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.
Gift Guide
October 20, 2023

35 Creative Small Gifts That Will Make a Big Impact This Holiday Season

As the holidays draw near, there’s usually a major focus on big-ticket gift times. But what about the smaller products that you need to buy? They make the perfect gift for stocking stuffers, secret Santas, or office gifts for that special cubicle buddy. These purchases don’t have to be extravagant or expensive; they just need to show that you put some thought into picking them out to make for a great gift.

Read Article

Crafts
October 3, 2023

37 Halloween Pumpkin Carving Ideas to Creatively Celebrate the Spookiest Time of Year

The Halloween season is upon us, and that means pumpkin carving is right around the corner. Now is the time to decide on your yearly jack-‘o-lantern design. There's always the classic motif of triangle eyes, a nose, and crooked teeth; but throughout the years, artists have shown us the amazing possibilities that can be achieved with a big imagination, the right tools, and a few handy tricks for how to handle the insides.

Read Article

Embroidery
August 14, 2023

Embroidery Artists Are Using a Needle and Thread to “Paint” Gorgeous Stitched Art

The art of hand embroidery has many techniques for stitching designs onto fabric. Just like approaches you’d find in drawing, there are a variety of ways to create images in thread that range from stylized to lifelike. For those that want to incorporate realistic imagery or the feeling of movement into their stitching, thread painting is the technique to use.   What is the thread painting craft?

Read Article

Jewelry
July 30, 2023

23 Pieces of Polymer Clay Jewelry That Are Tiny Wearable Sculptures

A great accessory is one of the easiest ways to express who you are. From quirky scarves to artsy socks, there are a lot of opportunities to customize your wardrobe—and we can’t forget jewelry! Depending on the materials, however, these accessories can break the bank. But thanks to jewelry made from polymer clay, you can wear stylish creations that are at an affordable price point. So, what is polymer clay?

Read Article

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.