Valerie Gingras has her roots on the North Shore in Massachusetts and after marrying settled in the Merrimack Valley where she currently resides. Valerie and her husband, Richard, also own a home in Vero Beach and head to the sunshine state as often as possible. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Lowell. Most of her adult life, she has worked in healthcare, first as a Licensed Certified Social Worker and later as an Administrator, both in Skilled Nursing Homes and Hospitals.

Valerie discovered she had a talent for the art of jewelry design and dichroic glass making. Starting as a hobby in 2004, and wearing her own pieces, she was soon being asked by several people to make something for them. Most of the jewelry that Valerie has been creating is a one of a kind piece. Although she started using other dichroic glassmakers’ pendants, her enthusiasm and desire for individuality, led her to want to make her own. She uses different firing times and cutting techniques to obtain very different results. In addition to creating her own dichroic glass to include in her jewelry design, Valerie also enjoys using Vintage glass beads that are no longer being made as well as other unusual beads in some of her work.

When not working in hospital administration or designing jewelry, Valerie finds time to ride her Harley. In 1995, she got tired with being a back seat rider and has been riding ever since.