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.
Photo Contest
March 5, 2025

Hyenas Feasting on a Hippo Wins the Societies of Photographers’ Photographer of the Year 2024 Contest

In 2024, 6,481  photographs were entered into the Monthly Image Competition hosted by The Societies of Photographers. All entries that gained a Gold award moved on to the annual judging to vie for the organization's prestigious Photographer of the Year. With that many images, spread across 28 categories, the competition was fierce. The selected images demonstrate masterful photographic skill and creativity.

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Crafts
February 26, 2025

Sashiko Stitching: Learn How This Age-Old Mending Technique Can Give Your Favorite Garment a New Lease on Life

What do you do when your beloved jacket looks a little threadbare? Do you get rid of it and make room for something new? If you’re prone to ditching a garment when it’s well-worn, consider mending it instead. Sashiko stitching, also known as sashiko mending, is a Japanese technique that extends a garment's life. This time-honored tradition uses the running stitch to reinforce and decorate an item of clothing or piece of fabric.

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Art Supplies
May 20, 2024

15 Best Art Marker Sets for Coloring Enthusiasts and Professional Creatives

Do you remember coloring with markers as a kid? Maybe you had an awesome collection of vibrant Crayolas that you’d use when drawing? While we often associate markers with childhood, they still come in handy today—especially if you’re an artist who loves sketching or consider yourself an adult coloring book enthusiast. There are many great reasons to try art markers. One is because of how easy they are to use and their portability.

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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.