We were lucky to catch up with Lyle Pace recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lyle, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

The first thing I can remember is being a vendor at the Powwow held at the Seminole Rec Center. I was just getting started, was going under a different business name, and barely had any handmade items. It was mostly old jewelry I didn’t want anymore and was trying to get rid of. Someone I had met at college turned up there and bought one of the bead loom bracelets I made to wear to their prom. I remember that because they were someone I knew, I instinctively said “Oh, you can just have it,” even though it was definitely a time-intensive project I was about to just give away. They insisted on paying to support a small business, but I still kick myself in the face for it.

I wish I could say it was an exciting moment, but I was mostly worried that they only bought it because they didn’t want to not buy something from someone they knew.

Fast Forward a couple years, I haven’t done many shows, and am just now truly trying to get into the scene. My first show that year was a free one at a cute little coffee shop that has sadly closed down, and I made $103.50 off almost only items I had made, from complete strangers. That was very exhilarating.

Lyle, 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?

I’ve been making little jewelry crafts on and off since elementary school. The first thing that comes to mind is a pair of earrings I made for my mom with embroidery floss and five little plastic beads on each earring, stacked on top of each other. The beads were organized in a specific order, with each bead symbolizing one member of our immediate family. The bottom one was a pink heart to symbolize my mom, and she was on the bottom because she supports us all. I more recently got into jewelry making when I bought a bead loom. I tried it out, but became frustrated and quit because the bracelets were lumpy and uneven because the beads weren’t uniform. I picked it back up when I learned about Miyuki Delica beads – a very uniform bead – and got some for my birthday. I made lots of loom bracelets, and then learned how to do a peyote bracelet (where the beads lay like bricks) and graduated to that. I then found a YouTube tutorial on how to make 3D hummingbirds, and became obsessed and made a bunch of those.

I got into costume jewelry when me and a friend were at a Michaels and she picked out some beads that would go well with a certain pendant. I didn’t know how to make anything out of it, so after I left I later did some research on how to execute my idea. I went back to Michaels to pick up the supplies and made a very simple necklace out of it. It pales in comparison to my current work, but I was very proud of it at the time.

I later learned about wire wrapping and wanted to give it a go. One of my first wire wrapped works are the star earrings I’ve included in the photos. There are dozens of crafts and techniques out there that I’d love to learn, and I’m constantly scouring YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, etc. for ideas.

I primarily create costume jewelry and ornaments. I think my prices set me apart from others. I try to make my stuff as affordable as possible. There have been several occasions where I’ve been told I need to raise my prices.

Currently, I’m most proud of how far I’ve come. I went from little beaded bracelets and embroidery floss bracelets and keychains to more elaborate, elegant pieces.

I want potential clients/followers to know that a lot of my materials are bought second-hand, which benefits the environment and makes it so I can keep my prices low.

Outside of crafting, I like to read, write, and play video games.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Simply put, I love making things. The process can often be tedious or frustrating (but is also often fun) but I love being able to see the end result of something I’m proud of and being able to say “I made that.”

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I’m still unlearning this, and this may be a common response, but I have to stop comparing myself to others. I see other people making incredible things and I get jealous, wondering why I’m not that good, why my stuff doesn’t come out as well. But I know that comparatively, they’ve probably been working on their art a lot longer than I have, and my stuff still has creative value.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: xcrowscollectionx