Lorraine Caté was the Indian Arts & Crafts Association (IACA) 2003 Artist of the Year. She works from her Santa Domingo Pueblo, New Mexico, studio to produce exquisite examples of the ancient jewelry art, heishi.

According to the IACA, heishi (a pueblo word meaning shell necklace) is very labor intensive and is always the work of a true artisan. The making of it goes back many millennia. Lorraine is following in the footsteps of her mother and grandparents, all of whom were heishi artists.

Lorraine says her mother always told her, "Be patient when you are making a piece because your heart and soul and energies all go into it. The owner will feel that too. Above all think of your ancestors when you are working and continue that which has been handed down to you."