Mike Connell and Mindy Sonshine have been quite the busy bees. Over the course of this quiet, isolated pandemic year, they’ve been building a leather business that looks like it’s going to absolutely thrive here on the island – and beyond! Last week, they opened the doors of their new shop to welcome customers for the first time.
Wow. Have they been cranking! Everything they have built for and around their new business has been done well and to a T. Not only have they created hundreds of handmade, high-quality leather items to stock their shelves – purses, sunglass cases, chess boards, wallets, handbags, etc. – they have also designed a lovely website and completely overhauled the space their shop is in. Walk in Orcas Island Leather Goods and you feel a sense of order, space, quality, and consistency.
Before 
After
Peruse the store with me a bit…
Not only can you get a unique, handmade item from the island, you’re also able to take part in making it if you’d like to. See an item such as a hat that you want? Pick out a leather Orcas Island patch that you’d like attached to it. Drawn to a particular purse? Buy it made or in DIY kit form for less.
Want to learn some of the skills Mike and Mindy are using? Go over to the workshop tables where you are provided materials and given a video tutorial on what to do.
You can also customize other items you want to buy. Mindy thinks that Orcas Island Leather Goods may be the only shop like it in the country – perhaps the world – where you can walk in, pick out something you like, and take part in deciding how it will look.
Aside from the clean look and creative juices this shop promotes, I love seeing how this couple has made ideas into reality. When I asked Mindy if this all happened because they lived out a dream, she replied with laughter, “No, this was a necessity.” She went on to explain that their business providing services to wedding photographers evaporated during the pandemic, and they needed to create a source of work for themselves. They’ve enjoyed doing this individually and as a family, so it skyrocketed from handicraft to labor of love.
I like that the couple didn’t cut corners in designing their store and their products. They even have really nice how-to YouTube videos if you get home and need assistance when assembling your DIY goods, like the ones below.
Mindy and Mike have big plans for the future of Orcas Island Leather Goods, and business is already doing quite well. Visit them in downtown Eastsound, right where North Beach Road intersects Main Street, where Sequel used to be, next to the old Kathryn Taylor Chocolates shop. Directly across the road is Brown Bear Baking, and diagonally you’ll see Darvill’s Bookstore.
There’s no better way to end than this video. I love it – I’ve watched it four times!
Click here to go directly to the Orcas Island Leather Goods YouTube channel to see all of their videos.
That was fun!
Thank you Gretchen!!