Posts by Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled "Embroidered Life" that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
Science
April 7, 2016

Iridescent Opal Dazzles with Neon Fireworks Naturally Hidden Within

At first glance, the Ethiopian Welo Opal looks like something created in a lab. The dazzling gem radiates neon colors that seem almost too vibrant to be naturally occurring. It's completely real, however, and showcases a harmonious mixture of yellows, reds, greens, and blues. When rotated, the stone sets off a firework-like display of these hues. This opal is relatively new in the commercial gem world.

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Design
April 1, 2016

Ingenious Rocking Chair Knits a Hat for You as You Sway Back and Forth

Knitting and sitting in a rocking chair are both relaxing activities that designers Damien Ludi and Colin Peillex have combined into one innovative, low-tech piece of furniture. Aptly dubbed Rocking Knit, this multitasking chair uses kinetic energy, produced from the rocker's gliding motion, to knit a winter hat as you gently sway back and forth. The chair both resembles and is used as a typical wooden glider.

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Street Photography
March 28, 2016

Traveling Photographer Captures Couples Kissing in Public Around the World

Kissing is the universal way to show affection–no matter where you go, you can find amorous couples locking lips. Argentinian photographer Ignacio Lehmann demonstrates this in his endearing 100 World Kisses project, which captures culturally diverse street smooching from places around the world. For the past three years, he's traveled extensively–covering 12 countries and over 20 cities–to collect more than 1,000 images of people everywhere, from bustling metropolises to rural landscapes.

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Sculpture
March 22, 2016

Delicate Floral Arrangements Are Actually Realistic Porcelain Sculptures

Artist Vladimir Kanevsky crafts beautiful illusions with intricate flower sculptures. His colorful bouquets feature roses, hyacinths, and peonies that look incredibly realistic but are actually made from porcelain clay. To produce these pieces, Kanevsky first builds them out of copper and then uses casting techniques to form petals and greenery that mimic natural textures and folds. Afterwards, the porcelain is painted by hand and later arranged into vases where it'll forever brighten up a room.

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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.