Welcome to our first installment of "Designers Talk Back", a new Q & A blog series we've created to reveal our wonderful designers to Backtalk followers. Perhaps you've seen their wonderful creations in our store but what makes these pieces particularly magical are the inspiring humans behind them.

So meet Telle! I first met Telle and Rex Lefler last summer at an evening trunk show they participated in at Sword + Fern where we ate summer fruit, drank rose and talked about epic, desert camping trips. Telle and Rex re-located to Portland in 2010 to launch their line ISWAS+WILLBE and plan to return to their East Coast community this summer. They will be dearly missed. Luckily, Telle took a moment shared some Portland gems with us.

BACKTALK: What is your favorite place to spend time outdoors in the Portland?

TELLE LEFLER: I love exploring Forest Park, any time of the year! There is something so magical about the woods there, and its unique to have such an expansive park so close by, a respite away from the constructs of the city. Nature is my muse-- I go there to feel revitalized.

B: I know that you focus on design and Rex does the hand-cutting for your line. Can you tell us more about your respective roles and the collaborative design process you two share?

TL: Rex represents the futuristic/scifi elements of our design, while I am nostalgic and inspired by dusty old things; he specializes in shapes and I am attuned to playing with color palettes. We balance one another in a way that brings a nowness to our creations. Since starting our jewelry line in 2011, nearly all of our designs have been collaborative, and now we are at a point in the process where we both desire to focus more on the "collective" concept of our venture, with each of us pursuing individual projects under the IW+WB umbrella. We will branch out and get lost in our own little creative worlds, then come back together and be like, "Bam! Check this out!" Collaborating on everything, there is less of the element of surprise since we were both hammering out the same ideas every step of the way. We're excited!

B: You mention on your website that you've worked in various art mediums since childhood. What other creative projects do you pursue and how do you think they intersect with the jewelry you create?

TL: We are collectors and curators, both of things found in nature and of old beautiful pieces. Our collecting definitely flavors our jewelry designs; we have an old Turkish kilim in our studio that has been a muse for Rex and his geometric designs. We are both very inspired by natural history and science. For as long as I can remember, I've collected stones, and they act as place-markers in my life. Our rock collection has become so massive, and I've got plans to start working some of our worldly finds into upcoming collections.

B: You worked at a bead shop in college. What were you studying and what work did you do before fully committing to your jewelry line?

TL: I got my BA in Interdisciplinary studies with a self-designed major, which means essentially I made up my own class schedule. It was fun, a total learning process, and I only had a vague sense of direction. My concentrations were in theatrical costuming, apparel design, and entrepreneurship. At the time, I was very into the idea of being a costume designer, or owning a shop with my own line of apparel. After doing some freelance work in both film and fashion, I came to the conclusion that design and construction were something I enjoyed immensely for myself, and that adding the element of working for others was ultimately not satisfying to me. Working at the bead store, I had instant feedback on all of my jewelry designs and had a really positive reception. I started selling jewelry on Etsy in 2006 and nursed it on the side for years before finally deciding to plunge fully into it.

B: So you and Rex have lived in Portland for a few years now. What do you like (or dislike) about it? And how does the Northwest landscape inform your line?

TL: Portland ranks up there with some of my favorite cities on the planet. There is just so much that this place *gets*-- the general consciousness of things. It's one of those places I love coming back to after a long trip, it just feels like home, like these are my people. People care here; its obvious that there is passion in the community, and its what has shaped the city to be such a fascinating place. One strike that Portland gets: the lack of thunderstorms! I miss that magical electricity that builds in the air before a massive storm.

My dad recently asked me to sum up my time here in Portland in one sentence. What I came up with was this: "Everything grows here."

There is something undeniably fertile about Portland, and the Pacific Northwest in general. I never thought moving to a bigger city would put me back in touch with the naturegirl in me, but that's exactly what has happened. It's so hard not to be influenced by all the natural beauty of the PNW when it is quite literally in your face--no seriously, in the spring/summer, you've really got to duck around some of the trees and flowers when walking through certain neighborhoods!

B: Ok and finally, what are your top 5 ultimate favorite, local spots? (shops, restaurants, coffee roasters, events, etc.)

1. Favorite coffee shop: Fresh Pot on Mississippi, I always get their Chai latte, its spicy and not too sweet!

2. Favorite Music Venue: Mississippi Studios; always an intimate crowd and tasty food at Bar Bar next door is a major plus

3. Best Cocktail: The tequila gimlet from Circa 33. They make it with creme de violette, which gives it a lovely glowing purple hue

4. Favorite guilt-free dinner: the Thai Burger Bowl from Dick's Kitchen with the protein of the week; so refreshing and satisfying

5. Favorite place to kill time on a rainy weekend: The downtown library. Those staircases are INSANE! The first time I went there, they were doing a free opera show on the highest floor, just out in the open. It was so beautiful to experience something so "fancy" in such a casual way.

B: What does the near future hold for IS WAS + WILL BE?

TL: This summer, our journey is taking us back to Asheville, NC to rejoin the community we left two years ago when we came out to Portland. We are excited for this homecoming--our experiences on the West coast have helped shape us and given fresh insights. As mentioned before, we will both be pursuing some new projects, so keep an eye out for those developments! In addition, living in PDX and getting to know so many awesome shop-owners has inspired Rex to follow his own passion of curating a space; he is looking into opening a shop in Asheville with an emphasis on quality handmade, sharp design, and the outdoors. As for myself, I have been searching for a way to balance my creative and my humanitarian sides, and I am exploring the option of going back to school to get a masters in mental health counseling. Our jewelry and our making will always be a part of us no matter where we are; we design for the journey, which is what it's all about!

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- EH