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.
Nature
August 17, 2016

Isolated Island with Strange Plant Life is “The Most Alien-Looking Place on Earth”

Nestled within the blue waters of the Indian Ocean is Socotra, a small island that’s an offshore territory of Yemen. Located 220 miles from the mainland, the isolated environment is home to many unique flora and fauna—in fact, 30% of its plant life doesn’t grow anywhere else. This has appropriately earned it the nickname “the most alien-looking place on Earth.

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Animals
August 12, 2016

Portraits of Maine Coon Cats Who Look Like Majestic Mythical Creatures

Photographer Robert Sijka sheds new light on one of the internet’s most beloved creatures, cats. The Hong Kong-based creative focuses his attention on the Maine Coon cats, the largest breed of domesticated felines. Their distinctive appearance includes long fur that frames their face like a lion, in addition to a robust build—they can grow up to nearly four feet in length.

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Photography
August 2, 2016

Endearing Childhood Portraits Reveal the Lives of Iconic Musicians Before They Were Famous

Famous musicians can seem larger than life, like they’ve somehow transcended ordinary existence. It’s easy to forget that like the rest of us, they had childhoods that included puberty and awkward school photographs, long before they learned to hone their craft.  Vintage Everyday reminds us of this humbling fact with a collection of images that show the “before” portraits of iconic rock stars.

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Design
July 27, 2016

Dazzling Crowns Adorned with Seashells Transform Women Into Modern-Day Mermaids

Floral crowns may be a staple for festivals and whimsical parties, but Chelsea Shiels is taking the world by storm with her mermaid-inspired, seashell-encrusted headdresses. The glittering designs are loaded with small conch shells, crystals, and gold accents that will make anyone wearing them feel like Princess Ariel. Shiel beautifully integrates her different findings, mixing and matching colors and textures to create multifaceted, wearable works of art that have a modern, bohemian vibe.

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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.