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 11, 2024

30 Springtime Crafts That Will Make You Feel Creatively Renewed This Season

Now that we have made it through the doldrums of winter, there's a new energy in the air. The sun shines for longer and you can retire your winter gloves! With the advent of the spring season, it's the perfect time to take your renewed spirit and channel it into craft ideas and fun DIY projects. If you’re nervous about starting something new, have no fear.

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Gift Guide
November 4, 2023

40 Quirky Products for a White Elephant Gift Exchange That Are Under $25

Every year, people are putting a fun spin on the conventional holiday gift exchange with a white elephant party. The rules lend themselves to a playful environment and even some light-hearted shenanigans. So, what is a white elephant gift exchange? Also called a Yankee Swap, there are a few basic rules. Essentially, each person in the swap contributes a wrapped present to a gift pool.

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Watercolor Painting
October 19, 2023

36 Watercolor Painting Ideas for Beginning Artists and Seasoned Professionals

Watercolor painting is one of the easiest creative activities to pick up. There are only a few supplies that you need—a set of paints, paintbrushes, paper, and water—and there are just a handful of essential techniques to know before you put pigment to paper. This brilliant simplicity means that it’s a breeze to start and finish a watercolor painting in the same day. So, what are you going to paint?

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History
September 8, 2023

Salvaged ‘Survivors’ Staircase’ Is a Symbol of Salvation for Those Who Fled 9/11 Attacks

A set of stairs known as the Survivors’ Staircase are part of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City. The granite and concrete staircase didn’t originate in the museum, though. Originally an outdoor set of stairs, they were vital to the evacuation of people fleeing from the attacks on the World Trade Center towers in 2001. The Survivors’ Staircase was connected to the northern edge of World Trade Center’s Austin J.

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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.