Coastal Ties Designs: Ocean City, One Print at a Time

Ask Michele Sobin what Ocean City means to her, and she won’t begin with the beach or the boardwalk. She’ll begin with a feeling. “From a young age, I always felt a sense of calm, comfort, and peace whenever I was here,” she says.

That feeling is the foundation of Coastal Ties Designs, the small business Sobin runs out of her Ocean City home, where she designs and 3D-prints keepsakes of the island’s best-loved landmarks: lifeguard stands, lifeguard boats, Wonderland Pier and more. You’ll find her work on the shelves at Stainton’s on 8th and Asbury — and, increasingly, on mantels and kitchen cabinets far from the shore.

A Lifetime on the Island

Sobin’s Ocean City story began in childhood. She got her first job here at just 12, spent countless summers on the island with family and friends, fell in love here, and married her husband on the beach.

For years, the couple kept a second home in town. “Over time, we found ourselves never wanting to leave,” she says. “What started as a place we loved to visit slowly became the place we knew we truly belonged.” Eventually, they made the leap to living here year-round. Now their young son is growing up on the same streets and beaches that shaped his mom.

“After all these years, it feels like everything has come full circle,” Sobin says. And living here full-time hasn’t dulled the magic: “I get to wake up and experience the beauty and charm of Ocean City every day — and somehow, I love it even more than I did before.”

The family has traditions of its own, too. One favorite hidden gem is watching the sunset just around the corner on Bayland Drive. Each year on their anniversary, Sobin and her husband return to the beach where they married to take pictures and celebrate another year together.

From a Sister’s Hobby to a Local Business

Sobin didn’t set out to become a 3D designer. Her sister and brother-in-law bought a 3D printer to make parts for their vintage cars, and before long her sister was experimenting with sports-themed pieces. “I remember looking at them and thinking, ‘That’s really cool,'” Sobin says.

That spark led her to buy a printer of her own. Her first real project was a miniature Ocean City lifeguard stand, just for herself. “I had no idea at the time that one little idea would eventually turn into all of this.”

As the pieces piled up, she decided to try selling them. This past April, Stainton’s gave her a spot in the store, a break she credits with helping turn her hobby into a business. Sobin is quick to point out that the landmark department store features more local makers than many shoppers realize. “In a world where small businesses can be difficult to grow, it means so much to see a place like Stainton’s continuing to support local entrepreneurs,” she says. “I’m incredibly thankful to be a small part of that community.”

Big Ideas in a Small Workshop

Every Coastal Ties piece is designed and printed right here in Ocean City, in a workshop tucked inside a large closet. Sobin started with one printer and now runs three.

New designs begin with a pencil and paper. Sobin sketches each idea and works through the details by hand, then partners with an engineer who turns her drawings into the digital files the printers need. Some pieces come together after a few tries; others take weeks or even months of refining. “Prints fail, machines need attention, and sometimes a project requires a whole lot of patience,” she admits. “For me, the process never really ends when a piece is finished. I always find myself thinking, How can I make this even better?”

Inspiration often strikes during a bike ride through town, on the beach, or while listening to people share why they love Ocean City. She also explores local history to understand the places that have shaped generations of summers. As she puts it, the goal isn’t simply to recreate a building—it’s to capture the feeling behind it: the smell of saltwater taffy, the moment you cross the bridge and know you’ve arrived, or pulling on a hoodie for a night walk on the boards. “The best designs are the ones that make someone look at a piece and immediately think, ‘That’s Ocean City.'”

The Ferris Wheel That Had to Spin

One of Sobin’s favorite stories involves her most important product tester: her four-year-old son.

Her first Wonderland Pier design was flat. When she showed the print to her son, he immediately reached out to spin the Ferris wheel. “That simple moment gave me an idea,” she says. “Why shouldn’t the Ferris wheel actually spin?” She went back to the drawing board, and the revised version features a Ferris wheel that turns.

It’s exactly what she loves about the medium. 3D printing lets her add movement, detail and dimension, so a familiar landmark becomes something you can actually hold, touch and play with.

Pieces That Carry a Story

For many customers, a Coastal Ties piece is more than a souvenir — and the custom orders prove it. Sobin’s most memorable request came from a client who wanted a custom lifeguard stand to sit on top of her kitchen cabinets, with her late father’s hat placed on top.

“That story stayed with me,” Sobin says. “Sometimes, what we create isn’t simply a decoration or a keepsake — it becomes a way to hold onto a memory, honor someone we love, and keep a little piece of their story close.”

Gift Ideas for the Off-Season

With the holidays approaching, Coastal Ties pieces are an easy gift for anyone counting the days until summer. Sobin’s most popular gifts include the lifeguard stands, pencil holder, and lifeguard boat.

Most items, including colors, can be customized. Since custom pieces aren’t kept in stock, Sobin recommends ordering about two weeks in advance.

Coming Soon

Sobin has several new designs in the works:

•     A tribute to Ocean City’s firefighters, recognizing the people who work to keep the community safe.
•     The Music Pier, one of the boardwalk’s most recognizable buildings.
•     A boardwalk favorites collection celebrating the spots that define a day on the boards.
•     Ocean City’s benches — including the memorial benches placed throughout town in honor of loved ones.

That last one means the most to her. “These benches are more than just a place to sit,” she says. “They hold stories, memories, and the names of people who are deeply missed and forever remembered.” She hopes the design gives families another way to keep those memories close.

Where to Find Coastal Ties Designs

•     In person: Stainton’s, 8th Street & Asbury Avenue, Ocean City — the best place to see her work
•     Online: coastaltiesdesigns.com
•     Etsy: CoastalTiesDesigns
•     Facebook: Coastal Ties Designs
•     Instagram: @coastaltiesdesigns
•     TikTok: @mssobin0807

“My hope is that when you take something from my store home, it brings a smile to your face and reminds you of a special time, a special person, or simply a place that holds a special piece of your heart,” Sobin says. “A little piece of Ocean City to keep with you, wherever life takes you.”