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.
Architecture
July 10, 2026

How a Historic Philadelphia School Became a Creative Hub for a Neighborhood and Beyond [Interview]

In South Philadelphia, there’s an old school that has been given a new lease on life. For over 10 years, a former vocational high school has been a hub for makers, entrepreneurs, businesses, and nonprofits. It’s called BOK, named after Bok Vocational High School, a 340,000-square-foot building originally constructed in 1936, where students across Philadelphia learned skills such as bricklaying, auto mechanics, wallpapering, and more.

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Academy
July 7, 2026

Learn How To Draw Anything Using 3 Simple Shapes

Beginning to draw requires no special knowledge. You just need to know how to sketch three shapes you learned in elementary school: circles, rectangles, and triangles. From there, you can build on that basic geometry and create compositions that look nothing like the shapes you started with. But how do you get from drawing a circle to creating a fully realized picture?

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Creative Products
July 1, 2026

Fourth of July Sale at My Modern Met Store: Save 15% on All of Our Creative Products

The Fourth of July is a day typically spent grilling and hanging poolside. Whether you’re having a cookout or are staying indoors to avoid the heat, you can take advantage of My Modern Met Store’s Fourth of July sale. From July 1 to July 5, we’re offering 15% off your entire order when you use the code FIREWORKS26 at checkout. Don't delay; the discount ends at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Museums
June 24, 2026

Obama Presidential Center Opens With a Tower Inspired by His Presidency and Chicago’s Architecture

The Obama Presidential Center opened to the public on June 19, 2026, and with it comes a a campus that is redefining the presidential library. Located in Jackson Park on Chicago’s South Side, the center is designed to be experienced, not just visited. It surrounds the neighborhood, with pathways and gathering spaces meant to draw people in naturally.

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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.