Victoria Haynes

Creative Content Lead

Vicky is the UK’s Creative Content Lead and resident craft expert, spending her days bringing her industry expertise to ClassBento, using the magic of storytelling and the power of creativity to uplift and inspire.

What Vicky brings to ClassBento

An HNC in Writing for Fashion and Culture from Southampton Solent University.
A 10+ year background in creating print and digital content in the crafts and lifestyle industries, writing for publications such as Mollie Makes, Inside Crochet, Simple Things and 91 Magazine.
Experience in building and maintaining a social media following, working with brands such as Ronseal, West Elm, White Stuff and TK Maxx.
An extensive and detailed knowledge of crafts, from textile and fabric arts to paper craft and print.
18 months worth of experience spent working as a crochet pattern designer and step photographer for a partworks magazine published by Hachette.
Skilled in writing across a variety of formats, including blog posts, class descriptions, product descriptions and editorial content.
A proven track record in SEO, GEO, content strategy and planning, data analysis and identifying website optimisations.

In Victoria's words

I live in Portsmouth on the South Coast of the UK, with my two teenagers and a very round black cat called Minnie. When I'm not at work, I love getting stuck into anything creative: knitting, crochet, lino printing, drawing, photography… all of it! I also enjoy gardening (or trying!), movies (I'm a big horror fan!), music, reading and spending time in nature.

About me

I lived in New Zealand for almost two years when I was 19, and I still miss it – over 20 years later!
I've written craft tutorials for national magazines such as Mollie Makes, Inside Crochet and Simple Things.
My writing career started when I was 16 with a column in my local newspaper – I was their 'tried and tested' girl!

Top weekend activities

Heading out for excellent coffee (and maybe a cake!) – my go-to favourite places are The Crate, Hideout and Southsea Coffee.
Squeezing in a visit to the farm shop – I'm big on sustainability and shopping local.
A trip to the beach or harbour for a walk. Living on the south coast means there are lots of options!

Favourite craft

My current favourite is lino printing – I find the carving process so therapeutic and relaxing. I'd love to try wheel throwing; I've not done it since secondary school, and would like to think I'd be better now!

3 top tips to recharge and unwind

Learn to say 'no' if you're not feeling it. Less FOMO and more JOMO!
Spend time just existing. Hustle culture has made us feel like we're always meant to be productive, so learn to relax and embrace doing nothing. Slump on the sofa, lie in a hammock or curl up in the long grass in summer and simply 'be'.
Help someone out once a week. Give a neighbour a hand, offer a friend some help or join a community project. We get a dopamine rush, they get some support – everyone's a winner!

3 top tips for embracing creativity

Pick a creative project you like the look of. Choose what sparks your interest, rather than what's the latest trend on social media.
Look for inspiration everywhere. Galleries, architecture, museums, street art, books, the forest, historic buildings... find a thread that sparks your interest and run with it!
Don't be put off if you're not an instant pro. Nobody turns into Picasso after one painting class! Stick with it – or twist and try something else. Being creative is meant to be a fun adventure, not a slog!

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Victoria's stories