Posts by Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled "Embroidered Life" that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
Photography
August 9, 2017

Photographer Shows How to Break 50 of the Strangest Laws Across the U.S.

When you picture breaking the law, it’s probably not for something as innocuous as wearing skinny jeans. But in Delaware, it’s technically illegal to wear pants that are “form fitting” at the waist. The weird laws don’t stop there, though. In Alabama, don’t even try to hide that ice cream cone in your back pocket—it’ll land you in trouble! Chronicling this surprising side of the U.S.

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DIY
August 4, 2017

Crochet Dress Blankets Magically Transform Anyone Under Them into a Princess

Everyone wants to feel like a princess, and Carol Hladik is now making it easier than ever. The expert crafter has designed a series of magical crochet blanket patterns that’ll transform you into royalty in just seconds. Shaped like elaborate ball gowns, the whimsical cloaks resemble fancy frocks worn by the likes of Cinderella and Belle. Just slip your arms into their sleeves and marvel at how regal you suddenly feel.

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Art
August 2, 2017

Man Spends 3 Years Perfecting a Paper Lamp of a Kirigami Castle in the Sky

Simon Strauss is a multimedia designer by day and a paper artist by night. The designer, who's always had a fascination with paper cutting—specifically kirigami and origami architecture—decided to try his hand at it. “I was inspired by the many beautiful products you've featured, and I decided to give it a shot of my own design,” he kindly tells us via email. This passion for paper inspired Strauss to create something inherently beautiful.

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History
August 1, 2017

World’s Oldest Unopened Bottle of Wine Remains Sealed Since the 4th Century

Wine has a long and rich history in human existence that predates even written records—but suffice to say that our love affair with the beverage is ancient. One theory postulates that the fermentation of alcohol took off sometime between 10,000 to 8,000 BC, thanks to the shift from nomadic to more settled culture. Because people were staying in one place, they began raising crops that eventually lead to the production of wine.

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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.