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.
Academy
May 12, 2026

How 20 Minutes Can Improve Your Creativity and Build Real Artistic Skills

Here’s a secret about making art: you don’t have to block hours out of your day to improve your skills. Consistent art sessions, as short as 20 minutes, can add up to real skill-building. That’s a relief, especially if you want to exercise your creativity but have limited time during your day. You can easily replace 20 minutes of doom-scrolling on your phone with an art session and feel better for it.

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Travel
May 8, 2026

Stylish San Francisco Hotel Combines City Living With Luxurious Accommodations

When traveling, it matters where you stay. Even if you’re spending a lot of time away from the place you’ve set your suitcase, accommodations are an important respite after a long day. In San Francisco, The Jay, Autograph Collection hotel offers the best of both worlds: it’s located in the heart of the city and is a luxurious place to lay your head at night.

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Academy
May 5, 2026

Artist Who Has Mastered Realistic Drawing Shares His Tips and Tricks in Online Classes

Learning to draw realistically is an artistic achievement. It demonstrates that you have the technical capabilities to translate what you see onto paper or canvas. This type of art takes a lot of practice and patience, but there are tips and tricks to simplify the process. Artist Matheus Macedo creates awe-inspiring portraiture and still life using charcoal, graphite, and colored pencils.

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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.