Engineer. Maker. Nerd. Jewelry Enthusiast.
Hi, I’m Ellen—an engineer, maker, and lifelong STEM nerd who loves finding ways to turn the things I’m interested in into things I can make and wear.
I studied electrical engineering at Rose-Hulman and later earned a master’s in biomedical engineering from Purdue. Engineering has been my career for nearly 20 years, and one of my favorite parts of it has always been the people. I’ve been incredibly lucky to work on teams with talented people from all kinds of technical backgrounds, and I love how much I get to learn from the people around me.
That’s really where STEMGems fits in. I wanted to make jewelry and accessories that celebrate the things we actually love— science, technology, engineering, math, and all the wonderfully specific interests that come with them.
Some designs are obvious. Some are subtle enough that only another person who knows what they’re looking at will recognize them. Those might be my favorites.
One of the best and most unexpected parts of having this shop has been getting to know the people who find it. I love hearing why someone chose a particular piece, what they do, who they’re buying it for, or why some ridiculously specific little design is exactly their thing. Etsy has given me another way to connect with people who get excited about the same kinds of things I do, and I genuinely love that.
When I’m not engineering or making jewelry, I’m usually working in my garden, hanging out with my kids and pets, running, or convincing my boys that signing up for another 5K with their mom is a perfectly reasonable family activity.
Thanks for stopping by. Stay curious, stay nerdy, and wear what you love.
