DESIGN MODEL MAKE

"EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE IS REAL" -Pablo Picasso

I was "a Maker" long before the term was coined--still am and always will be.

My unique background, education, diversity of experiences and individual aesthetic shaped who I am and what I make today.

Born in New York City, I grew up surrounded by antique dollhouses and miniatures which fostered my love of small intricate things, which has stayed with me for life. Early in my career I studied Gold/Silversmithing in a 4 year European style master craftsman program in Toronto, Canada. From there I went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree from The Parsons School of Art in NYC, majoring in Light Metals/Sculpture; continuing my education with the Avant Garde Austrian Jeweler Peter Skubic in Salzburg and then apprenticing for Zelig Segal, a renowned Israeli silversmith and artist in Jerusalem for 3 years. All the while continuing to create fine one-of-a-kind jewelry and small intricate sculpture and fine art in my own right.

Combining my experience making dollhouses and miniatures with my skills as a jeweler/master craftsman, in 1991, I founded the company Cast Creations, Inc./Historical Miniatures of Jerusalem, Inc.; a decorative plaster casting company specializing in detailed miniature models of famous buildings around the world. I headed this company for 20 years, and was the chief model maker responsible for the design and creation of all the master models. Using a combination of hand model making and CNC cut parts, these intricate master models were molded in silicone and cast in small production runs of 500-1000 pieces for sale around the world. The business was sold in 2011 and closed shortly thereafter.

Building on my extensive experience, I returned to work as a model maker for both the jewelry and dental prosthetic industries, while concurrently creating custom order fine jewelry in my private studio and teaching private classes in jewelry making and stone setting.

In 2014 I took a hiatus from my studio, followed a dream, and turned my creative energies to an entrepreneurial food business; opening "Sticks and Cones", a seasonal ice cream and "waffle-on-a-stick" shop in Newport, RI. Here I was able to use my creativity and art training to create a brand: logos, packaging, interior design, web design, advertising, etc. In addition to the brick-and-mortar shop, I developed a unique line of artisanal ice cream for the wholesale market: "Sweet Veggie Ice Cream". This entailed everything from recipe development for creative flavors such as: Sweet Corn, Tomato Ginger and Turmeric; to packaging, logos, labels and tradeshow display booth design. My diverse creative skills, ability to make things such as displays, counters, booths etc., and previous entrepreneurial experience propelled this venture to success.

This past year, 2020-2021, presented an opportunity for me to return to school full time at IYRS School of Technology and Trades (The International Yacht Restoration School) in Newport, RI, for an 8 month intensive program in Digital Modelling and Fabrication. Learning new 3D printing technologies, Rhino 3D, Solidworks and Fusion360 have proven invaluable to me and have opened up new avenues of creative expression and controlled precision in my model making.

Over the years I have amassed a large and varied portfolio of work, some of which you can see here. Although very diverse, all of my work shares the unifying themes of creativity, technical mastery of fine craftsmanship and the intense desire to keep making.

Armed with years of experience in hand fabrication and a newfound knowledge of digital techniques, technologies and software there is nothing I can not make or model: From one-of-a-kind Jewelry, 3D printed prototypes to machined precision models.

Let's Collaborate and Make Something Unique Together!

2020-2021 IYRS projects:

2021 capstone project:

"After 35 years of working with my hands as a jeweler; 2 thumb surgeries and countless hours of hand therapy, I understand the need for better design when it comes to grips and handles. Everyone will experience some degree of hand issues throughout their lifetime; due to repetitive motion, overuse, disease, injury and age. Ergonomic design of handles and grips that we use on a day to day basis can be both preventative and therapeutic." -Maude

Posters (Left-Right) of Round Handle Spoon with Laser Cut Brass Design; Elastic Sheath Handle Knife; Elastic Band Handle Knife; Elastic Sheath Handle/Grip Component Poster

(from left-Right) 2 Part Elastic Sheath; Models in Rhino for Printing; 3D Printed 1 Piece Elastic Sheath (Form Labs)

Design Variations of Adaptive Handles:

In Hand:

"The Inspiration for this Light Fixture came from Sketch models made in clay, styrene and foam core, exploring light and shadow. The models were based upon photographs taken while wandering around Newport harbor on a sunny day in October. The model on the left led to further exploration in foam core and wood scale models that eventually developed into the final Lamp design". -Maude

This second inspiration for the light/shadow project came from pouring resin for the first lamp: Poplar, Resin, Mica, LED touch light

Solution: A 2-Handed Screw Driver in 2 Reiterations

The Hardware Design Process

3D Printed Model Dovetail Bench Pin System: Nylon and Kevlar, Wood PLA Print, scale 1:1

Combining my love of miniatures (and experience making dollhouses and miniatures), and skills as a jeweler/master craftsman, in 1991, I founded the company Cast Creations, Inc./Historical Miniatures of Jerusalem Inc.; a decorative plaster casting company specializing in detailed miniature models of famous buildings around the world. I headed this company for 20 years and was the chief model maker responsible for the design and creation of all the master models. Using a combination of CNC cut parts and hand model making techniques, these intricate master models were molded in silicone and cast in small production runs of 500-1000 pieces for sale around the world. The business was sold in 2011 and closed shortly thereafter.

All models were carved in clay, molded in silicone and cast in mulitples of 500-1000, in Hydrostone; then hand painted

"I grew up surrounded by antique dollhouses and miniatures and developed a love for small intricate things, which has stayed with me for life and is reflected in many areas of my work."-

Challenge; A "Smart" Arduino Dollhouse Sculpture

The Culmination of 45 years of Collecting, Designing and Making Pieces

( 3.5 Ft 4 Ft; 1": 1' Scale)

Wood, Metal, Paint: 1/4":1" Scale

Life Size Paintings- Acrylic on Paper

A Production Line of Enamel Products and Enamel based Jewelry Designs 2018-Present

Water Color Hand Renderings

Pencil Hand Renderings

Art Jewelry

Triangle Belt: Brass, Nickel Silver, Resin Inlay

In 2014 I took a hiatus from my studio, followed a dream, and turned my creative energies to an entrepreneurial food business; opening "Sticks and Cones", a seasonal ice cream and "waffle-on-a-stick" shop in Newport, RI. Here I was able to use my creativity and art training to create a brand: logos, packaging, interior design, web design, advertising, etc. In addition to the brick-and-mortar shop, I developed a unique line of artisanal ice cream for the wholesale market: "Sweet Veggie Ice Cream". This entailed everything from recipe development for creative flavors such as: Sweet Corn, Tomato Ginger and Turmeric; to packaging, logos, labels and tradeshow display booth design. My diverse creative skills, ability to make things such as displays, counters, booths etc., and previous entrepreneurial experience propelled this venture to success.

Cast Creations, Inc Menorahs/Hannukiot- HIstory of Menorahs Hannukia, The Synagogues of North America, The Synagogues of Europe- Cast Hydrostone, Brass, Hand Modeled and Painted