Fenway Art Center, 50 Gloucester St, Boston, MA 02115, US

On this part of Newbury Street, you'll find (in a tight cluster), Maya, Sikara, the Fairy Shop, and Firefly. With so many gift-shops competing for patronage, a business has to emphasize its unique aspects to stand out from the others. Maya has done beautifully: every item in the store is handmade by indigenous craftsmen in Guatemala and Mexico. They are fairly traded and reflect the sublime traditions of their Mayan ancestors. The magnificant jewelry - earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and pendants - is wrought of silver and many are inlaid with turquoise or coral. But there is so much more here than just jewelry: one can find tin frogs, handmade paper flowers, textiles, purses, glass crucifixes, figurines, candle-holders, and "animalitos" (diminuitive clay sculptures in the likeness of various animals, coming in sets of three -- a father, mother and child). Customers should take notice of Maya's exquisite "worry dolls" -- fabric dolls from Guatemala, small enough to fit in your palm. According to native tradition, any worry you might have will disappear by morning if you tell your "worry doll" of it, and place it under your bed overnight. A single worry doll is only $4, or you can buy four for $12.

Kyoto Jungle

Annie Mulz

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