Native clays and slips are gathered from near by mountains and used to mixed to produce the clay that I use. Each pot is hand coiled using pieces of gourds to shape. The pot is then carved with various designs using hand held carving tools and when dry is sanded to get a smooth surface. The pot is wet washed to remove all remaning dust particles. A Red Clay Slip is then applied and stone burnished to acheive a high gloss. A mica slip can also be applied at this point to complete a design. The pot is then traditionally fired outside using cedar wood and dry horse manure. Damp manure may cause spots and the pot will not fire to the color desired. Once the pot has cooled, occasionally a Sleeping Beauty Turquoise stone or a red coral may be used to enhance the design such as the eye of an Avanu (Water serpent) or a humming bird.
