When a person buys something that you’ve made and is really pleased with it, there’s no higher compliment. Their enthusiasm is so obviously sincere. Making a difference in someone’s life, even on a small scale, is huge to me! –Terry Lynn Williams
By TIM WILCOX
Special to the Alpine Mountaineer
It’s our mountains’ own fantasyland. Mystwood Gallery in Crestline’s Top Town is a magical place and space filled with fine-art illustrations, handcrafted jewelry, rare antiques, other collectibles and more. The doyenne of this domain is Terry Lynn Williams.
Back in 2018, Terry shared a vision of the gallery with her husband, renowned artist/illustrator John Arthur (Sept. 5 “Portrait of an Artist”). She was the prime mover in making it a reality, and Mystwood officially opened on May 23, 2019. Since then it’s been Terry’s home-away-from-home.
Her original home was in La Mirada, though Terry was born in Lynwood. After graduating from Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton, she set about fulfilling the world’s most important vocation – being a mother. She eventually had four children, three sons and a daughter, who now live in nearby locations. A proud grandmother as well, Terry needs no arm twisting to share smartphone images of her six grandchildren. Remarkably, they range in age from 1½ to 22 years.
A crocheted necklace with semiprecious-stone beads supports a polychrome-jasper heart pendant. In the background is one of husband John’s Romantasy illustrations. (Photos courtesy of Romantasy Jewelry and Mystwood Gallery)
According to Terry: “My own grandmothers were into crocheting, knitting and cross stitching. My mother was, too. So I always had that art bug in me, including drawing.” Eventually, though, crocheting became her first love.
Terry moved from La Mirada to Crestline in 1996 with her previous husband. Somewhat wistfully, she says, “We’re still friends.”
Her friendship with John Arthur was rooted in profound empathy. “John’s wife had cancer and tragically died from it,” she shares. “I had cancer, too, and that experience brought us together.” It’s not what either one of them would’ve chosen as the nexus of initial connection. Still, it enabled Terry and John to form a strong bond and eventually to marry, creating a blended family with six children. That was 14 years ago.
Terry recalls that before the two even met, she was patronizing Higher Grounds Coffee House in Crestline, where she noticed a striking artwork on the wall. “It was one of John’s pieces,” she says. “Now I have the original at home.” With a lilting laugh, she adds, “I couldn’t have imagined that!”
Encouraged and inspired
Shortly after they were married, Terry encouraged John to join the Mountain Arts Network (MAN) and jury into the group’s gallery in Lake Arrowhead Village. Inspired by John’s “Romantasy” (romantic fantasy) illustrations, Terry began creating crochet-based jewelry, primarily necklaces, bracelets and anklets. Incorporating various elements such as semiprecious stones and colorful beads, these pieces were artworks as well. So 12 years ago, Terry also juried into the MAN gallery, where she’s been a productive presence ever since.
Her first day showing there was auspicious, to say the least. “I remember it so clearly,” she says. “I told the person I was working with at the front counter that I needed to take a break to get something in the Village. When I came back, she said, ‘I sold one of your necklaces.’ I said, ‘No you didn’t.’ But she had, and I was like a little kid, feeling over the moon.”
Since then, she continues, “I’ve been fortunate to do really well there.” Some years later, that was also the case when Mystwood Gallery opened. Besides her signature crocheted pieces, Terry shows chained necklaces, bracelets and anklets. She also purveys a wide array of wire-wrapped rings, earrings and pendants. Terry procures the various “ingredients” from online sources as well as small shops near and far.
The artist’s deftly crocheted Mystwood headbands display a one-of-a-kind stitch that was created by her daughter, Jennifer.
She’s a whiz – absolutely world class – when it comes to crocheting. But while she’s also adept at wire wrapping, Terry admits that “wire has a mind of its own. It’ll either go really quickly with no problem, or it’ll fight you, and you have to struggle to get it done.” Using needle-nose and round-nose pliers, she does “a lot of crimping, bending and twisting.”
Whatever the piece in question, Terry is usually successful in completing it. But occasionally, she says, “I just have to admit that it’s not quite right and pull it apart.” Then, smiling, she shares that “sometimes John will do that, too, with his illustrations. And I’ll ask, ‘How can you take your art and rip it in half? Mine is so much easier to redo. Why not just give that piece to me?’” Another burst of laughter follows.
‘I just love this’
Asked what’s most rewarding for her as an artist, Terry turns serious and pauses for less than 10 seconds. “It’s when someone buys one of my pieces and says, ‘I just love this. I know it’ll go perfectly with my outfit.’ Then at some point they may come back and buy another piece for someone else, saying, ‘I’m sure they’ll flip over this.’ It’s all about making people happy.”
The artist continues: “When a person buys something that you’ve made and is really pleased with it, there’s no higher compliment. Their enthusiasm is so obviously sincere. Making a difference in someone’s life, even on a small scale, is huge to me!”
Terry’s wire-wrapped rings come in myriad designs and colors.
Still on a personal note, Terry shares that her daughter, Jennifer, is a talented jeweler as well. Her multicolored polymer-clay earrings, pendants, bracelets and anklets are on prominent display at Mystwood Gallery. Proudly, Terry notes that “Jennifer was an A student who excelled in everything she did. She takes after my mother, who liked to pursue the more difficult things, such as complicated patterns in crocheting and cross stitching. It must skip generations, because my grandmother and I preferred the easier patterns.” Then, with no pause: “Of course, I’m really proud of my sons, too.”
Terry’s creations, whether simple or complex, are appropriately called Romantasy Jewelry. That’s perfect for a born romantic with a connoisseur’s taste for fantasy and whimsy.
Mystwood Gallery, at 23445 Crest Forest Dr. in Crestline’s Top Town, is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Mountain Arts Gallery is located on the lower level of Lake Arrowhead Village. Connect with Terry on Facebook and Instagram.
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