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.
February 17, 2017

Eye-Catching Flower Tattoos Convey the Delicate Strength of Beautiful Blooms

Tattooist Vlada Shevchenko inks a popular subject on the skin of her clients: beautifully-arranged flowers. Although it’s a motif we’ve admired many times, her unique take transcends ordinary floral body art and produces statement-making pieces. Working exclusively in the blackwork style, Shevchenko’s lush flower tattoos are simultaneously delicate and strong. The roses, lotus blossoms, and more are adorned with intricate details in addition to bold shading.

Read Article


February 13, 2017

African-American Model with Albinism Breaks Barriers to Expand the Definition of Beauty

Beauty can’t be confined to a single definition, and the fashion industry can only benefit from using models whose appearance more accurately represents the world at large. Diandra Forrest is one woman who is bringing much-needed change to this field. She was born to African American parents, but she has albinism—her hair is naturally blonde and her skin is milky white.

Read Article


February 12, 2017

Reclaimed Gnarled Wood Branches Seamlessly Flow from Ornate Picture Frames

Artist Darryl Cox combines the rigidity of ornate framing with the beauty of gnarled tree branches. Aptly calling them Fusion Frames, the two seemingly disparate elements have both found a new life as one stunning form. The reclaimed branch (or root) appears to effortlessly grow from the repurposed, decorative frames—a visual juxtaposition that makes their seamless transition from the stiff rectangles to organic twisted limbs all the more impressive.

Read Article


February 7, 2017

Dad Challenges Himself to Go on an Epic Day-Long Tour of Free Birthday Food

The best day to go to any restaurant is on your birthday. Thanks to your personal holiday, establishments are most likely to give you a special treat for just being you. Dad and Imugrian AnotherAnotherJosh proves this theory with his epic tour of free birthday food. On his cake day, he made a staggering 12 stops and got something free from every single one.

Read Article