Once you look for relief modeling, you see it everywhere. About two years ago I went to a faculty art show at the Chazen Museum, and saw this great quilt on display. It’s by Sarah Fitzsimmons. http://www.sarahfitzsimons.net/pacific-quilt#/0  I’ve sent her an email about how close her quilt art is to the plaster type (email me back, Sarah!). If you go to her website, you can see her process–and it’s very similar to how Edwin Howell and other mapmakers did relief models.