Michelle
Born into a family of doers and makers, I have been selling my own custom work since I was 12.
My father, a millwright, could fix anything. My mother was an entrepreneur and businesswoman. I am grateful for their support and for the talents they cultivated in me.
Tools were all around me as I grew up. I learned about welding, mechanics, electrical work, plumbing, sewing, upholstery, cake decorating, hair styling and flower arranging.
At age 12, I started selling cakes that I decorated. Two years later, I sold my first wedding cake. I made my senior prom dress, something I also would do later for our daughter.
With Leather By Dragonfly, I love getting to be creative every day. We make something that meets a need and is so beautiful, I am proud to put our name on it.
Patrick
As a boy, I followed my father around in his garage/workshop as he cut, sanded, and shaped wood for all sorts of projects. I swept the floor and kept the shop clean. I’m still walking in sawdust today.
I am a woodworker and a craftsman with a passion for creating unique and practical gifts, furniture, and accessories.
I’m a former U.S. Marine, and I’ve been in federal service for about 35 years. I’m also a competitive prone shooter in national matches. I introduced the sport of competitive shooting to our son, who earned the rank of expert while in high school.
My favorite aspect of Leather By Dragonfly is that we solve our clients’ problems in the shop by creating functional, one-of-a-kind works of art. We give you a place to keep close your most-used tools, such as pencils, squares, and tape measures.
The Story of Us
Patrick & Michelle Melchior, founders
We love to design and craft high-quality, custom leather goods. Our hands touch every product we sell.
What do dragonflies have to do with leather? They are a very special part of our story, which began with our parents instilling in both of us a deep love of creating.
We met in Ohio on a blind date set up by family and friends living in Hawaii. When Patrick knew we were right for each other, three dragonflies appeared. It was as if the three beloved parents we have lost were giving us their approval. We’ve now been married for more than a dozen years.
We’ve been working together creating since 2008 and selling premium leather goods since 2017. It’s been fun to say that we’ve been doing video fittings before they were cool. Using video fittings, we have fitted clients worldwide for their very own leather aprons, customized for their individual needs and desires.
For news about what we’re up to in the Leather By Dragonfly workshop, follow our blog.