Jeanne van Etten
by Sarah McNamara
Stepping into Jeanne van Etten’s store at 4 Fair Street is like stepping back in time to Nantucket’s past, to the small shops of Petticoat Row where the products were of high quality, made by hand, and run mainly by women. Jeanne’s store may be tiny, but it is packed with unique and colorful items for the home, from ornaments, picture frames, mugs, and greeting cards, to larger items such as flower pots, step stools and chairs. All of the intricate and whimsical details of each piece are hand done by Jeanne. Picture frames can even be customized while you wait, giving you a chance to watch the artist at work.
Mermaids, whales, and the mysticism of all things nautical is a prevalent theme in the shop, and the bright and lively designs will add color and cheer to any home. A step stool or hand-painted chair would be a wonderful addition to a little girl’s room. Each piece is unique, making her work a special Nantucket gift you won’t find anywhere else.
Jeanne got her start as a young girl vacationing on the Cape, where her love of mermaids made their way into her artwork, and she began selling her handmade note cards at the age of fourteen. She took that inspiration and eventually moved into doing craft shows. When the opportunity to open her own shop was presented to her, she couldn’t refuse. She’s been open at the 4 Fair Street location (around the corner from Murray’s Toggery) for a year and a half now, and on Saturdays during the summer you can find her at the Nantucket Farmer’s and Artisan’s Market.
Handpainted step stools come in two sizes, small for $85 and large for $165.
Mermaid and Nantucket-themed picture frames can be customized while you wait, $28
Whale mugs are microwave and dishwasher safe and come in a variety of colors, $48;
