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
January 24, 2017

Stylish Men Start Iraq’s First Gentlemen’s Fashion Club While Doing Social Good

When you think of Iraq, you probably don’t think of fashion, but a group of dapper men are trying to change that. Calling themselves Mr. Erbil—named after the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan—the 30 core members are part of “Iraq’s first gentlemen’s fashion club.” Together, they don the likes of tailored three-piece suits, manicured beards, and colorful pocket squares. Looking good is one part of their mission, but they’ve got loftier goals. Mr.

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Design
January 19, 2017

25+ Playful Kitchenware for People Who Love Animals

Whether you’re a master chef or can barely boil pasta, it doesn’t matter—cooking should be fun. Making the task enjoyable is easier than you think. Simply changing your kitchen utensils can bring some welcome whimsy to your stove and oven. Animals—both real and fictitious—are a fantastic way to do this. From quacky colanders to mythical ladles to pensive cheese graters, it’s a cinch to accessorize your space with animal themed kitchen tools.

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DIY
January 16, 2017

Man Saves a 110-Year-Old Piano by Turning It Into a Stunning DIY Desk

Most people see a piano and think that it’s just a musical instrument. Artist and musician Jonathan Miranda Sickmeyer had a different idea when he found an old upright piano on Craigslist. The thing was listed as free—the person posting it wrote that if no one wanted it, the 110-year-old piano was off to the dump. “All the keys were stripped of [their] ivory so I couldn’t salvaged any of it,” Sickmeyer recalled on Bored Panda.

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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.