Growing up in New York City, I often visited museums and galleries and gained insight about artists throughout the centuries. My father, and my personal tour guide, was a New York journalist that grew up during the early to mid-20 th century. It’s because of his experiences living in those times that I developed a passion for items from the past. My mother being French, gave me a strong appreciation for the beauty of French culture and their artisans. I was also fortunate to have been the Marketing Director for Rockwood Pottery. Rookwood was founded in 1880 by a woman and won the Grand Prix at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris. My time at Rookwood allowed me to get to know the team of talented ceramic artists and the intricate process of making art pottery. In fact, my husband and writer Bob Batchelor, wrote a book about the history of Rookwood Pottery which stands as a loving testament to their long history of talented artisans.