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.
Woodworking
January 11, 2017

15 Master Artists Carrying on the Ancient Tradition of Wood Carving

Woodworking has a long and rich place in our history. Early humans used it, along with stone, clay, and animal parts, as some of the first materials they mastered. It still remains relevant today, as many objects in our everyday life are crafted from this sturdy form. There are a myriad of ways to manipulate it, one being wood carving, which itself dates back to ancient Egypt.

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Funny
January 9, 2017

Great-Grandmother Has Been Accidentally Praying to a ‘Lord of the Rings’ Figurine

There’s a religious-like fandom for The Lord of the Rings books and film franchise, but that wasn’t what one elderly woman from Brazil meant to pray to all these years. Gabriela Brandão, a freelance makeup artist from Florianópolis, recently discovered something unusual about the tiny figurine that her daughter’s great-grandmother worships every day. The ears were pointed—like an elf—and Brandão knew that something wasn’t right. Taking to the internet, she found an identical figurine for sale online.

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Animals
January 4, 2017

Cuddly Cat Wears Her Heart on Her Chest… Literally

Some cats play coy while others are aloof, but not Zoë—she wears her heart on her chest… literally! The tuxedo feline has a marking unlike any other cute cat and dons a giant heart-shaped patch of fur between her two front legs. Although this heart is black, Zoë is anything but dark.

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DIY
December 29, 2016

Build-Your-Own Beetle Kits Celebrate Insects Through Charming 3D Paper Craft

Insects are fascinating creatures—maybe not when they’re in your shower, but their delicate wings, multiple legs, and iridescent torsos showcase the ingenuity of nature. In celebration of their distinct beauty, designer Joop Bource of Assembli has produced a collection of DIY paper sculptures modeled after three types of beetles. Created like a 3D puzzle, you assemble the wings and body from pre-cut parts. According to Bource, it takes about 45 minutes to finish one sculpture.

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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.