Posts by Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
Design
March 15, 2017

Flexible LEGO Tape Allows You to Build Anywhere, Even Upside Down

LEGOs are beloved plastic blocks, but they come with a distinct building challenge. The number of surfaces that they can be constructed upon is limited, as the pieces themselves are rigid and non-adhesive. Design studio Nimuno has created a flexible solution to this problem with their brilliant LEGO tape that’s compatible with all your prized minifigs and endless cache of blocks.

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Architecture
March 13, 2017

Space-Saving Apartment in Japan Doubles as Purrfect Cat Playground

When you think of a cat friendly apartment, the mental image probably isn’t pretty. Much of the feline furniture (think scratchers and perching posts) that's on the market is made from carpet that seems to clash with any decor. An airy 915 square feet (85 square meters) unit in Japan, however, defies this convention and marries beautiful interior design with the types of furnishings cats love.

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Art
March 13, 2017

Tattoo Artist Captures the Carefree Fluidity of Watercolor Paint in Colorful Tattoos

Watercolor paintings and tattoos seem like an unlikely pair, but when they're put together, the results are stunning. Time and time again we've been wowed by the carefree fluidity that the fine art medium brings to contemporary body art. Aleksandra Katsan is one artist creating watercolor tattoos, and she incorporates ethereal brushstrokes as well as unpredictable splatters of pigment into her body art designs.

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Design
March 8, 2017

Hand-Painted Moon and Planet Lamps Add a Swirling Celestial Touch to Any Room

Some of the best creations come from people trying to solve a problem. Rome-based shop Pulsar Moonlight first got its start as a way to raise money for homeless animals. The idea to make delicate globe lights modeled after the moon took off, and soon this goodwill endeavor (which achieved its funding goals) transformed into a full-fledged business. Now, a moonlight lamp is just one of their ethereal offerings.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.