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.
Installation
June 5, 2026

Giant Colorful Installation Visualizes Serotonin the Brain Chemical of Happiness Across an Italian Academy

What does happiness look like? Designer Sara Ricciardi explored one of life’s greatest mysteries in a buoyant installation during Milan Design Week 2026. Her immersive, site-specific work titled Serotonin – the chemistry of happiness sought to examine the connection between beauty and bliss. Ricciardi transformed the concept of serotonin, a brain chemical that helps to regulate our mood, into an immersive sensory experience that invited attendees to step among monumental forms.

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Good News
June 4, 2026

Military Sister Surprises Brother at His High School Graduation After Being Gone His Senior Year

One high school senior got more than he expected on his graduation day. Kalen Barksdale thought he’d walk across the stage and be handed his diploma by an administrator at Milwaukee Lutheran Middle and High School. What he likely wasn’t expecting is that he’d have an emotional reunion with his older sister, Specialist Barksdale of the Wisconsin National Guard’s 2-127th Infantry Battalion.

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Creative Products
June 3, 2026

Feast Your Eyes on This Subway Sleeping Bag That Looks Like a Sandwich

The Subway sandwich shop is known for its foot-long subs that burrow meat, veggies, and condiments between two buns. Now, the company is taking that idea and translating its sub into something you can snuggle into. Subway UK and Ireland has created a Sleeping Bag-uette, a giant sleeping bag modeled after its Italian B.M.T. sub, complete with fabric meat, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and two slices of bread.

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Academy
June 2, 2026

3 Architectural Drawing and Painting Classes That Will Prepare You for Urban Sketching

Want to start urban sketching? The practice is all about drawing on location, capturing what you see using direct observation. Think walking in a neighborhood and depicting the homes, businesses, and landscaping. You’ve got to know how to draw many subjects, including how to capture the details of buildings. Architecture, however, can be particularly tricky; there are so many elements to draw that it can be challenging to figure out where to begin.

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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.