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.
Architecture
July 6, 2015

Stunning Home Embedded in Cliff Overlooking the Aegean Sea

Set flush against a cliff overlooking the Aegean Sea is Casa Brutale, a home concept that'll literally have you living life on the edge. The project was created by OPA (Open Platform for Architecture), and its sleek, modern design conceals nearly the entire unit within rock. As a result, there's relatively little impact to the surrounding environment.

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Design
July 3, 2015

Craftsman Beautifully Fashions Ships from Star Wars and Star Trek into Coffee Tables

Tennessee-based furniture designer Barry Shields has beautifully handcrafted two coffee tables that pay homage to beloved sci-fi classics. The intricate custom pieces resemble an X-wing Starfighter from Star Wars and the U.S.S. Enterprise from Star Trek. Shields used a combination of ash, cherry, and poplar woods to carve the details that make these ships an unforgettable part of popular culture. Both are mounted on thick panes of glass that complement the vessels' shapes.

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Design
June 28, 2015

Hanging Spherical Lodges Provide Cozy, Eco-Friendly Retreat in the Forests of Laos

The Nam Et-Phou Louey Biodiversity Conservation Area in northern Laos, Vietnam could soon be the site of unique spherical eco-lodges that hang from the trees. These unconventional accommodations would allow visitors to observe and immerse themselves within the gorgeous landscape near the Nam Poung village. They're part of a community-led design project by Cole Company, aimed at increasing eco-tourism and jobs for local villagers. Structures like bird and insect nests inspired these suspended sleeping pods.

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Art
June 15, 2015

Alluring Watercolor Paintings Prove that Eyes are Windows to the Soul

There's a classic saying that “the eyes are the windows to the soul,” and Spanish artist Jone Bengoa conveys this sentiment perfectly in her alluring paintings. The 19-year-old creates realistic watercolor portraits where a set of pupils and eyebrows are the only things visible on a stark white page. Devoid of other facial features, Bengoa's artworks are intense. Although minimal in composition, they express an incredible amount of emotion.

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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.