You're Gonna Make It After All

     The maker movement has become so mainstream that even network television wants in on the action, and so artsy/craftsy folks now have two seasons of Making It to enjoy.

     This NBC series is basically Project Runway for people who spend a lot of time shopping at Michael's.  Contestants are gathered in a big barn full of making supplies and given creative challenges like "make a terrarium of your hometown" and "create a party game out of these recycled materials." The show's vibe is warm and supportive in a Great British Bake Off sort of way: the hosts make corny jokes, and the contestants don't snipe at each other.   
     The jokes work well because the hosts are Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman. They have years of experience working together from the similarly good-natured sitcom Parks and Recreation. On that show and in real life, Offerman is a master woodworker. He takes an insider's pleasure in watching the makers of Making It at work. 
     The series may tend toward the cutesy and twee -- of course one of the judges is from Etsy -- but it's a dose of bright positivity that celebrates creativity, and in a time when people are at home learning how to bake bread and sew face masks, the world can use that.
     As of today, you can stream all of Making It on Hulu, and there are a few episodes available to stream gratis at the NBC website. The show's companion volume, The Making It Guide to Crafting, is available to borrow (as an e-book) from the Ferguson Library via Hoopla.