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.
Art
August 10, 2017

Artist Delicately Cuts Paper to Mimic the Intricate Beauty of Fluid Ink Drawings

In the right hands, an X-ACTO knife can be as precise as a newly sharpened pencil. Japanese artist Kiri Ken, aka Cutting Sword, masterfully demonstrates this fact with his intricate paper cutting art. The delicate creations feature the likes of sea creatures and human portraiture with incisions so fine that they mimic the fluidity of an inked drawing. Ken’s cut paper art technique is nothing short of impressive.

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Photography
August 9, 2017

Photographer Shows How to Break 50 of the Strangest Laws Across the U.S.

When you picture breaking the law, it’s probably not for something as innocuous as wearing skinny jeans. But in Delaware, it’s technically illegal to wear pants that are “form fitting” at the waist. The weird laws don’t stop there, though. In Alabama, don’t even try to hide that ice cream cone in your back pocket—it’ll land you in trouble! Chronicling this surprising side of the U.S.

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DIY
August 4, 2017

Crochet Dress Blankets Magically Transform Anyone Under Them into a Princess

Everyone wants to feel like a princess, and Carol Hladik is now making it easier than ever. The expert crafter has designed a series of magical crochet blanket patterns that’ll transform you into royalty in just seconds. Shaped like elaborate ball gowns, the whimsical cloaks resemble fancy frocks worn by the likes of Cinderella and Belle. Just slip your arms into their sleeves and marvel at how regal you suddenly feel.

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Art
August 2, 2017

Man Spends 3 Years Perfecting a Paper Lamp of a Kirigami Castle in the Sky

Simon Strauss is a multimedia designer by day and a paper artist by night. The designer, who's always had a fascination with paper cutting—specifically kirigami and origami architecture—decided to try his hand at it. “I was inspired by the many beautiful products you've featured, and I decided to give it a shot of my own design,” he kindly tells us via email. This passion for paper inspired Strauss to create something inherently beautiful.

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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.