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.
Landscape Photography
April 8, 2025

Stunning Self-Portraits Connect Humans to Icy Icelandic Landscapes [Interview]

For three years, Anna Isabella Christensen photographed herself among Iceland's ice caves and glaciers. The ambitious self-portrait project features her in places many of us dream of visiting—chiseled ice peaks against an equally frigid backdrop. Devoid of other people and the trappings of human existence, she stands alone, looking on toward a landscape with an otherworldly appeal. Christensen is the focal point of each image; but, at times, it’s hard to spot her.

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Architecture
March 28, 2025

Sustainable Floating City Inspired by an Amazonian Water Lily

We can learn a lot from nature. Architect Vincent Callebaut looks to our environment as a guide for designing his forward-thinking structures. His conceptual creation Lilypad is a prime example. Lilypad is a floating island that draws inspiration from the gigantic Victoria amazonic, a species of water lily known for having the largest leaves of any water plant. Their lamina (leaves) can grow up to nearly 10 feet in diameter.

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Photo Contest
March 21, 2025

Laugh Along With the “Never Seen Before” Entries of Comedy Wildlife Awards 2024

The animal kingdom can be cutthroat, but it can also be really funny. The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards shows a lighter side of wild animal photography by highlighting images that'll make you chortle. From human-like glances to hilarious moments of clumsiness, the competition is great for a laugh while recognizing the amazing creatures on our planet. The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards is now accepting entries for its 2025 competition.

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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.