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.
June 8, 2017

Artist Puts a Single Red Dot in Every Tattoo to Symbolize Hope and Celebrate Change

Some tattoos are full-color masterpieces while others create striking optical illusions on the skin. But tattoo artist Mentat Gamze proves that you can have stunning modern tattoo design with a simple, minimalist approach and a bold accent color. In all of her pieces, there is a fine-line drawing completed in black ink that’s inspired by the natural world. And also within every eye-catching tattoo, there’s a red dot that accompanies it.

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June 3, 2017

Rarely Seen Photos of Freddie Mercury with His Long-Time Love Jim Hutton

The late singer Freddie Mercury is known for his amazing and unforgettable voice. He’s also remembered for his battle with AIDS, which he was diagnosed with in 1987 and died from complications of in 1991. Although the world lost Mercury too soon, he was not alone when he passed away. From 1985 to his death, Mercury was accompanied by his partner Jim Hutton.

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June 2, 2017

20+ Black Wedding Cakes That Add Goth-Inspired Flair to a Special Affair

Cakes are definitely having a moment. Whether they’re masquerading as prickly cacti or dripping with sweet decadence, turning dessert into art is en vogue—not to mention delicious. The same goes for wedding cakes. Although we’ve seen some spectacular geodes and galaxy-inspired creations, dark wedding cakes are arguably the most stunning of all. Channeling your inner goth, these multi-tiered creations feature black icing and fondant that adds a dramatic flair to the special affair.

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May 23, 2017

Outdated Encyclopedias Brilliantly Carved into Book Sculptures of Fantastical Lands

Artist Guy Laramée is known for his unique relationship with the humble hard-cover book. Seeing this printed matter as far more than text, he transforms the likes of large encyclopedias and dictionaries into incredible works of book art. Rather than reading material, they become sprawling mountain landscapes, grassy knolls, and icy caverns. It's as if the stories contained between their covers have leapt from the pages and materialized in tangible form.

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