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| Crafters for Critters : Email Interview with Melissa, Founder of Crafters for Critters : Feb 21, 2006 |
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1. Why did you start Crafters for Critters? I started CFC in late 2003 as a way to simultaneously support independent crafters and raise money for animal rescue orgs. I thought it would be cool to form it as a "hub" of indie talent, a sort of community all together in one place. So hopefully for shoppers it can be a jumping-off place to more independent creativity. And the fundraising aspect gives a new kind of shopping experience, that is sort of like, "no guilt." Non-sweatshop goods with the money going toward animal rescue. Basically, to sum up, I wanted to create a project that combined two things that I care about: independent crafters/creators and animal rescue. When I started it, I didn't intend for it to go beyond the first round. But the response was so great, so I decided to try to keep working at it. 2. Tell me about some of the organizations you donate to and how you found them. I started out donating to local groups I was familiar with. The first was Sasha Farm, a farm animal sanctuary here in Michigan. The next was Michigan Greyhound Connection, which is a greyhound rescue group that I am involved in. I take suggestions for possible orgs to donate to, and I do a little researching online. I think in the future we will probably go back to fundraising for smaller groups. Lately many of them have been larger, national groups. 3. Are you involved in animal rescue efforts in other ways? Are there any specific organizations you want to mention? I am involved in greyhound rescue, with Michigan Greyhound Connection. My boyfriend and I have adopted a couple of retired racers, and we go to "meet & greets" events to educate the public on greyhound racing and adopting a greyhound. We also foster retired racers that have just come off the track, and take care of them at our house until they are adopted. 4. How did you hook up with all these fab crafters? For the first round, I tapped into the crafters I already knew on a kind of personal level (as personal as you can get on the internet, anyway), just from my own experience as a crafter with a webshop. From there, it's been mostly word of mouth. 5. What's going on with Lekkner? Can you tell me a little about that? I tear apart thrifted t-shirts and make them into new things, like clothing, pouches, etc. And I also offer a custom t-shirt reconstruction service, where people can send me their t-shirt and I will reconstruct it into one of the 15 styles available. 6. Are you crafty in your down time? What is your background with being crafty? Down-time, ha ha. Unfortunately there isn't much down-time, and when there is, I'm more likely to be reading or vegging out with the TV. As kids, my sister and I were encouraged to be creative and make things. My mom is an experienced seamstress, so I picked up the interest in sewing from her. Everything just kind of spiraled off from there. 7. What are your hopes for the future of Crafters for Critters? Mostly I'd just like to see goods going in and out via donators and shoppers on a regular, consistent basis. I'd just like to be able to keep doing it, so as long as there are donators interested in donating and shoppers willing to shop, I'm happy. We like to ask everyone this one : List any 5 songs in your most current (last listened to) playlist. Are albums okay? I don't have an ipod or anything like that, so I listen to albums/CDs. :) Deerhoof - The Runners Four Russian Futurists - Our Thickness Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary Caribou - The Milk of Human Kindness Beatles - The White Album |