Meet Hayley West!

Can you tell us how you ended up becoming a professional crafter, what was your journey into this career?

Well I started life with just a website and a product I offered to a Shopping tv channel about 15yrs ago.  I then went on to designing more crafty products and again sold them on tv.  Some companies at the channel didn’t have a demonstrator and The Buyers at the channel started asking me if I could help those companies, with demos as well as product development and then the journey began :)

Can you tell us about your particular style of crafting?

I’ve got quite a relaxed style but do like balance in a project, where the elements either work together or compliment each other..... and most time I don’t know where I’m going with a design until I get started.

What are your main influences when it comes to inspiring you to come up with new ideas and projects

I love experimenting and trying out new ideas, usually to satisfy a personal need and I figure that if it’s something I need, then others will need it too.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps and make crafting their full time job?

To go for it ... send photos of finished projects to the companies you’d like to work with, but also remember you might be challenged to work with products or in a style that’s not necessarily your choice, but that’s half the fun :) However remember that Design Team work is often voluntary but could get a foot in the door for other opportunities. If you’re creative or artistic and have designs that you think would work as a crafting product then be bold, chase your dream and approach companies that you’d like to work with.  .... well I could but I’d probably get into trouble hahaha.

Can you let us know what you’ve got coming up?

I have a very exciting time coming in September and have, Silhouette, Charlie’s Crafts and Handmade By Hayley Shows to keep me out of trouble til then :)