About Us
How do you top one of the
best jobs around? For over 20
years I worked as a zookeeper
at the St. Louis Zoo, caring
for great apes, primates, carnivores, giraffes, and even
elephants. After elephants. After a fateful trip to Mexico
the seed of an idea was planted, and the path to the next
best job established. Combining a love of travel, an
interest in other cultures, and an appreciation of all
things aesthetic, my wife, Robin, and I set out to search for treasures
that we could share with appreciative customers and friends. At the
same time, we knew that we were also doing our part to contribute
to the protection and conservation of traditions. In most cases the
traditions of artisanry are family based, 
passed down from father to son, mother to daughter. We have met many
husband and wife collaborative efforts, often with the husband as
the creative spirit, and the wife the business manager. We have visited
homes and family compounds with multiple generations, children, and
even animals. We have felt blessed to share these pieces of their
lives. These are truly the Salt of the Earth!
Since 1999 we have had a wonderful adventure exploring and learning all the way. There are many other businesses like ours, many of them small and individualized, and in reviewing their websites, the common thread is the connection of the product to the creator. What sets one of us apart from the other is the eye of the buyer or business owner. One of our favorite people in Guanajuato in central Mexico told us once that the secret to the success of her fabulous shop was the fact that she only buys what she loves. We encourage you to travel through ours and all these other sites; we know that with ours we have stayed true to this sage advice.