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.
Social Cause
February 25, 2021

Viral Twitter Thread Reveals Long Helpful List of Acceptable Donations To Food Banks

Food insecurity is a huge problem around the world. As rates of unemployment have soared, families are having trouble making ends meet. That’s where community food banks play an important role; they help those who are struggling and provide them with food and other essential items. Food banks are always in need of donations from those with more means. But what should you donate?

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Crafts
February 22, 2021

Massive Woven Wall Hangings Modernize the Ancient Art of Weaving

Textile artist Tammy Kanat has an innovative approach to the traditional art of weaving. While a lot of weaving is done on rectangular looms, Kanat opts for a more organic shape and creates large-scale textile projects that are housed within circular forms. Her massive pieces incorporate fuzzy textures and rings of bright colors. This combination is magnetic; Kanat’s work begs for a long look to fully appreciate her range of wrapping, fringe, knots, and more.

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Nature
February 19, 2021

Rare ‘Baikal Zen’ Phenomenon Has Rocks Balancing on Pedestals of Ice on Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal in Siberia produces an incredible phenomenon when the weather turns bitterly cold. As the world's deepest and most voluminous freshwater lake, it has a geography that produces the gravity-defying sight of rocks teetering on “legs” of ice. The wonder is known as Baikal Zen, in reference to the stacking of stones found in Japanese gardens. The pedestals created for these stones aren't fashioned right away.

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Photography
February 15, 2021

Photographer Accidentally Captures Stunning Shot of Plane Flying Across the Sun

Sometimes, awe-inspiring photos are planned down to the second. But there are other images that are the result of pure happenstance. Photographer Andrew McCarthy experienced one of those magical moments when he captured the thrilling sight of a plane flying against the backdrop of the sun. In McCarthy’s photo, the sun appears as a jubilant pink orb bobbing in the blue-gray sky that is punctuated with the silhouette of a commercial airplane.

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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.