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.
DIY
June 19, 2021

How to Craft a Kitty Playground With Your Own DIY Cat Tower

Being a cat parent has its perks. The purrs, snuggles, and sweet meows are some of the best parts about having a kitty in your home. But the furniture? That's a different story. If you’re a cat owner with discerning decor taste, chances are that you find the options for cat towers and scratchers a bit lacking. There’s hope for you, though!

Read Article

Art History
June 16, 2021

Illuminating Infographic Reveals How 24 Art Movements Got Their Names

Have you ever wondered why we call Cubism… well, Cubism? Or how the artistic movement Futurism got its name? Adam Aleksic, aka Etymology Nerd, reveals the how and why some of the biggest—and most influential—art movements have their memorable titles. He published an infographic on social media that features 24 art movements with brief explanations of the stories behind the names. Some of the movements featured are fairly self-explanatory.

Read Article

Books
June 3, 2021

Coloring Book Combines Math and Art in Illustrations of the Golden Ratio Found in Nature

In 2016, artist Rafael Araujo wowed the world with his Golden Ratio Coloring Book. The adult activity book proved a wonderful way to marry mathematics with art. Containing 25 illustrations inspired by nature and created using the Golden Ratio, it was a bestseller that is since out of print. But now five years later, Araujo is back with a second installment called the Golden Geometry Coloring Book.

Read Article

Crafts
May 27, 2021

Learn How to Ice Dye to Add Some “Cool” to Your Craft Projects

When crafting, it's always a good goal to make your work as original as possible. That way, you're not just creating but expressing yourself, too. For fibers, it doesn’t get much more customized than when you dye your own fabric. Tie-dye is one of the most popular methods of coloring fabric, but there’s another approach that is beloved among dedicated DIYers: ice dyeing.

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.