Luiseno Artist Lydia Vassar Native American Artist Lydia Vassar(WaterturtleWeaver) creates traditional baskets, unique jewelry and Luiseno inspired Native American dolls. Lydia gathers native basket materials in the valleys and hills where her ancestors gathered these same precious resources. Collecting 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 youth and elder programs in San Diego and Riverside County Native American Communities. With careful attention to ancient Indian life and customs Lydia (WaterturtleWeaver) details her Native American dolls into delightful Luiseno representations. Yucca sandals, elderberry bark skirts, rabbit fur capes, tanned leather pouches and abalone shell adornments are some of the materials used to create her Native American dolls. As in early Luiseno tradition the facial features are left to the imagination.. This talented artist continually innovates and updates her unique Native American jewelry designs, adding new motifs to her repertoire. Incorporating a blend of traditional and contemporary jewelry techniques she creates masterful works of wearable art. We invite you to shop the WATERTURTLEWEAVER STORE!   Take the WaterturtleWeaver basket weavers survey.  Browse the WaterturtleWeavver photo gallery of this Native American artist Weaving The Threads Of The Past Into Our Future!