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.
Acrylic Painting
December 11, 2025

Lavishly Patterned Paintings Combine Western and Eastern Cultures [Interview]

Take your time when viewing the paintings by Naomi Okubo. The intricate, layered works are awash in patterns upon patterns, often cloaking the figures within them. Taking place indoors, outdoors, and spaces in between, the pieces draw from realism while not shying away from elements that border on the surreal. Within a grassy field, for instance, is a portal—a looking glass—into another place.

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Creative Products
December 3, 2025

Best of 2025: 40 Creative Products That Earned a Spot in Our Cart This Year

The products we choose to have in our homes and wear on our bodies say a lot about who we are. They communicate the colors we like and the aesthetics we appreciate, but they can also speak to our identity. Think about it in terms of yourself. Do you like vintage? Are you an early adopter of technology? Would people describe you as practical with a whimsical streak?

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Embroidery
November 24, 2025

Forthcoming Embroidery Book Will Have You Stitching Landscapes That Look Like Oil Paintings

Landscape art has a long and rich history. Crossing cultures and centuries, the human desire to recreate the Earth’s beautiful vistas remains timeless. If you’ve ever trekked to a stunning overlook and had the urge to make art, a forthcoming book will teach you how to produce mountains, beaches, and more through embroidery.

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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.