Making It Interview...with Ashley Basnight
Ashley Basnight, contestant on NBC's Making It. Interview series highlighting makers who share their advice and why they make.
By Scott Mathson, Makerviews
Makerviews exists to share the stories of and advice from a variety of talented makers, designers, and artists.
Follow Makerviews
Supporters
Plink makes smart links for podcasts. Smart links auto-open iOS and Android pre-installed apps or send to App links page. Try one: Makerviews podcast.
Maker interview with Ashley Basnight
Having recognized the passion, drive, and pure enjoyment of making things that each Making It contestant illustrates, Makerviews is excited to have the chance to highlight, feature, and share insights from each contestant. This Making It series gives a deeper look into these makers lives through their answers to a few, quick questions. Learn more about this series.
Ashley Basnight is a Boeing Software Engineer by day and the talented designer, blogger, and maker running DIY blog Handmade Haven, by night. Ashley loves championing the fact that anyone can do anything that we set our mind to.
Check out this interview with Ashley Basnight, maker from NBC’s Making It.
Making It Interview...
with Ashley Basnight
What inspires you to keep making things?
"The thing that inspires me the most about making is being able to show and empower others to discover their inner maker. As a regular girl in the corporate world, I enjoy being able to show people that you don’t have to have a background in making or look the part in order to be creative and make beautiful things."
What one piece of advice would you give to other makers?
"My biggest piece of advice to makers would be to be willing to take risks. The first table I built was on a whim, with no sort of woodworking experience at all, and three years later, it’s turned into a full business and an opportunity to now be on Making It."
What is your biggest takeaway from Making It?
"My biggest takeaway from Making It was knowing how far I could push myself within a timeframe. Seeing how well I think on my feet and how well I adapt to change. It was definitely an eye-opening experience."
"My biggest piece of advice to makers would be to be willing to take risks." — Ashley Basnight
Follow Ashley Basnight’s work: Handmade Haven LLC website • Facebook • Instagram profile • YouTube Channel.
View and learn more about the Making It interview series. Thank you all for reading this interview - get out there and make things!
Supporters
Next up on Making It series:
Making It Interview...with Eagan Tilghman
Eagan Tilghman, designer and contestant on NBC's Making It. Interview series highlighting makers who share their advice and why they make.
More about NBC's Making It:
Presented, produced, and hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman with judges Dayna Isom Johnson, Simon Doonan, and featuring other guests. Season 1 was set in a serene cabin near Malibu, Season 2 premiered during 2019's Holiday Season, and Season 3 started airing on NBC on June 24, 2021.
"In this six-episode competition, eight of the most talented makers from across the country will take on a variety of handmade projects with the hopes of impressing Poehler, Offerman, and judges. Poehler and Offerman both share a love and passion of craftsmanship, albeit from different perspectives. Poehler is a self-proclaimed crafting novice who has long harbored a secret appreciation for those who can imagine and execute incredible things by hand. Offerman is a New York Times best-selling author in the woodworking space and is well known for his love for making a variety of objects himself.
Every show will revolve around a central theme that draws inspiration from hugely popular, nationwide trends in crafting and DIY, which the whole family can enjoy.
Each episode of the competition will consist of two projects that allow the makers to demonstrate their specialized talent, while sharing skilled insights and touching personal stories. First, the "faster-craft" round will be a timed challenge that will test their ability to not only work quickly but imaginatively as well. Next, the makers will move to the "master craft collection," a one-of-a-kind themed challenge in which the competitors will need to use their expertise and get inventive in order to assemble a winning craft that fits the theme of that week.
Blending the atmosphere of a serene outdoor setting and innovative cinematography designed to showcase the beautiful craftsmanship at work, this friendly competition will focus on the character and camaraderie of the crafting community and through it all, Amy and Nick will provide heartfelt encouragement, guidance and plenty of laughs."— sourced from NBC's Making It
Makerviews email newsletter
Get new maker interviews, inspiration, and news direct-to-inbox.
More maker content
This Maker Recommends...with Ryan Savin | 28 Oct 2018
— Ryan Savin on This Maker Recommends series. Tools, supplies, and behind-the-scenes from your favorite makers.
This Maker Recommends...with Evan and Katelyn | 06 Aug 2018
— Evan and Katelyn on This Maker Recommends series. Tools, supplies, and behind-the-scenes recommendations from your favorite makers.
I'm a Maker Because...with Aja Smart
November 8, 2021 • | DesignAja Smart is the designer, owner, and maker behind Strand Texture - a fiber art brand established in 2019. Aja is a self-taught macrame artist and ...
Check interview out
I'm a Maker Because...with Andy Spoons
October 21, 2021 • | WoodworkingAndrew Phelan (Andy Spoons) is a musician and woodworker based in Vancouver, BC. Andy sells spoons, utensils, coffee scoops, and other hand-carved ...
Check interview out
I'm a Maker Because...with Amanda Krolczyk
October 18, 2021 • | Woodworking DesignAmanda Krolczyk is an artist and woodworker running Plaid Beaver Co. She creates nature-inspired home decor and art pieces made from reclaimed mate...
Check interview out