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
December 16, 2025

Deepen Your Understanding of Art With These Pairs of Online Creative Courses

There’s one prevailing truth about art: you never stop learning. No matter your expertise, there’s always more to discover. My Modern Met Academy, our e-learning platform, was designed to help you unleash your creativity and foster new skills. And to further this mission, we’ve got some courses that have a natural “part two” to them. Taught by the same instructor, these pairs of classes will deepen your understanding of a subject matter or approach.

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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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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.