeville Art Center, North Cascades Institute, Olympic Park Institute and IslandWood. Melinda’s award-winning art is on display in public private collections and her work has been featured in books and magazines.
Learn the basics of crocheting with wire. Wire is a fun departure for those used to working with yarn. It comes in a variety of sizes and colors. Wire sizing is described in numerical gauge, with higher numbers for thinner wire and lower numbers for thicker wire. Typically, wire sized at 28 gauge and above is used for knit and crochet.
We will make a basic shape that can be morphed into a variety of projects. Once the basics are learned we'll explore what contemporary artists have created with wire including beading.
Wire has memory and stiffness that yarn doesn’t have. This makes it harder on your hands and harder on your tools. Don't use your prize tools for these projects: use steel or aluminum tools since wood, bamboo and plastic will scratch.
