We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sharon Stahl a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sharon , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

My love for the arts has existed for as long as I’ve been cognizant of the world around me. Some of my earliest memories include playing with an array of art supplies and making crayon and pencil drawings with my mother. She has been a steadfast supporter of my artistic endeavors from the very beginning–never has there been a better cheerleader! My mother really gave for me–shuffling me around to art classes, signing me up to compete in art contests, hauling me and my work to our county fairs to be displayed and win awards in the art show barns–everything my mother could do for me in rural Ohio, she did it. Even in my early teen years, my entrepreneurial spirit showed through in various art-related stints–making and selling clay Christmas tree ornaments and figurines, painting window murals for the local rec center, becoming a cosplayer and learning to work with fabric and foam (which eventually had me guesting at conventions and judging cosplay craftsmanship competitions). I had a supreme drive to create and create things to be seen.

My path started out strong, but of course, life hits you in a plethora of ways and sometimes you have to do anything and everything but the thing you want to survive and pay the bills.

Sharon , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

The name of my business is Bauble & Hag, and I make handcrafted Kitchen Witch dolls from Scandinavian and Germanic folklore. They’re essentially a good luck charm for all of your kitchen endeavors! They’re said to help cakes and breads rise, prevent foods from burning and milk from souring, pots from boiling over, and inspire safety and creativity in the kitchen.

I got started on this path after trying to find some kitchen witch dolls online a couple years ago, wherein I realized not many people are making them these days. These dolls hold a special place in my heart–when I was a little girl, my grandmother had one hanging in her kitchen. It was a gift brought back from Scandinavia by one of her friends in the early 80s. My grandmother named the witch Elvira, and she was passed from her kitchen to my mother’s, and eventually to mine. When I started researching these dolls more, I found that this is a very common occurrence for the kitchen witch–they’re often passed down generations, their magic kept alive by each keeper in the line. This is one of the aspects that really drew me into getting into the craft: the idea of making a generational piece of art that connects families with a sweet tradition. Considering I have a heavy dose of German heritage, I’ve been enjoying finding connection with those roots through making these dolls. I build them piece by piece with longevity in mind–everyone who buys one of my kitchen witches can be sure it’ll stand the test of time.

Making these dolls has caused me to learn and hone a whole host of new artistic crafts–from armature and silicone mold making to resin casting. When I began this project, I already had 20 years of sculpting, painting, and sewing under my belt, but I really yearned to pick up new techniques (largely through what I like to call “YouTube School”). I equipped myself with supplies and proper PPE, and began the long process of prototyping my dolls.

Every aspect of these dolls is done by hand (and by sewing machine, when warranted). I sculpt the heads and hands from clay, make silicone molds from those sculpts, then mix and cast epoxy resin in an array of skin tones to suit all needs–it’s important to me to bring more inclusivity to this tradition. The body parts also get dye painted by hand with freckles and shade lines after they’ve cured for further detail. As for the clothing, I draft all of the patterns myself and use thrifted and scrap fabrics. Because the fabrics are saved scraps from bins and thrift stores, I can never be guaranteed to find the same fabrics again–meaning my models are often rotated out or retired after a certain number. Some of my clients collect them like Pokémon, I always get a kick out of that!

Have you ever had to pivot?

Before I became a full-time artist, I worked as a fire restoration technician and shop manager for 6 years. It was a difficult line of work to be in for so long, it really took a toll on me physically and mentally. After succumbing to burnout, I met someone who changed my view on life and allowed me to really dream again. We began a long-distance relationship, and I decided life was too short to not uproot and try new things. I sold my house, packed up some of my belongings in the back of a freighter, loaded my car with my houseplants and Great Dane, and moved to Canada at the end of 2020 to be with my partner. Having never even been out of my own country before, this was a massive pivot, but one that I desperately needed. Coming here and starting fresh has allowed me to flourish in my dream of becoming an honest-to-goodness artist, with the help of my amazing partner, Paul. After moving, I discovered the huge art community we have in Quebec and have made so many amazing friendships and connections, spurring me to start Bauble & Hag in earnest. It was the best (and most gutsy) decision I’ve ever made.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The learning! Learning new skills absolutely invigorates me. There’s nothing more satisfying than starting a new endeavor and getting good at it in the process. I of course love the accolades that come along with sharing my work and having people purchase it for themselves, but the power and satisfaction that comes with starting something new and having an amazing final product is worth its weight in gold. I don’t think I’ll ever stop pursuing new artistic paths–my current one is working on illustrating children’s books (another childhood dream of mine).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://baubleandhag.wordpress.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baubleandhag/
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits

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