We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aubree Overfield a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Aubree thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I had been talking about creating a small jewelry business for years. I realized that my job as a social worker in a domestic violence shelter wasn’t going anywhere healthy. I thought to myself “what am I waiting for?”, and I saw it as my opportunity to finally give it a shot. I knew that if I didn’t try it before I found a career in my degree field, I would never open a jewelry shop and would be kicking myself for the rest of my life thinking “what if?”

Aubree, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Aubree Overfield, and I started my handmade jewelry business in 2014. I’m an Arizona native who has been making jewelry for the past 20 years. I am the owner, maker and designer of City Under the Sea Jewelry.

My jewelry experience began with repurposing vintage pieces I found while volunteering at thrift stores per high school community service requirements. I was able to untangle and unearth all the buried treasure in the thrift store that the employees refused to touch. I learned how to wire wrap at 13 and became enthralled with making jewelry. I went to a private Catholic high school where there were endless rules against individuality and standing out in any way. I was required to wear a uniform, but I would always be pushing the boundaries by wearing funky, vintage, repurposed and colorful jewelry. I got in trouble all the time due to my undying desire to be an individual among a sea of white polos and khakis.

I believe a lot of my loud, colorful and unique jewelry designs are fueled by my pent-up creativity from that time. So, I just channeled that energy into my business and ran from there. I was determined to make one of a kind pieces of jewelry to bring confidence and joy to those wearing them. I still repurpose vintage pieces into one of a kind designs, but I mostly focus on wire wrapping beautiful crystals and stones that I can make more than one of.

One of the most frustrating things about being a jewelry maker is that people have a tendency to think we are all the same, but nothing could be further from the truth. Just because a lot of creatives choose jewelry as their medium, doesn’t mean we are the same. My style is filled with bold, colorful, witchy, natural, unique statement pieces.

For instance, I use real stones, crystals, and quality materials. I go to the gem show each year to hunt down true stones, instead of those fakes you can get at craft stores. I also make sure to wrap my work in non-tarnish wire which is hypoallergenic and lasts longer, while being more cost effective than using straight up gold and silver. This is how my work keeps such a good cost point.

I also try not to clutter the stones in wire. I want to show off the stone with minimal wire work. While others have a tendency to really cover up the crystals with their extravagant wire work, I’m just trying to make sure the stone is very visible and heartily attached to the wire.

I really love making custom jewelry for weddings. Including brides, bridesmaids, flower girls and men of honor. It really fills my heart with such joy knowing that I have personally made the wedding jewelry for so many of my friend’s weddings, and for so many wonderful people I’ve met on Instagram. I’m so flattered and just love that I was a part of their special day.

I make remembrance jewelry. This means a lot to me. I’ve made a few pieces made out of a friend’s mother’s bridal veil who had passed. I can’t express how much I deeply felt while being entrusted to make such a special piece. I have also made wire wrapped infinity pendants with the birthstones of those we have lost.

I make non-binary styles and men’s styles, because everyone deserves to feel included, pretty and confident! I’m just so happy that jewelry is no longer just feminine and it really opens up the opportunities I have for creative outlets. I also make mask chains for those of us who are immunocompromised or just would like to wear a mask on the airplane for the rest of our lives, and look cute doing it. The piece I have sold the most of, are my Jade Ruth Bader Ginsburg Dissent Collar stud earrings.

During 2020, I started to donate 5% of my sales to special causes. It started with the Bail Project, Black Lives Matter, AAPI and now World Central Kitchen for those suffering in Ukraine.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Share! I think the easiest and best way that people can best support artists and creatives, is to share their work. It costs nothing but a moment of your time. Just sharing your friends’ artwork every so often can do wonders! If you’re an artist, sharing your artist friends’ art is super important, too. Small business supporting small businesses. Obviously, buying things from your favorite artist would be incredible, but sharing it is so paramount. If you have bought some art, take some time and post about it. Take some nice photos and shout out to that artist. I’m sure you will make their day and they will gain a few followers. So, just share it if you love it!

We need to stand up against the social media companies who are limiting artists’ reach just because they aren’t paying for exposure. That is messed up and really tilting the scales towards artists that already have a steady workload, or even worse, to huge companies like Amazon.

Society could also demand our politicians for universal basic income, or Medicare for all so that we could all have less stress in our lives. Can you imagine how prolific your favorite artists could be if they didn’t have to worry about their day job when they’re working on their art? Or worry about losing their health insurance? There would be so much more art available!

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

When you start your own business as a creative, it can be very daunting. You are the designer, maker, owner, tax accountant, social media manager, photographer, website manager, customer service rep and shipping manager. If you’re doing it all on your own, it’s best if you hear it earlier rather than later, that most of your time will be spent promoting your work rather than making your work. I am constantly working on photos, adding new jewelry listings to my website, and posting on social media. I really only make jewelry one day a week. It’s kind of a bummer, but being my own boss has it’s upsides.

Etsy is a great place to start your shop, but you should know that they have been corporate ghouls gouging small businesses lately. Since the pandemic, they made the most money they ever had before so they turned around and increased transaction fees by 30%. They automatically opted you into offsite ads, which cost 12-15% of your sale. You had to manually opt out of it and wait a month for it to take effect. They also had the most ruthless AI-bots automatically taking down everyone’s listings with the word “Amber” in it with no ability to appeal. The worst customer service ever. So, you can start your business there, just make sure you charge a little more. I would recommend Square Up instead. You can make a free website with them and they only charge you regular credit card transaction fees. You can get a referral from my linktree www.CityUnderTheSea.com .

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cityundertheseajewelry.square.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cityunderthesea/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cityunderthesea/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@cityunderthesea www.CityUnderTheSea.com

Image Credits
Ashley Palmer: Photographer at the Freckled Fox Studios