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.


November 4, 2023

2023 Guide to Creative Christmas Ornaments So You Can Trim Your Tree in Style

Trimming the tree is an important part of Christmas decor. These small tokens that hang on the branches offer an unconventional form of personal expression. By incorporating specific ornaments into the overall decoration, you can create a customized tree that celebrates who you are and the memories you’ve made over time. Baubles are a popular way to trim a tree, but they are far from the most creative. Almost anything can be an ornament!

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October 20, 2023

35 Creative Small Gifts That Will Make a Big Impact This Holiday Season

As the holidays draw near, there’s usually a major focus on big-ticket gift times. But what about the smaller products that you need to buy? They make the perfect gift for stocking stuffers, secret Santas, or office gifts for that special cubicle buddy. These purchases don’t have to be extravagant or expensive; they just need to show that you put some thought into picking them out to make for a great gift.

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October 3, 2023

37 Halloween Pumpkin Carving Ideas to Creatively Celebrate the Spookiest Time of Year

The Halloween season is upon us, and that means pumpkin carving is right around the corner. Now is the time to decide on your yearly jack-‘o-lantern design. There's always the classic motif of triangle eyes, a nose, and crooked teeth; but throughout the years, artists have shown us the amazing possibilities that can be achieved with a big imagination, the right tools, and a few handy tricks for how to handle the insides.

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