With her creative talent, Ashley LeSage crochets a variety of original handmade pieces. What started as a hobby turned into more with the start of Ashley Aesthetic, LLC. Originally from Storrs, Connecticut, Ashley came to Hartsville to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Dance at Coker College. Ashley loves the small, close knit environment of Coker College and the city of Hartsville. In fact, she even stayed in Hartsville after graduating in 2015, as she had both a full-time and part-time position lined up in dance education. Along with running Ashley Aesthetic LLC, she is a dance teacher at Thornwell School for the Arts and a dance instructor at MOVE Dance Academy in Hartsville.
Ashley taught herself how to crochet the summer going into her junior year of college. “I wanted to find something I could do between classes or in the little free time I had that made money,” shares Ashley. “Both my junior and senior year I sold hats, headbands, and scarves to make a little extra money and to relieve any school related stress.” After leaving it alone for about two years, Ashley suddenly shifted her focus and picked it back up again, this time in full force with the creation of new items. Ashley created crocheted tops, blankets, and even monster slippers, which were a major product that pushed her to start her business. “Last November I had a friend who asked me to make monster slippers for her daughter, so I found a pattern, adjusted it to make it my own, and crocheted them.” After that, Ashley continued to take special requests which have become very popular. With the development of an Etsy shop online, she was sending her creations to places as far as California, Arizona, and Hawaii. “The Christmas season was insane! My hands and wrists would be sore from crocheting, yet I was never sick of it,” says Ashley “Creating something from just yarn and a hook is still fascinating to me.” In January of 2018 she finally turned her hobby into a real business and registered Ashley Aesthetic as a single member LLC. Since then she has attended numerous festivals, farmers markets, and has continued with online sales.
In addition to taking special requests, Ashley Aesthetic continues to offer a wide variety of items in stock. Ashley explains, “My favorite thing to do is make new items. Currently some of the more recent items I have added to my collections are baby bibs, baby booties, purses/bags, anklets, rugs, and pillows. I am always adding new items and changing things up.” Ashley’s dream is to own her own store full of all of her work. She hopes to turn her side business into a full-time career in the future.
To check out Ashley’s work, visit her Etsy shop at etsy.com/shop/theashleyaesthetic or to contact Ashley regarding custom made items, email her at ashleyaestheticllc@gmail.com.