Welcome to Allover Diaries, where we get to know the inspiring people who wear our overalls and the adventures they take in them.
For this edition, we chatted with fine jewelry designer Avery Lee Oatman, who sources stones from our natural world and honors the earth just by the way she moves through it.
Tell us a little about why you are who you are today.
My name is Avery Oatman, and my business is Avery Lee Design. I grew up in Boulder, Colorado, meaning on rivers and in the mountains, spending time on camping trips and skiing.
I have these little memories of being a kid and picking up tiny rocks and twigs and being kind of fascinated with the natural world. I’ve always been very attracted to beautiful things, and that attraction has translated into falling in love with working with stones and fine metals.
Technically I went to massage school before I became a jeweler, and dance has always been a huge part of my life as well, so movement and being in the body and understanding this mind and body connection has always been a big part of who I am.
And I think a huge credit for who I am is from my parents. As I’m becoming a parent myself, I feel like I’m seeing life through different lenses. My parents had a huge impact on my family—I’m still very close with my extended relatives as well.
How did you start making jewelry?
I’ve always been involved in some sort of art practice or craft: photography, printmaking, and all sorts of different forms and mediums. But I came to making jewelry in an interesting way.
I, out of the blue, took a class in 2015. My dad recently passed from pancreatic cancer. Deep grief brought me to want to try something totally different and new, and I can’t tell you why I was specifically like, “I want to take a jewelry class.” But the opportunity came up, and I knew I needed to focus on something totally different as I was moving through the grief.
So I took a class, and from there became kind of addicted and excited to keep learning. Metalsmithing is a cool medium because there are so many different ways to approach the craft, and it takes a level of preciseness and presence to make things happen. And it’s very visceral—you’re hammering and sanding the whole time. You have to be very in the moment, or you can hurt yourself. The level of attention and presence it required was really healing, actually, in my grief process. So I kind of just became addicted.
In our world today, even in these communities and circles in Colorado (which are very connected to getting outside), it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to connect with the earth with all of our screens and distractions.
For me, making jewelry and working with materials straight from the earth is another form of connecting with it as opposed to being outside on a hike. It’s another, different way of honoring the earth.
Eventually, I started selling my pieces as a side hustle. But then things grew, and I found myself wanting to do it more and more. It was a very organic process transitioning into the business, which I know for a lot of creatives isn’t the case. It can be a really hard transition in some ways. But for me, I was energized to turn this craft into a business that supports me and my family. Those are the origins.
What advice would you give someone who might be hesitant to pursue a creative endeavor?
You kind of just have to go for it. What I’ve found is that, yes, there is bravery in starting any creative endeavor. But if it’s what you’re really supposed to do, you probably won’t be able to ignore that path.
For me, it was like, “I can’t not make jewelry.” Keep trusting that voice. If it gets loud enough, follow it.
And I won’t lie, it is hard. I won’t glorify it. If being a creative means making a business out of a creative pursuit, then being a creative requires a lot of flexibility in enduring slow months of business and enjoying the busy times. Over the years, the waves of unpredictability are smaller. But yeah, it’s definitely a rollercoaster.
What does a perfect day look like for Avery Lee Oatman?
Well, my perfect day a year ago is a little different than it is today, mainly because I have a baby. My perfect day has a balance of being with my 10-month-old and doing what I love in the studio.
Waking up, having a nice tea or coffee, and spending time with my baby. We would go out on a walk with our dog or maybe meet a friend for a walk. Friendship feels even more important to me right now. It’s always been, but especially in this new phase of life.
And then I would probably hit the studio to make some pieces. In an ideal world, I’d have a couple of hours just to be creative. And then probably get some other work accomplished, like client meetings.
I really love cooking. So I’d probably head to the grocery store or my partner’s farm to get some fresh ingredients for a really delicious meal shared with friends and family. That’s my ideal day.
Who are the people who inspire you most?
People who are unapologetically themselves but also open to growing and learning. People who speak up and out against injustice. People who put their values right in the center of their offerings and aren't afraid to make mistakes are folks that I look up to. I have a new friend, Stevie Van Horn, who owns her own company, Yay for Earth, who is incredibly vocal on her platforms about what she believes in and how she wants to challenge the patriarchy and our current systems of injustice with daily actions. I find her very inspiring.
Tell us about how you were your Allovers.
First off, I love my Allovers. They’re the perfect blend of stylish but also really utilitarian. A lot of my shop clothes are actually a lot thicker, think Carharts, but I don’t have anything lightweight that has all the pockets I need to put random rulers and other tools in. They’re also perfect for styling. Clients come over, and I can throw on a nicer sweater and sell fine jewelry in my Allovers. They’re extremely versatile, which I love. And I’m wearing them right now!
