Crafts

April 19, 2021

Free Software Lets You Easily Create Complex Japanese Wood Joinery

Traditional Japanese carpentry employs a variety of ancient techniques that allow wooden structures to be built without the use of any nails, screws, adhesives, or modern power tools. To the Western observer, that may seem far from structurally sound; however, there are many buildings constructed using traditional Japanese wood joinery methods that have stood for hundreds of years.

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April 3, 2021

Embroidery Artist Creates Rainbow Landscapes By Stitching Together Rows of Color

Every day at sunrise and sunset, the sky transforms into a gradient of beautiful colors. Los Angeles-based textile artist Jen Smith (also known as Jen Ann Handmade) captures this kaleidoscopic phenomenon in her distinctive nature-inspired embroidery art. She stitches various landscapes and seascapes in jigsaw-like sections using a variety of vibrant threads. “I was raised in a creative household—my mom was a maker, and my dad was a photographer,” Smith tells My Modern Met.

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March 25, 2021

Modern Macramé: How an Ancient Fiber Art Has Resurfaced as a Beautiful Craft

Knotting—or macramé—is one of many crafts being revived by those who love working with their hands. Just like surface embroidery, quilting, and needlework are seeing a bump in popularity, macramé is being transformed from a 1970s relic into a hot, trendy art form. A versatile form of fiber art, macramé can be used to make everything from wall hangings and plant hangers to jewelry, purses, and even clothing items.

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March 12, 2021

Artist Builds ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Light Boxes Using Layers of Cut Paper

Recreating a scene from a show or film with paper may seem like an impossible task, but artist Ben Charman proves it can be done to great effect. The London-based crafter discovered paper art in 2019 and has been building enchanting light boxes ever since. He finds inspiration for his creations in popular culture—taking inspiration from the likes of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Star Wars, Pokémon, and Stranger Things.

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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.