Pots and figures are made with natural clay gathered near Jemez Pueblo. It is dug, dried, then soaked and run through a screen to remove impurities like rocks and roots. Then it is mixed with sand that is also gathered near the Pueblo and sifted for cleaning. Proper proportions while mixing are essential. Too much clay will cause cracks and too much sand makes shaping difficult. The coil method is used to form the pots. Each coil laid one at a time, then pinched, smoothed and formed. Figures are made with the same coil method. Melon pots have the lines incised while still damp, but not too soft. Figures have faces, arms, hair, blankets and other features applied before drying. Once dried, the melon pots and figures are sanded with sandpaper for a smooth finish. When they're ready, the pieces are stone polished and designs painted with natural clay slips. Sometimes mica, from Northern NM, is used as a slip. The pieces are then fired traditionally outdoors, using Juniper wood as fuel.