At Babbitt's you will see the largest display anywhere of San Ildefonso pottery by artists including: Dora Tse Pe' and her equally talented daughter Candace Martinez; Carmelita Dunlap and her daughters and gifted grandson Sun Bird; Albert and Josephine Vigil; Adelphia Martinez; and Rose Lovato. Young potters Carol and Kathy Gutierrez Naranjo carry on the tradition of excellence of their mother, Helen Gutierrez. The list must also include Rose Brown, the only San Ildefonso potter who makes storytellers. Award-winning potters from Santa Clara also bring their pottery here, often to trade for dance goods. Represented are Effie and Orville Garcia, Marian Rose Naranjo and Kevin Naranjo, Minnie Vigil, Mae Tapia, Elizabeth Naranjo and miniatures by Geri Naranjo. There's a fine selection of Hopi pottery as well as works from Taos, Acoma, Zia, Zuni and storytellers from Cochiti and Jemez.

The store is operated under the careful attention of third-generation Indian Trader Joseph R. Babbitt and his wife Judith. The Babbitt family has run trading posts in northern Arizona for over 100 years. As a college student, Joe spent his summers working at Oraibi Trading Post on the Hopi Reservation. Some 40 years later, he still has the first Navajo rug for which he traded.

At the Post, Babbitt's love of Navajo rugs shows in the beautiful rug room. Rugs by contemporary artists line the walls and cover the floor: beautiful Yeis and Two Grey Hills; elegant Chief blankets, and intricate double weaves and two-faced. Older rugs, some 50 to 100 years old, prove to be an especially good value, as are the old Havasupai and Western Apache baskets on display.

Across the room is a big case of beautiful hand-carved Hopi Kachina dolls which gaze out impassively at the viewer. Kachina dolls are rooted in the Hopi culture and each aspect of the doll has religious significance. In another case, old silver Navajo jewelry gleams next to contemporary pieces in gold and silver by Hopi, Zuni and Navajo artists. Next to the jewelry, hundreds of Zuni fetishes of stone and bone carved by Zuni men and women fill a revolving case. Over and over, one marvels at the skill and humor displayed in these little carvings.

The moccasin room has dozens of pairs of moccasins in many traditional styles fitting infants to adults. With dances in each pueblo nearly ten times a year, there is a steady demand for the fox and skunk pelts hanging from the ceiling. In the main room, colorful Pendleton blankets, dance kilts, hand-woven embroidered sashes and belts, black wool mantas and ribbon shirts fill the racks and shelves.

Gourds grown at the Post during the summer have been dried over the winter and are now piled in boxes, awaiting a skilled hand to fashion them into dance rattles, water dippers or decorated bowls. Shell bandoliers and turtle shell rattles with deer toes make an intriguing sound when handled by a pueblo youngster getting outfitted for his first dance.

This is a great opportunity for a visitor to learn more about the fascinating Indian culture. Helping you with your questions and selections is the most friendly and knowledgeable staff you could hope for: local pueblo residents and potters Ray and Candace Martinez and Pauline Martinez are genuinely interested in helping you make informed purchases.

Directions: take Hwy 285 North from Santa Fe to Pojoaque. Then left on Hwy 502 (the road to Los Alamos) for six miles. Take the second San lldefonso exit on the right. Then it's .2 miles to our driveway. Turn left at our sign and be prepared for a friendly welcome.