Artigianati.com

Imelda McCain, owner of Playing Mantis, sits in her Nyack store with her son Lucas, 9. Playing Mantis sells simple, handmade toys.

Walk into Nyack's Playing Mantis toy store, and you get an immediate feeling of Zen.

That's not a feeling associated with big-box retailers, which are dominated by aisles of manufactured plastic playthings that honk, beep, flash, bang, clang and cry.

Make no mistake: Playing Mantis has its fair share of cars, trucks, trains, dolls and games. But not a single toy there requires batteries or an electrical outlet - and all still manage to inspire lots of fun.....

Read more at -  http://lohud.com/article/20090629/LIFESTYLE01/906290302/1030/LIFESTYLE/Playing-Mantis-toy-stores-sell-simple--handmade-toys-that-promote-an-interest-in-the-global-community.