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.
Architecture
July 10, 2020

Amazing Home Renovation Transforms a Dusty Attic Into a Lavish Walk-In Closet

Many of us wish we had more closet space. Just a couple of extra feet would do wonders for keeping all of our belongings at bay. A couple of homeowners in Maryland had this thought, but they dreamed bigger. Rodolfo Cabrera saw his unused attic and had the vision to transform it into a lavish closet space complete with plenty of shelving and seating.

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Embroidery
July 6, 2020

6 of the Best Pairs of Embroidery Scissors That Avid Stitchers Love to Use

As with many things in a creative field, having the right tools can make a big difference. If you’re an avid embroiderer, there are a variety of must-have supplies that will help your stitching projects become a success. But an often-overlooked tool of embroidery is one of the most important—scissors.   Why Care About Embroidery Scissors? Your scissor selection might seem inconsequential, but having a sharp pair of small shears is an easy embroidery hack.

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Art
June 30, 2020

Glittering Gold Portraits Celebrate the Beauty of Black Hair in the Style of Gustav Klimt Paintings

Photography-based artist Tawny Chatmon celebrates the beauty of Black hair through her glittering series titled The Redemption. The collection of portraits features young people wearing their hair in an array of styles—no two are alike. But in this variety, the same visual thread is woven throughout each mixed-media piece. Chatmon paints atop the photos to adorn the kids with dazzling 24-karat gold accessories and outfits.

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Furniture
June 25, 2020

Woodworker Crafts Amazing “Broken” Furniture That Looks Like It Belongs in a Cartoon

Craftsman Henk Verhoeff brings cartoons to life through his amazing woodworking projects. The pieces boast exaggerated silhouettes with giant cracks fashioned in the center of them, and the results look as though they belong in a Disney or Looney Tunes film. Best of all, these pieces are all completely functional. This makes their “damaged beyond repair” construction even more incredible, as it shows that fun and function can go hand-in-hand.

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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.