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.
Crafts
March 4, 2025

What Is a Junk Journal? Learn How To Get Creative With Everyday “Junk”

There are some things, like that receipt for your bagel, many of us classify as “junk.” A scrap of paper or a clothing tag serves a purpose but ultimately finds itself in the garbage or the recycling bin. But there's another place for them: your junk journal.  A junk journal is exactly what it sounds like: a book filled with “junk,” or small paper items that you’d otherwise discard.

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Cats
August 18, 2024

This Giant Maine Coon Cat Is So Big That People Think He’s a Dog

Maine Coon cats are gentle giants that get a lot of love on the internet—and it’s easy to see why! The majestic creatures are large and in charge with fluffy coats and striking manes. In fact the Maine Coon is one of the largest breeds of domestic cats. One of the latest pets to make a splash online is Kefir, a Maine Coon that lives with his human Yulia Minina in Stary Oskol, Russia.

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Creative Products
June 20, 2024

15 LGBTQ+ Makers on Etsy Crafting Creative Products During Pride Month and Beyond

June is Pride Month. Now, more than ever, it's important to keep LBGTQIA+ issues at the forefront and let your Pride flag fly. Pride is about affirming the identities and increasing the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people—those who have been marginalized and told that who they are doesn’t matter. Making art can be therapeutic as well as productive, and there are many creatives who express themselves in doing so.

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Art Supplies
May 8, 2024

13 Best Colored Pencil Sets for Coloring Book Enthusiasts and Professional Artists

Colored pencils are often associated with childhood, but with the adult coloring book craze, it's clear that grown-ups like to use them, too. These tools, however, can do much more than color inside lines. Artists regularly use colored pencils in their drawings because they offer a range of possibilities—especially in their hues. While many professional sets include a bevy of beautiful colors, you can layer them to create even more dimension in your work.

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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.