Posts by Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled "Embroidered Life" that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
Embroidery
July 6, 2020

6 of the Best Pairs of Embroidery Scissors That Avid Stitchers Love to Use

As with many things in a creative field, having the right tools can make a big difference. If you’re an avid embroiderer, there are a variety of must-have supplies that will help your stitching projects become a success. But an often-overlooked tool of embroidery is one of the most important—scissors.   Why Care About Embroidery Scissors? Your scissor selection might seem inconsequential, but having a sharp pair of small shears is an easy embroidery hack.

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Art
June 30, 2020

Glittering Gold Portraits Celebrate the Beauty of Black Hair in the Style of Gustav Klimt Paintings

Photography-based artist Tawny Chatmon celebrates the beauty of Black hair through her glittering series titled The Redemption. The collection of portraits features young people wearing their hair in an array of styles—no two are alike. But in this variety, the same visual thread is woven throughout each mixed-media piece. Chatmon paints atop the photos to adorn the kids with dazzling 24-karat gold accessories and outfits.

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Furniture
June 25, 2020

Woodworker Crafts Amazing “Broken” Furniture That Looks Like It Belongs in a Cartoon

Craftsman Henk Verhoeff brings cartoons to life through his amazing woodworking projects. The pieces boast exaggerated silhouettes with giant cracks fashioned in the center of them, and the results look as though they belong in a Disney or Looney Tunes film. Best of all, these pieces are all completely functional. This makes their “damaged beyond repair” construction even more incredible, as it shows that fun and function can go hand-in-hand.

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DIY
June 22, 2020

Woman Transforms Dowdy Thrift Store Dresses Into Fashionable Frocks

Avid thrifter and crafter Caitlin Trantham has a knack for transforming her thrift store clothing finds into stylish outfits. With the innate ability to see the possibilities in a dress, she looks past the unfashionable elements that cause others to overlook it. Once she gets home, she takes to her sewing machine to make her vision become a reality. “Last year, I got really into vintage clothing,” Trantham tells My Modern Met.

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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.