Evil Eye is pretty much a global concept

Heh. In Israel, only Sepharadi people use it, no Ashkenazi ones, so I had no idea.

Nice crosspost, Deb!

Encyclopaedia Brittanica on the evil eye:

glance believed to have the ability to cause injury or death to those on whom it falls; children and animals are thought to be particularly susceptible. Belief in the evil eye is ancient and ubiquitous: it occurred in ancient Greece and Rome; is found in Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, and Hindu traditions and in folk cultures and preliterate societies; and has persisted throughout the world into modern times. In many traditions strangers, malformed individuals, and old women are most often accused of casting the evil eye.

The Turks make really pretty blue glass things to turn away the evil eye.

here.

My mom brought some home for the kids.

Oh, I knew Egyptians used to festoon their camels with blue glass beads to ward off the evil eye. I didn't realize it was a Turkish custom as well. Those are pretty!

The ones in the markets in Turkey were lovely. I'll bet my MIL has some nice memories of people trying to sell them to her in Istanbul and Ankara; I know I do.

I like the Hamsa hand.

There are lots and lots of items that are supposed to divert the evil eye in Sepharadi tradition and customs - fish are supposed to not be controlled by it (so kids sometimes get names that are connected to fish), the number 5 is supposed to be protective, and the form of a hand (khamsa) that has, of course, 5 fingers. The color blue is good, too, and also the picture of an eye, or a red string that is tied around the wrist. Also, you're never supposed to compliment a baby without adding "without the evil eye" ('bli ein hara') or spitting or just saying "tfoo tfoo tfoo". And the list goes on and on and on.

Some artifacts are absolutely gorgeous, especially the khamsa.

[Edit: x-post with an addition of a 'k' with ita]

I like the fu bats.

Geez, I'm just so flattered today -- thanks for all the good thoughts, folks!

I e-mailed my writing teacher with the news, and she forwarded it to the rest of the faculty at my school, who have all e-mailed me with the nicest praise.

So. Flattered.