After having two sets of twins, Valeria Frisbey left the electronics industry and focused on teaching art. She started several after-school art programs and taught at half a dozen senior centers in the Metro-West Boston area for 10 years before moving to New Hampshire and continuing her art here.
An unplanned illness in her family changed Valeria’s plans and she became an at-home caregiver. Her sister, Serena, knowing Valeria would need something to occupy her time, gifted her with a dollhouse kit. This project more than served its purpose!
The result was amazing. She estimates 300 to 400 hours were put into the creation. The details – from hand-cutting each piece of tile, gluing each shingle on the roof and creating a fenced area under the house – are just unbelievable. The retail value of the dollhouse is $1,500.
One of her sons, the late Mario Giordano, was a cardiac patient at Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD). Valeria has always been committed to volunteer work and donating her craft to various organizations.
As a way to give back, Valeria had decided to donate the dollhouse to CHaD either for fund-raising purposes, or for the patients’ use. However, it was at the exact time COVID hit and the hospital was unable to accept the donation.
Hearing of this, Boomerang Used Furniture & Funky Stuff, a consignment shop in Plymouth, offered to partner with Valeria to organize a raffle of the one-of-a-kind dollhouse, with all proceeds going to benefit CHaD.
“Our company’s purpose was founded on helping those in need. Working with CHaD is a great opportunity to us and our customers, said Cathy Landroche, Boomerang Board Secretary. She is working directly with Valeria and CHaD Community Relations Event Coordinator Holly Blanchard.
The tickets will be $20 each and the raffle will run from Nov. 1 to Dec. 1, with the winner being drawn Dec. 1. Tickets are available at Boomerang Used Furniture, 5 Main St. Winner does not need to be present to win.