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.
Painting
January 1, 2020

Surreal Animal Paintings Reimagine Wildlife and Their Connection to Nature

Artist Jon Ching is mesmerized by the beautiful plumage of birds. He celebrates their incredible markings and colors in dreamlike paintings that fuse animals with other parts of nature—and sometimes other creatures, too. In one instance, small red birds replace the bulbous blooms on tropical plants. Another of Ching's oil artworks presents a stately portrait of a turquoise-colored bird whose layers of feathers morph into leaves punctuated by yellow flowers.

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Design
December 30, 2019

Creative Uncle Designs Vintage Toy Packaging for Cash Gifts to Nieces and Nephews

When Donnachaidha Ó Chionnaigh learned that his nieces and nephews wanted cash for Christmas, he wasn’t surprised. Despite the straightforward request, he still want to do something more than just handing them some folded bills. “Cash as a gift, while practical, always feels impersonal,” he tweeted, “so I made special packaging.” Chionnaigh’s creative solution reimagined the cash as if it were a doll or figurine, and he housed the money in vintage-inspired blister packs.

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Animals
December 26, 2019

Puppy Day Care in South Korea Snaps the Most Adorable Photos of Tiny Doggos Napping

Puppies are little babies (that happen to have fur) and require a lot of care. But what are their humans to do when they have to go to work? Take them to a daycare, of course! Puppy Spring in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea is one of these places that little doggies can go to get the care and attention they need. The center welcomes pups that are aged 12 weeks and older.

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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.