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.
Embroidery
September 21, 2021

Brilliant Embroideries Capture the Expansive Beauty of the Aurora Borealis in Small Hoops

Artists have long been inspired by the aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. And it's no wonder why; the brilliant light display showcases vivid colors that dance throughout the sky, and it compels creatives to recreate the sights in their chosen medium. Tanya Mironowa, aka Embroidery by Nusik, has recently paid homage to this phenomenon with a series of landscape hoop art inspired by the aurora borealis.

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Funny
September 9, 2021

Brilliant “Low Cost” Cosplay Costumes Hilariously Capture Pop Culture Characters

It’s easy to hear the word “cosplay” and to picture elaborate costumes meticulously tailored and sculpted. In that case, let Anucha Saengchart (aka Lonelyman) change your mind. For years, he’s been creating Low Cost Cosplay. The hilarious—and extremely popular—project has him transforming into characters from popular culture all with some basic materials and creative camera angles. If you don’t believe how simple (and low budget)

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Art Supplies
August 29, 2021

11 Best Watercolor Marker Sets for Beginners and Professionals

Watercolor paints are a popular medium for both professional artists and hobbyists alike. But, let’s face it: they can be a bit inconvenient to use. While there are some portable watercolor sets out there, you still have to make sure that you have a palette, paintbrush, and a cup of water handy. If you get discouraged by all of the accouterments needed for watercolor painting, give watercolor markers a try.

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DIY
August 11, 2021

15 Journaling Prompts That Will Help You Get Started Writing Today

We’re so used to texting and typing, but when was the last time you wrote something down? Journaling is a great exercise whether you simply want to record your day, write down your goals, or you'd like to ruminate on a larger issue. Filling a notebook with your thoughts is always a worthwhile pursuit that can give you mental clarity on both the big and small things in your life.

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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.