Meet Sharon Stevens of Mustard Seed Originals
Business Name:Mustard Seed Originals
Name/Ebay ID: mustardseed5
Sharon has been married to her husband Michael for 23 years. They live in Victorville, California, and have 5 grown children and 11 grandchildren.
Here she is w/ her Grandson Jayden...isn't he a Cutie-pie??
and w/ her best friend Molly *Awwwww!*
Tell us about your workspace/sewing room/studio:
I use our 5th bedroom downstairs.
Do you have any organizational tips?
HA! Me? Organized! That crowds my creativity!
Tell me about your “ideal” workshop/sewing room/studio:
I plan to try to organize my work room when I return from an out of state trip this week. My ideal shop would have several work stations to keep out all the time to use when needed. One of my problems is that I dabble in too many different avenues.
What are your favorite techniques?
Aging rag dolls and always designing new one of a kinds.
Who or what is inspires you?
Walking through a quilt shop and feeling the fabrics; Antique shops with great finds; viewing vintage dolls from years ago online.
What do you collect?
Fabric, buttons, embroidered linens, black Americana especially, vintage potholders, vintage aprons, old laces. Anything old and rusted.
What type/medium/style of art have you NOT tried that you would like to learn?
Handsculpting a figure using prosculpt, delve into primitive quilting.
What would you be doing if you were not creating primitives and/or folk art?
Going crazy! I love what I do and I'm sure I'd be doing some sort of designing. Probably interior.
What is the best thing about creating primitive/folk art?
It is not delicate, you can throw the dolls in a suitcase if packing up from a show. Also, when I have folks tell me that my items really do look like antiques. I have been told that well known antique dealers actually believe they true antiques. When a design touches a heart..that's the best thing!A big part of the joy of my job is that I can be where I want to be when I want to be there!
What is the most frustrating thing about creating primitive/folk art?
Stuffing. I hate to stuff!
How many hours do you spend a week creating?
Approximately 37+ hours a week.
What is your favorite room in your home, and why?
Next to my workroom, my bathroom. Because I love to take bubble baths and read for at least 1 hour at a time.
How do you manage your time between family, home, and creating?
I try to work while my husband is working, and be sensitive to spending time with him on the weekends. However, my schedule is flexible too. That's the greatest thing about having my job.
Do you have any advice for an artist wanting to break into selling primitives/folk art?
Start out selling at local shows, or if selling online, I'd recommend selling on Etsy. Build a customer base and then perhaps in a year or so, become part of a co-op group. Trade links with everyone you can to get your designs out there! Network! That's important!
What other Primitive Artists influence and inspire you?
The old designers ie, Izannah Walker for instance. Also I'm inspired by artists that weren't even known for making dolls. Just an old rag doll that perhaps a momma made for her daughter and was found years later.
Tell us three things about yourself that would surprise us!
1) My husband and I have the same birthday (however, he's 2 years older than me!) and we got married on that day, May 30th.
2) In 1999 we packed up and moved from California to Pennsylvania (where I grew up) and in 6 weeks turned around and moved back to California!
3) I can wiggle my right ear back and forth without touching it.
Please share anything else you would like our readers to know about yourself, your work, your home, and or your family.
I have been selling online since January of 2000. I have met some of the most wonderful friends I've ever known! The computer has been my lifeline ever since. It's great to pour yourself a cup of coffee in the morning and go online to chat with folks all over the world.
Having an online business offers so many opportunities. What other job do you know that you can move it with you wherever you want to go, be it a vacation, trip or moving out of state. You don't have to worry about anything. Just pack up the computer and off you go! Awesome!!
Some of Sharon's original one of a kind creations
I don't know about you, but I can spot a MSO doll a mile away! One look at those faces, and you know they were created by Sharon!
Thanks for sharing w/ us Sharon!!
You'll find Sharon's wonderful creations every 1st. of the month on
as well as Pfatt Marketplace, Crowsoup, Ranting Raven and Folk of Art.
