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.
Portrait Photography
January 3, 2022

Photographer Mom Takes Fairytale Portraits of Her Kids to Show Timeless Magic of Childhood

Every day might not seem magical, but photographer Elena Shumilova has a penchant for making it feel enchanting with her dreamy portraiture. For years, she has been snapping photos of her family’s life around her home in the countryside of the Tver region in Russia. The images feature her kids as they explore the idyllic surroundings, often accompanied by furry and feathered friends. Shumilova’s photographic techniques help cultivate a fairytale feeling in her work.

Read Article

Creative Products
December 22, 2021

Artist Designs Steampunk-Style Masks That Make Wearers Look Like Living Cyborgs

Artist Dmitriy Bragin creates mystifying masks inspired by steampunk. The incredible coverings cloak the entire face in metallic-looking finishings. Bragin plays with texture and machine elements—such as tiny gears—as well as organic root-like motifs and combines them into one form. When worn, the wearer seemingly transforms from a human to a hybrid of man and machine. Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction that takes its cues from 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery.

Read Article

Store
December 19, 2021

25 Creative Gifts to Wow the People Who Have Everything

We all have people in our lives who are absolutely impossible to shop for. These folks seem to have it all—so what could they possibly want for a present? If you’re stumped when it comes to getting gifts for people who have everything, we’re here to help. Through My Modern Met Store, we’ve curated a collection of products that'll make it a breeze to buy for anyone in your life.

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.