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.
January 14, 2022

Lost Letter From WWII Soldier Finally Gets Delivered 76 Years Later

When American soldier John Gonsalves was stationed in Germany during World War II, he did what many service people do; he wrote a letter to his mom. Intending it to be delivered in 1945, the correspondence never made it to her. It did, however, get delivered to his wife—76 years later. Gonsalves’ wife, Angelina, was shocked when her mail carrier dropped off the airmail envelope at her home in Woburn, Massachusetts.

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January 11, 2022

Adorable 2-Year-Old Is Beyond Excited To See Himself Represented in Disney’s ‘Encanto’

Media representation is important. When there are stories that highlight people of different races and ethnicities, it gives all audiences the chance to feel seen. The Disney animated film Encanto—which tells the story of the extraordinary Madridgal family in Colombia—has given a new way, particularly for kids, to experience the power of representation. If you need any proof of why it matters so much, just look to the broad smile of a 2-year-old named Kenzo.

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January 10, 2022

Photographer Captures Sight of “Christmas Comet” Before It Leaves Our Solar System Forever

For someone who calls himself a “normal guy with a telescope,” photographer Andrew McCarthy captures some truly awe-inspiring images. On December 26, 2021, McCarthy went into his backyard in Florence, Arizona, and snapped sights of Comet Leonard—aka the Christmas Comet—as it tore through the sky. One of the resulting photographs is an up-close look at the comet as it displays a brilliant streak of color surrounded by a pitch-black backdrop with faintly glittering stars.

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January 5, 2022

Caring Mall Santa Goes Above and Beyond to Comfort a Girl Feeling Heartbroken Over the Holidays

Every year, children meet with Santa Claus to tell them their wishes for the holiday season. Adults and older kids know that these people are mere mortals, but that doesn’t stop the Christmas magic. Carrie Noël witnessed this firsthand when her daughter Haidyn visited with a mall Santa. She noticed that the Santa urged Haidyn to stick around after her siblings were done visiting with him, all so that he could talk to her longer.

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