It was early December, about ten years ago, while staring at my computer screen, my then-boss suddenly announced that he had gifts for the staff! The gifts were not wrapped but it didn’t need it. He handed me a beautiful hand blown, tear shaped glass vessel that was lovingly patterned with alternating stripes of deep crimson and merlot. He then told us that a good friend of his made them, and that his friend and his wife were actually having their annual warehouse sale that very night! Upon arrival at their studio, I was immediately taken by beautiful concrete steppingstones and twinkle-lit olive trees that lined the walkway towards…