The Sparks women owe their family to a gypsy fortune teller.

In Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, Deborah Sparks had her fortune read in tea leaves. As a 28-year-old artist and actor working for PBS and hosting a home repair show on television, the last thing on her mind was raising a family.

But fate had other plans in mind – and the fortune teller told her she would return to San Francisco and start a family.

“I never thought I would have children,” Sparks said.

Shortly thereafter, she moved to the west coast permanently after 10 years of commuting between New York and San Francisco for work. Her first date with the future father of her children was to the premiere of Stars Wars. Three weeks later, Bob, a sculptor, asked her to marry him.

Months later, they welcomed daughter Amanda. Next came Annie.

After Bob and Sparks separated, she and the girls moved to Eugene, Ore. where she completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Sparks already earned a bachelors in theatre arts and a masters in behavioral health science while living on the East Coast.

A chance visit to Orcas changed the direction of their lives again.

In 1981, the three moved to the island – just as ground was breaking to build Orcas Center.

By that time, Bob, who remained close friends with his ex-wife, was remarried and living in Seattle and continued to play a big role in the girls’ lives. Currently, he is completing the construction of the Seattle World Cruiser, which he is scheduled to fly around the world.

Amanda and Annie grew up in the costume shop of the center, where Sparks has been a stage director for the last three decades and theatre productions director for 10 years.

“Being an artist and a bohemian was at the top of the food chain,” Sparks said. “So some things were adamant and some things were not. I told the girls, ‘you need to be a polite and good person and be in the arts.’ It’s how I was raised.”

Sparks’ father designed packaging for every day products, many of which are still in use today like pill packets that pop open and packages that have clear fronts so you can see the item inside. Sparks was raised by a very artistic family.

The girls say their home life was bohemian and filled with great food, gardening and potlucks. Their home was an evolving mecca of creativity. Family dinners are still an integral part of their dynamic.

Annie went to art school in Mexico and Canada. The three women collaborated on her final project on history of origins at Emily Carr University, performing an elaborate birth scene. Faculty members were so impressed they asked Annie to join the film department. She later went to culinary school in New England and blends her interest in food and art by making one-of-a-kind wedding cakes.

Amanda pursued marine biology and later a career in the culinary and event industry, but after the birth of her daughter, Ava, she went back to her roots in the fashion world. She now owns the Siren Boutique in Eastsound, where her love of fashion is on full display.

“Mom is the ultimate do-it-yourselfer,” Amanda said. “We took things apart and put them back together. We had massive exposure on how to use tools. Now, when I see something, I see the possibilities.”

With Sparks’ background in art and psychology, she also imparted emotional tools to her daughters.

“It helped us to navigate through life,” Amanda said.

Sparks said she believes in “letting people be who they are and standing behind them.”

Amanda is passing on to Ava, who is six, what she learned from her mother: celebrating details in nature, allowing creative space and welcoming new experiences.

Sparks says Ava is the “apple of my eye.” The two spend time together doing art projects and bird watching.

“I’m amazed at her patience to wait for birds,” Sparks said.

Amanda, Annie, Ava and Sparks are all in the Moulin Rouge production at Orcas Center May 8 and 9. It’s the first time as adults they have been on stage together.

“I feel so lucky that both my daughters and my granddaughter are on the island,” Sparks said. “The most beautiful thing I have learned is to love and be loved in return,” – in reference to the famous line in Moulin Rouge.

The women have weathered storms together – Sparks beat cancer several years ago – and they say humor is their glue.

“It hasn’t always been easy, but we’ve evolved out of all that into something really positive,” Annie said. “We’re on an epic journey together. It’s always been the three of us – we stick together and figure it out.”

Added Amanda: “The show must always go on.”

And for Sparks, she sees her girls as her partners in life.

“They are my fellow travelers,” she said.