Crafters for Critters Revealed

This month, Craft Revolution shines a well-deserved spotlight on Melissa Dettloff of Crafters for Critters.

With her project, Melissa combines support for two causes that are dear to her heart; Indie business and animal welfare. In this unique operation, crafters donate their handmade items which are then sold via an online boutique. Crafters who donate receive excellent exposure and the opportunity to help a great cause. The profits from sales are donated to animal rescue organizations.

The most recent event’s proceeds will be donated to the Greyhound Protection League, a small, non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about the plight of racing greyhounds and finding loving and responsible homes for these deserving animals.

In addition to running Crafters for Critters, Melissa is the owner and designer behind Lekkner, where she revamps and revives t-shirts into an original line of clothing and accessories.

We recently had the opportunity to talk with Melissa about the Crafters For Critters project, her thoughts on indie business and what keeps her motivated.

[CR] What’s your full name?

[Melissa] Melissa Ane Dettloff (my monogram is MAD!)

[CR] Where do you live?

[Melissa] Brooklyn, Michigan. I grew up in Detroit, but we moved out here to rural Brooklyn in November of last year.

[CR] When and how did Crafters for Critters begin?

[Melissa] I came up with the idea at the end of 2003. I just thought it would be a fun project to put together. I thought it would be fun to see what other people would come up with (the theme-donations are fun, for example in the latest round, all the greyhound-themed stuff), and be able to intertwine the crafting/art/design community with fundraising and animal rescue.

I also thought it would be a good opportunity to create a different sort of community around crafting/art/design, giving us the ability to pool our resources to place ads and spread the word, among other things.

[CR] How did you choose the name?

[Melissa] CFC was originally planted at steakiswack.com, but I wanted to branch out as far as charities we donate to (our first round went to a farm animal sanctuary), so I was looking for something a little more general.

[CR] Animals are cleary very important to you! Do you have any pets of your own?

[Melissa] Yes– I have a rescued greyhound named Shata, and a rescued galgo puppy (which is a Spanish greyhound), named Miguel. We also have a foster rescued greyhound at our house right now. His name is Mojo.

[CR] What motivates you to keep CFC going?

[Melissa] The amazing things that people are willing to part with when they send them as donations for CFC. And that other people continue to have as much enthusiasm for it as I do.

[CR] What do you do when you’re not working on CFC?

[Melissa] Part-time I do all things Lekkner, and the other part I am a sewer of fabric artworks for a local artist.

[CR] What prompted you to start your own company? Was there an `aha’ moment or was it a natural progression from where you started?

[Melissa] I started Lekkner because I was bored. I was working 6 days a week at other jobs, and needed some kind of a creative outlet. I was sewing a lot for myself back then, so my boyfriend Ian said, why not try to branch out a little? It took a long time to get it together, but the website opened in May of 2003.

[CR] How did you select your company name?

[Melissa] “Lekkner” is a play on the last name of my grandmother, Lorraine Lechner. Her old Singer is the machine that I use. I was originally looking at “Lechner.com” as a domain, but it was already taken. So I mixed it up with some Ks (my favorite letter).

[CR] How did you learn your craft?

[Melissa] Well, formally I studied art through all my school years, including college. I like to think that artistically, Lekkner is more about good use (I hope) of color and design, than craft or fashion. It’s half design, and half recycling, sort of. Informally, I was a crafty kid. I liked to make things, and my mom encouraged my sister and I to be crafty & artistic.

As for sewing, it’s something that you can learn to do with a lot of practice. And I had a lot of good help in my mom, who is a great sewer. I’ve been sewing in some form pretty much every day of my life for the past 3 or 4 years or so. It gets easier.

[CR] What is the best part of your business?

[Melissa] I am my own boss. I get to be creative. I get to travel, be a part of cool projects and meet a lot of great people. If I want to take a nap at 2 o’clock in the afternoon I’m free to do so.

[CR] What is the worst part?

[Melissa] All the tedious stuff, and the stress of knowing if I don’t do it, it ain’t getting done. Keeping up with everything can be difficult.

[CR] What is the best crafty business moment that you have had to date?

[Melissa] Realizing I could knit with t-shirts was pretty cool (I knit some t-shirt scarves this winter). It really opened up the idea that you can do just about anything with t-shirts that you can with “regular” fabric.

[CR] What are your greatest strengths in running your business?

[Melissa] I don’t really feel like a great “businessperson.”

[CR] What are your weaknesses?

[Melissa] Sometimes I get overwhelmed easily. Realizing that I am actually *not* superhuman and can’t do everything myself is something I have to go through every so often.

[CR] What have you learned about the design world that surprised you?

[Melissa] It’s fairly easy to get started, and that there is a nice overlap in the crafting/art/designer/music community. It makes the world feel a little smaller.

[CR] Can you recommend any useful resources in your field?

[Melissa] All of the crafty messageboards are very useful, though unfortunately I don’t have time to keep up with them. Otherwise, I greatly recommend just swapping advice and stories with other crafty ladies (and fellows).

[CR] Who has been the most supportive of your business?

[Melissa] My family and friends have been very supportive. Props to my lady Sarah, whose keen thrift eye picks out a lot of the best t-shirts I have to work with.

[CR] Where do you find inspiration?

[Melissa] My t-shirt scrap collection. I usually come up with new ideas when I’m trying to think of things to do with all of the t-shirt scrap I have collected. This usually happens at night when I can’t sleep.

[CR] Do you travel? Does this influence your business?

[Melissa] Lately, travel has revolved around the business. Going to craft fairs and such. Otherwise, I like to spend time at a rustic cabin up north, where I turn off all the business things for a while.

[CR] What advice would you give to designers who are starting out?

[Melissa] Most of my advice is, JUST DO IT! Setting up a website/shop particularly can be very low risk.

Other tips:

• Keep an eye on crafty message boards for helpful tips.
• To get the word out, try consigning at some of the great online
  consignment shops, or at shops in your area. Or donate to CFC!
• Don’t expect to have it all figured out at the beginning. Things
  will change along the way, and you’ll learn what works best for you as you go.
• Start small.

[CR] Why do you think it is important for consumers to buy from independent designers and crafters?

[Melissa] One thing I’ve realized in all of this is, that someone, some person out there can make pretty much anything of need/use/desire. So why do we have Wal-mart? I wish we could function on a system of trading goods. We are lucky that there are so many great opportunities to shop independent these days.

In the case of CFC, you can support independent businesses AND animal
rescue at the same time!

– All of us at CR would like to thank Melissa for taking the time to talk with us, and for her continued work for such worthy causes.