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THE WEAKLEY COUNTY PRESS
PeoPle & Places
TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2016
Local woman makes
Crafts with a heart of gold By SARAH SKELTON Special to the Press Citizens of Weakley County, this week I bring you a woman who was born here in Martin, Terry Cooley Lynch. Lynch was raised here by her mother and father, Rev Glen Cooley. Many of us know her as the Bejeweled Bracelet Key Ring lady. She is the creator of the original Bejeweled Bracelet Key Ring, a wonderful invention that keeps ladies’ hands free while still carrying their keys Lynchbegan making these gorgeous key rings in 2012. “I was sitting at my dining room table one night looking at my old broken key ring and was thinking of buying a new one, but I didn’t want the generic ones from a store. I looked across the table where I had been working with some beads and it just hit me to make my own,” she said. Lynch began working with beads when her daughter taught her how to make beaded trees. She said “the idea for the bracelet keyring was one that came directly from God.” In May 2013 Lynch’s father passed away, leaving her devastated and needing distraction. She began making her key rings again and a dear friend suggested that she sell them. She did just that and has been selling them ever since. “I give God the glory for each one I sell,” Lynch says. Each bracelet key ring is made from brightly colored and sparkly beads that she buys from etsy.com. She also uses wire and key rings. You can purchase one of these lovely bejeweled bracelet key rings for $15. Lynch paints as well. She began painting less than a year ago after seeing one of her daughter’s paintings and thinking that her daughter must get the talent to paint from somewhere. She attributes both her talent and that of her daughter to her mother. Lynch’s mother made and painted ceramics and sold them all over Weakley County.
Lynch’s paintings range in size and materials but all are inspired from her love for God and her father. Her work is heavily inspired by her love for God and she puts spiritual symbolism and Bible verses in many of her paintings. She has recently begun to paint on old wooden cabinet doors. Lynch says she enjoys painting on the doors more than on canvas. Her canvas paintings are often mixed media as well. She likes to use silk flowers and fabric to form the crosses on her work. You can see some of Lynch’s paintings at the Hearth Restaurant in
Terry Cooley Lynch
Martin. They are located in the entry hall to the restrooms. Her cabinet door paintings range in price from $35 to $40 and the canvas paintings are $20. Recently Lynch has developed a new creation, fairy and gnome gardens. She got the idea for these adorable potted plants from Pinterest. She began making these gardens in the landscape of her own home, using landscaping materials, live plants, a waterfall and other little odds and ends that make her feel like a child again. She uses silk and live plants, potting soil, landscaping materials and mini housing to create whimsical homesteads for the tiny fairies that she places in each garden. Lynch recalled that when she was a child she and her siblings would play under the large maple tree in the front yard. They would create small cities in the worn out spots in the grass and drive tiny metal cars through them. Creating the fairy and gnome gardens gives Terry an escape from everyday worries and takes her back to that simpler time in her life. This imaginative woman now makes these gardens in small, medium, and large sizes so that everyone has a chance to enjoy the playful memories of their childhoods. You can purchase these from Terry as well. The gardens range in price from $25 to $50. Lynch also enjoys doing many other crafts including quilting with her best friend, Paula Garner. “I haven’t watched TV in two years; I am always in my craft room,” Lynch said. The craft room is filled with tables, beads, painting supplies, a sewing machine, and any other craft that sparks the imagination. You can see all of Lynch’s creations on her Facebook page, Bejeweled Bracelet Key Rings. You can also call her at 731-819-0444 to purchase anything she makes. Lynch also does craft fairs around the Weakley County and Dyersburg areas. Keep an eye out at an event near you!
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