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.
Social Cause
April 22, 2021

14-Year-Old Sews 1,000 Colorful Bow Ties To Help Animals Find Forever Homes

When it comes to searching for a furry friend to adopt, many folks look online to find their furever connection. A great photo is key; it will make someone stop mid-scroll and hopefully bring that pet one step closer to finding a loving home. Sir Darius Brown, who is only 14 years old, understands this and is helping cute kitties and doggies, one bow tie at a time.

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Acrylic Painting
April 16, 2021

Artist Reimagines Majestic Mountainscapes as Jewel-Toned Polygon Paintings

Artist Elyse Dodge translates the world’s natural beauty into colorful geometric forms. Through her hand-crafted acrylic paintings, mountains are reimagined as multifaceted towers where jagged planes are replaced with smooth, jewel-toned triangles. Coupled with equally bright—and more realistic—depictions of trees and water, the mountains take on a personality and quickly become the main character of each piece. Their fractured state gives them a feeling of movement; it's as if they're vibrating.

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Animals
April 13, 2021

Dazzling Golden Tortoise Beetles Look Like Tiny Jewels Scurrying Across Leaves

When is a tortoise not a tortoise? When it’s actually a beetle! The golden tortoise beetle, whose scientific species name is aspidimorpha sanctaecrucis, is a creature with a turtle-like shell decorated with a striking golden pattern on its protective carapace. It looks like a tiny jewel come to life. As adorable as the beetle is sparkling, the part-golden, part-transparent carapace does more than just look pretty.

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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.