Hudson Valley native Lorraine LeClair had an inauspicious start to her jewelry-making career. Lorraine found herself, like many area students, at Dutchess Community College taking core courses before transferring to a four-year school. There, she took her first elective art class since middle school, Intro to Metalsmithing. This course would set her on a path that continues to this day and one that was entirely unexpected. After completing her studies in an unrelated field, Lorraine returned to the Valley. In 2004 Lorraine would never have thought of herself as an artist but she soon found a position as a bench jeweler for an internationally renowned retailer.  Sadly, in December 2020, that business permanently closed due to Covid-19, like many businesses across the nation.  Now, Lorraine hopes to grow her jewelry business and make it her full-time career!