Sarafina (or Serafina or Sera Fina or Sara Fina) Tafoya was born to Filomena Cajete and Desederio Gutierrez of Santa Clara Pueblo around 1863. In the early 1880's she married Jose Geronimo Tafoya (1863-1952). They had three children: Christina Naranjo, Camilio Tafoya and Margaret Tafoya.

Sarafina was well-known for her large black storage jars but she also made utilitarian pieces in black, red and micaceous clay. By the early 1900s she was the leading potter at Santa Clara and was well positioned when the market for pottery began to demand a higher quality of pot. She is credited with having developed the first Santa Clara carved black ware in 1922.

In the 1930s Sarafina and her children were earning awards at competitions like the Santa Fe Indian Market. They also often traveled from Santa Clara to Taos or Santa Fe to sell their pots.

Sarafina passed in 1949, leaving her legacy in the hands of her children. They have passed it on well.