Who's who: Hatastic!

This month's who's who is all about a fantastic milliner, Chloe Haywood who is a Designer and founder of Hatastic.  Chloe designs and make hats, headpieces and hair accessories from her workshop at the end of her garden in Surrey - Just near H.  She also facilitate's workshops for hens, parties, team building events, museums and children, which is how H knows her - so we thought we should have a chat!

How did you start?

It all began with my want of a finishing an outfit for a wedding where I was wearing ivory. I wasn't the bride and couldn't find anything in the shops that wasn't bridal and that fitted my ridiculously small head. So I made a small headpiece from bits and pieces I had at home. I had some lovely feedback from people at the wedding so I decided to challenge myself into making a different one for each of the five weddings I had that year. I was then commissioned to make a bride and her bridesmaid’s individual pieces... Then I discovered Folksy and set up shop! That was in 2009 and it was still a hobby then...

But in 2010 it all started getting exciting, so I decided that Hatastic! was my business!

What's Next?

2012 was crazy busy with shows at Milan and London Fashion Week, oh and Birmingham and Alternative Fashion Week, London and intense (but beautiful) photo shoots, a new website and lots of workshops, I was quite pooped by Christmas! So 2013 is going to be a little more calm. I have a few things in the pipeline, but I'd like to take time concentrate on another collection, whilst carrying on my workshops and look forward to my 2013 collection hitting Fenwick, Bond Street in May 2013. Exciting!

What advice would you give yourself if you could go back to the beginning?

Hatastic! started as a gut instinct, and that is what has driven me throughout this process so I wouldn't like to say that's a bad thing. But, it's always a good idea to not jump at the first hurdle if you're not sure. Take a step back and breathe a little and then see how it lies. It's surprising how some things seemed like a brilliant idea at first, and then turn out to be a bit of a turkey!

We think that Chloe's advice sounds very sensible to us, sometimes you can get so caught up in the idea that even when it starts going wrong you don't notice.  But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try.  Who wants to look back and realise they were the one who never gave things a go!

Live it.  Love it.  Make it

H & Sammy

Link for the week: Half term fun

Photo Courtesy of The Lightbox

It's half term for me down at the museum and so it all gets a bit crazy with activities, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  I love seeing what the kids imaginations get up to and I have alot of fun myself!

We have lots happening, but with many things fully booked it's going to keep me pretty busy!

Check out what we are up to down at The Lightbox and other Surrey attractions of course on the Visit Surrey Website.

I thought though a bit more of a general how to deal with half term for those of you with kids would be good.  So this weeks link should help some of you out and keep it low cost, which is always nice!

http://www.netmums.com/lifestyle/money-and-debt/making-ends-meet/top-tips-to-save-your-money-and-your-sanity-this-h

Also, for those of you who get half term off but don't have kids then check out Time Out or View London if you fancy going to the big smoke! Or I would thoroughly recommend your local papers/websites as they will also have loads of ideas. 

Perhaps going to the cinema or theatre might be fun or even a big long walk in the park!  Or check out some of our tutorials in the archives on the blog and see what you can make!  Comment below if you make or do anything fun and if you have any recommendations for me for the week after as I am having a few well deserved days off!

Live it

H