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.
September 21, 2016

“Lattice Hair” Trend Gives Ordinary Braids a Boost with Stunningly Intricate Weavings

From mermaids to secret rainbows to hidden undercuts, it’s been a good year for hair. One of the latest trends that can only be described as “hair art” is lattice braids. Think of them like ordinary braids cranked to 11—they feature a similar criss-crossing structure but use smaller, intricately woven pieces to form complex arrangements that trail down the back or side of the head.

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September 16, 2016

Complex Web of Red Thread Swarms Above Stranded Boats as a Meditation on Fate

Artist Chiharu Shiota is known for her intricate, immersive installations that are meditations on the human brain and memory. Last year, she illustrated this idea by collecting 50,000 keys and stringing them along thread that engulfed the ceiling of a gallery. In a similarly awe-inspiring fashion, Shiota has created Uncertain Journey, a site-specific exhibition in which a dense web of scarlet-colored yarn swarms above stranded skeletal boats.

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September 12, 2016

Makeup Artist Expertly Transforms Himself Into Real-Life Disney Princesses

Makeup artist Richard Schaefer transforms himself into Disney princesses so authentic that you’ll do a double take. The 22-year-old has an impressive collection of 40 costumes and 30 wigs that he uses to cosplay as Snow White, Ariel, Cinderella, and more. He’s perfected their longing stares and doe-eyed expressions to mimic not only their looks, but personas, too.

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September 9, 2016

Architect-Turned-Baker Designs Geometric Desserts That Look Like Modern Buildings

Pastry chef Dinara Kasko combines architecture and baking to create desserts that, from certain angles, look like buildings rather than sweets. They feature strong, precise lines and glossy exteriors that resemble concrete and steel rather than soft, spongy cakes. This unique fusion is a striking interpretation of edible structures—forget your ordinary gingerbread houses; these creations are akin to Zaha Hadid’s visionary designs.

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