Using native clay from Santa Clara Pueblo, I create seed pots and plates. Each piece is sandpapered and stone polished. I use a sharp tool for the designing and etching of the pots called sgraffito. The imagery is of delicate wildlife like the quails, hummingbirds, rabbits and butterflies. The turtles all have different designs on their backs, mostly representing rain symbols. For the pinkish look on the designs I use a dull pointed tool. After all the work is finished an outdoor traditional firing is done. On some pieces I collaborate with my husband, Preston, who creates the lids with silver casting grain, using cuttlebone and tufa for the casting. He then fabricates the cast pieces into removable silver lids. During certain ceremonial seasons in the Pueblos, seeds were given to the people for planting. The seeds were stored in small clay pots and a topper, possibly a corn husk, was fashioned as a stopper to keep rodents/insects out. This is our modern-day representation.
