I love making people happy and can honestly say that my life’s mission is to create and uplift. I’ve found that offering gotta have it, vintage-inspired jewelry and gifts does just that. I want / think/ hope that our collectors will feel the excitement and the connection to the past, and will even share the sense of discovery I feel when visiting Clingancourt Market in Paris and discovering that special antique charm.

I began making jewelry while studying at the Slade School of Art in London; on weekends I’d visit Portobello Road and find fabulous vintage bits, then I’d rush home, glue them into big, funky brooches, and wear them out that night. (Hey, it was the 80’s—think Culture Club and the Thompson Twins!)

I also fell in love with Victorian jewelry—its beauty and the way it tells a story by conveying emotions (love, passion, friendship) and connections (family, friends, heritage). I set out to do the same, but in a fun, fashionable way. I moved back to my hometown of Philadelphia and started Maximal Art in 1985. The company has grown and evolved a lot over the years, but Modern/Vintage has always been our style.

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to have my designs shown in many magazines and books. It is also in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and the Musée des Arts Decoratifs, Paris.

I have a wonderful team of creative people I work with. Robbin Cook has been with me since the beginning, and leads the company as President. Alicia Nazario, Holly Harding, and Devon Bauman are our sales team. Halligan Smith and Jessica Roberts work with me in the design department; Trish Duross is our production manager and Lauren Moreno is our inventory planner; Laura Pelc is our bookkeeper. All in all there are about 20 of us here, just outside Philadelphia, in a sun-drenched studio with cool barn doors. All of our work is designed and assembled in the USA, mostly in our studio. And many of our parts come from funky old factories up in New England, where 50 years ago Providence, Rhode Island was the Costume Jewelry Capital of the world (who knew?).

Finally, none of this would have happened without the incredible support of you, our customers, collectors, and fans. Over the years, we’ve sold many thousands of necklaces, brooches, earrings, bracelets, frames, etc… but ultimately every single piece goes out into the world and finds a home and makes someone happy. That direct, personal, uplifting moment is what it’s all about. And I thank you for allowing me to spend my life doing this.