A Q&A on her journey from Asheville to Wilmington, her studio, and more.
Meet Wilmington transplant Terri Lefler — a silversmith and jewelry artisan, surfer, and former landscape architect.
Terri moved to Wilmington last year after she and her husband found themselves trekking to the coast from her home in Asheville so often they permanently relocated.
Question 1: “What brought you to Wilmington?”
“My husband and I had been in Asheville since 2001. Over the years, the city had started feeling like Main Street Disney with so many year-round tourists, and we found it harder to do the things we had enjoyed about living in the area. So we started going to the coast on weekends. As I got serious about improving my surfing skills, we went to the coast EVERY weekend from April thru October.
One weekend in February 2019, when we were tired of dark days and freezing temperatures in Asheville, we decided to go look at property in Wilmington.
We didn’t know much about Wilmington and were fortunate enough to stumble across the concept schematic for LaRue Urban Living, which ultimately connected us with Andrea. Over the course of the spring and summer, she familiarized us with the Wilmington area and showed us beautiful properties. But we still wanted to live at LaRue so we waited, and Andrea worked with us tirelessly to make that happen.”
Question 2: “How do you like living at LaRue?”
“I love everything about living here. The modern architecture, the South Front District. I walk to my studio or to get delicious food and drinks. I love hearing the ships horns blast from the Cape Fear River a couple blocks away. I’m in a little slice of heaven.”
Question 3: “I heard you did yoga on your balcony at LaRue. Is that true?”
“Kind of — there is a picture of me on social media doing it but I kind of ‘hammed’ it up for the photo. I’ve only done it out there once or twice. My cats are indoor/outdoor and that is their space, but I’ve gone out there to hang out on the floor and do some yoga and some stretching. I do like laying on the balcony looking at the sky though.”
Question 4: “How did you get into jewelry design?”
“My husband and I are both landscape architects. We worked together for almost 12 years until 9/11, when the economy crashed and jobs disappeared. At that time, I decided to pursue other creative outlets and through the course of events found an interest in jewelry design. I took classes with a master metalsmith to learn traditional metalsmithing techniques and have been developing my craft since 2005.”
Question 5: “How would you explain the type of jewelry you design and work with?”
“I develop my own designs and work with raw materials to create each piece. Except for the finished chains I offer, I don’t use a lot of prefabricated materials. All of my work is created from argentium sterling silver sheet and wire, sometimes accented with gold or copper, using traditional silversmithing techniques such as cutting/sawing, soldering, fusing, hammering. Because of my method, I can copy a concept but no two pieces are exactly the same.
I also love working with commissions to create designs, great or small. I’m happy to work with a design someone already has in mind, or to help create the design, extravagant or everyday economical.”
Question 6: “What inspires your designs?”
“I’ve always been inspired by nature and it’s underlying geometry. My thesis research delved into Sacred Geometry and the Golden Proportion as design tools for gardens, which I have translated into my jewelry designs. These geometries and proportions surround us in nature and in many man-made designs – think the spiral of a nautilus shell or a sunflower seed head, the geometry of the Great Pyramid of Giza and Notre Dame just to name a few.
It often seems we gravitate towards those geometries. The geometry and energy where land and water join creates great diverse ecosystems. Here, the displays of nature are so raw, from delicate to raging. The geometry of a hurricane? It definitely inspires my designs in a way I had not expected. Since living in Wilmington, my designs have not only become more inspired by the coastal environment, but also the distinctive coastal lifestyle vibes. Did I say I love it here?!”
Want to learn more about Terri Lefler or see her jewelry in person?
Visit her website, or see her work in person at theArtworks or the Water + Color gallery at Riverlights.
There is a stocking stuffer sale beginning Dec. 5 for hammered hoop earrings in different geometries. Terri welcomes commissioned work as well.
Want to learn more about Andrea Arth and LaRue Modern Living?
See more listings here.
