Think of a place you love.
A place that calls you home.
A place that brings out the best in you.
That’s what San Juan Island is for us.
We are Shelley Alan and Kerry Hartjen, a creative married couple. We found this island quite by accident in 2001, and immediately realized that it was destined to be our new Home.
There was never any question of saying “no”, and we spent the next 6 years preparing for the move. We visited the island every chance we got. Finally in June of 2007 we packed our cat, parakeet, toad, koi fish and ourselves into a tiny little red Kia Spectra and made the 1000 mile road trip to begin our new adventure here.
Every single day we are surrounded by the natural beauty and wonder of the Pacific Northwest. Eagles. Orcas. Majestic mountains, open pastures and rolling hills, ever-changing tides and magnificent skies — the list goes on.
It was a big adjustment. Life here has its challenges, to be sure. At times it is far from easy. But we love it just the same.
On this website we hope to share with you some of the joy, fun and amazement that San Juan Island has given us, through our art. Everything we make is inspired by, and endowed with, the beauty we have found here. We hope you enjoy it.
Come on in and make yourself at home!
A pair of raccoons keep a watchful, curious eye on visitors at British Camp National Park on San Juan Island. Photo by K. Hartjen.
Shelley holds a cute little pumpkin up for your viewing enjoyment. Photo taken last October by K. Hartjen.
A beautiful Swallowtail butterfly drinks nectar from a Valerian flower in our garden. Photo by K. Hartjen
Kerry and Shelley having a wonderful time in the Pacific Northwest! Photo by K. Hartjen
ABOUT US
Shelley spent over 35 years teaching high school in Carmel, CA before retiring in 2007. She was also a docent guide at the Monterey Bay Aquarium for more than 20 years, and is now a docent at The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor. She is, and always has been, an artist at heart. Her new passion is creating wonderful art from fabric and applying it to canvases, upcycled clothing, and more.
Kerry is a retired stage actor and professional family entertainer. He was well-known in the Monterey Bay area as “Ravioli the Magical Clown”, performing at over 2000 events from San Francisco to Big Sur during his 20 year career. He began making jewelry about 9 years ago and enjoys gardening, painting, photography and creating new things all the time.
