A reference for craft traditions rooted in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest — from cedar bark weaving to wheel-thrown pottery and independent market makers.
Craft Categories
Artisan practice on the west coast spans dozens of material traditions, many with deep roots in Indigenous knowledge and adapted over generations by settler and immigrant makers.
Fibre Arts
From cedar bark basketry rooted in Coast Salish traditions to contemporary floor looms, fibre arts remain among the most practiced craft forms across BC.
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Ceramics
Wheel-thrown and hand-built ceramic work has flourished across the Sunshine Coast and Gulf Islands, with studios ranging from individual makers to co-op workshops.
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Wood
Western red cedar, Sitka spruce, and arbutus are among the woods most used by BC carvers — for bentwood boxes, spoons, paddles, and furniture.
Find makersArticles
In-depth looks at specific craft traditions, material practices, and how to find the people who make things by hand across the Canadian west coast.
Fibre Arts • BC
An overview of how cedar bark harvesting and weaving techniques have been practised by Coast Salish, Haida, and other First Nations communities, and how that knowledge continues today.
Ceramics • West Coast
How studio pottery took hold across the Gulf Islands and Sunshine Coast, what distinguishes regional approaches to clay, and where to find potters working today.
Markets • Canada
A practical guide to identifying genuine handmade goods at farmers markets, craft fairs, and seasonal pop-ups across BC and the broader west coast region.
About This Site
WestBasket is a reference site documenting craft traditions, handmade product categories, and how to locate independent makers in Canada. The focus is on the west coast — British Columbia in particular — where geography, Indigenous heritage, and waves of settlement have produced a dense and varied craft culture.
Content covers fibre arts, ceramics, woodworking, metalsmithing, and other material practices. Articles are written in an informational style, drawing on publicly available sources, market directories, and documented craft histories.
About this project →| Craft Region | Primary Traditions |
|---|---|
| Haida Gwaii | Argillite carving, weaving |
| Sunshine Coast | Studio ceramics, textile |
| Gulf Islands | Pottery, woodwork, fibre |
| Vancouver | Mixed media, jewellery |
| Victoria | Glass, ceramics, printmaking |