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.
Inspiring
April 22, 2022

Ukrainian Refugees Are Thanking Countries for Their Warm Welcomes by Helping Clean Public Spaces

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine has stretched into months, Ukrainian citizens are continuing to flee the embattled country for safety. This has led to five million people settling in neighboring countries in Europe. Poland has taken in over 2.8 million refugees, with Romania, Hungary, Moldova, and Slovakia, also accepting a significant number of displaced people.

Read Article

Nature
April 20, 2022

See How Wisteria Trees Make Spring the Most Magical Time to Be in Japan

The time between the middle of April and the middle of May is a magical time to be in Japan. It’s when the wisteria trees are in full bloom, and their beautiful vine flowers—some more than 30 feet long—transform otherwise ordinary places into fairytale locales. It’s impossible to mention wisteria trees without celebrating the country’s most famous—and breathtaking—of the bunch.

Read Article

Academy
April 18, 2022

Learn to Letter When You Enroll in This Beginner Hand Lettering Online Course

Have you ever wanted to learn how to add an element of drawing to your handwriting? That might sound odd, but the idea is the basis of hand lettering. Hand lettering is the art of drawing letterforms in an aesthetically pleasing way, often to convey or evoke emotion. Sounds fun, right? You just have to know where to start. In that case, hand lettering artist Danison Fronda is here to help.

Read Article

Portrait Photography
April 14, 2022

Portraits of Traditional Ukrainian Outfits Highlight the Country’s Rich Cultural Heritage

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine has gone from days to weeks, sites of cultural significance have been leveled by attacks. The cultural heritage of Ukraine is under siege, and photographer Anna Senik is one creative who is showing what’s at risk of destruction. Her portraits, which she describes as “ethno-photography,” feature people wearing traditional garments that showcase Ukraine’s visual heritage, from headwear to jewelry to patterned dresses.

Read Article

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.