Meet the Maker

A swell is more than just a wave—it’s an energy, a force, a beautiful, ever-growing tide of interconnected creativity that rises from the earth and flows into everything. I'm Sarah Wellman (Swell), a wild, whimsical, fiercely feminine, modern-day alchemist weaving a little magic with mother nature.

The journey to becoming a silversmith and lapidrist has been a winding path of transformation and growth. I grew up in an unusual environment as the child of a religious commune. We were homeschooled on a farm, surrounded by a life steeped in creativity and living with the land. From this culturally alternative lifestyle, I learned that anything is possible when you let your imagination run wild. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been in love with the process of transmuting an idea that lives entirely in my mind into a physical reality. My family, both sides of it, were endlessly inventive, so it’s no wonder that creativity is woven into my very bones. I was born for this.

Eventually, adulthood and the social pressure to not be an artist led me to step away from my dreams. That is, until 2020—a time when many of us found space to rediscover the things that truly nourish us. For me, that was learning the art of hat-making. Molding felts and infusing them with my own whimsical flair revived a deep joy within me. Yet, it wasn’t enough. I longed to craft the embellishments that would make my creations truly shine. This led me to an intro silversmithing course, which soon became a love affair with cutting my own stones.

Over the past few years, I took that love and devoted my skills to perfecting a cabochon. I dove headfirst into the depths of lapidary work obsessing over fine details that make my cabs a joy for fellow smiths to work with. Recently, I’ve expanded my craft to include casting—a boundless world of possibility where I can let my imagination soar, unencumbered by limitations. There's nothing more fulfilling to me than taking earths gifts and turning them into my own.

My studio is nestled in the Willamette Valley, at the base of the majestic Cascade Range. Here in Oregon, the mountains and the Pacific Ocean are my backyard friends, filling me with endless inspiration. I often find myself wandering the local forests and riverways collecting my own stones to cut and botanicals to cast. When I’m not in my workshop, you’ll find me surrounded by my fluffy dogs, my amazing husband (whom I couldn’t do this without), or back at my parents’ farm with all the animal friends I cherish.

At Swell, I invite others to connect with the elements through intentionally cut stones and handcrafted jewelry. Just as water ripples, roots reach, clouds swirl, and leaves dance in the wind, Swell Studios channels the wild, transformative beauty of the earth into each piece.