By Kat Fragoso

R + D is handcrafted, digitally designed and fabricated jewelry with all the kitsch! Owner and designer, Rebekah Thornhill of @r.plus.d of Sunnyside, Queens, loves working with sustainable resources to create bold, colorful, and fun pieces with a ton of fun for everyone! Read more about Rebekah and R+D below!

NYHC: Tell us about what you make.

Rebekah Thornhill: The majority of what I make is 3D printed jewelry. I create all the designs, render them in 3D, and print them in a plant based filament. I have everything from earrings and necklaces to rings, cufflinks, and pins. Many of my designs are bold, colorful, and fun, but I have a little something for anyone! I also have a small line of laser cut bamboo wall hangings that feature local landmarks.

NYHC: Where do you live?

RT: I live in Sunnyside, Queens in the historical gardens district. It is a really unique and vibrant neighborhood in New York City that I always recommend people come to visit!

NYHC: What is unique or different about your process and/or designs?

RT: Much of my work is digital and I am able to make changes at every step from raw materials through to the completed piece. I take great care in the details to get pieces just right. In fact, one of my specialties is printing very small details with precision. I've worked hard to calibrate my five printers just right for this type of work.

NYHC: Do you have any favorite pieces? What makes them special to you?

RT: I've always made a lot of personalized and custom pieces. I have some options that people can use as starting points including sending me a photo of a kid's drawing or of someone's handwriting. When I first started doing this, I made a necklace with my grandmother's handwriting from a holiday card that said "Lo and Behold". The phrase itself may seem odd, but it is a deeply personal and meaningful piece for me.

NYHC: What is your favorite tool or supply?

RT: I only print in PLA or polylactic acid. It was an easy choice because it is a renewable resource made from things like corn husks, cassava roots, and sugarcane. Not only is it plant based but it is biodegradable.

NYHC: Is there a new piece/opportunity/change that you're excited about?

RT: I recently launched new rings cast from recycled 3D prints. During 2020 a lot of city programs were cut, including curbside pick up for organic materials where I had been able to send my 3D printing scraps and failed prints to a commercial composting facility up the Hudson River. In a facility like this, it takes only about 6 months time for PLA (Polylactic Acid; the only filament I print in) to break down. Once the program was paused, I kept collecting my scraps and worked on a solution to be able to recycle and reform the scraps myself. After a few months of trial and error I figured out how to be able to cast the scraps, turning them into charm rings with thin bands. They are multicolored and one of kind pieces that look similar to granite or terrazzo.

NYHC: What advice or tips can you share with other makers?

RT: There really aren't tricks or shortcuts. There aren't substitutions for working hard and working consistently.

NYHC: Share an important lesson you've learned from running your business.

RT: The placement of my desk happens to have me staring out a window to a brick wall. Sometimes it is better to not read too much into things, especially if it would stop you.