Originally from Germany, Martina Windels was trained as a goldsmith before receiving an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design where she taught for several years. Before owning a gallery for contemporary jewelry in Providence, RI, she worked as a studio jeweler. Her award-winning jewelry has been exhibited extensively in the US and Europe. Currently, she is pursuing a design certificate at MassArt while working as design director at ReFleece in Fall River.