Native American Artist Lydia Vassar  (WaterturtleWeaver) creates traditional baskets, unique jewelry and Luiseno inspired Native American dolls.

Lydia, a member of the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians gathers native basket materials in the hills and valleys of San Diego and Riverside Counties where her ancestors gathered these precious, yet disappearing  resources.

Lydia is often out gathering juncus reeds, deer grass, yucca, sumac and various other native materials to make her coiled and twined Luiseno baskets.  Lydia also teaches basket weaving classes to local tribal youth at the  Chammakilawish Pechanga School.  Tribal students in  Kindergarten through 5th grade ranging in age from 5 to 10 are learning about native plants, foods and uses while creating beautiful baskets from dried juncus.

With careful attention to ancient Indian life and customs Lydia (WaterturtleWeaver) details her Native American dolls into delightful  representations of local Luiseno people pre-contact . Yucca sandals, elderberry bark skirts, rabbit fur capes, tanned leather pouches and abalone shell adornments are some of the items created by Lydia to adorn  her one-of-a kind  hand stitched Native American dolls.

This talented artist continually innovates and updates her unique Native American jewelry designs.  Incorporating a blend of traditional and contemporary jewelry techniques she creates masterful works of wearable art, all are hand stitched with beautiful glass beads, shells or fresh water pearls.

Browse the WaterturtleWeaver photo gallery of this Native American artist 

Weaving The Threads Of The Past Into Our Future!