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.
Crafts
May 5, 2026

Fifth-Generation Quiltmaker Creates Vibrant Fabric Stories Inspired by African Tradition

Artist Phyllis Stephens begins her quiltmaking with a prayer. In doing so, she recognizes her place within the long-held practice. “I am an heir to the culture and value of the African tradition of quilt making,” she explains. For three decades, Stephens has created African-American story quilts, drawing from both history and personal experiences to create vibrant compositions that are full of life.

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Crafts
April 29, 2026

15 Top Artists Showcase the Power of Textile Art in Stunning Group Exhibition

Textile art has a long history, existing for thousands of years in some form. But it’s only relatively recently that it has finally been getting the recognition it deserves. Often seen in gendered terms as “women’s work”—and therefore deemed less important—contemporary art is making strides to showcase the beauty and ingenuity of this genre. This is evident in Textile Art Redefined, now on view at the Saatchi Gallery in London.

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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.