Unwind with calming bookbinding ✦ Upcycling classic novels into sketchbooks

[@KerriHammond-mr2cy]

I admire your skills and have learned a lot from you but I don’t understand the point of cutting up a perfectly good book for its cover when you can make one easily?

[@kettyandkitty]

THIS. People can do whatever they want with things they own, of course, but to call it upcycling is... strange. Especially since Chanel is so skilled, she can definitely recreate the look of a book cover. I keep seeing stuff like this on KZbin and it makes me sad every time. I'm like please, if you don't have a use for a functioning item, just donate to those who need it and will take care of it. Upcycling is all about giving second life to things that no longer have any value or purpose. Destroying things that are perfectly fine (especially books!) is just vandalazing.

[@bittermelonbindery]

These books are abundant on ebay, especially the Reader’s Digest ones. They came in great condition, which tells me that they’ve been sitting on a shelf for decades. I liked the covers and wanted to give them a new life as sketchbooks! I’m holding on to the text blocks, not sure what I’ll do with them yet. I don’t have access to equipment that can create stamped covers like these.

[@Lisa_Flowers]

​@kettyandkitty I think a lot of very commonly available/widely printed books, even nice books in good condition, just end up getting thrown away because no one wants them or has a use for them. Even if you donate them somewhere, unless it's to a place that very consciously ensures this doesn't happen, it will likely end up getting destroyed or thrown away. It's kinda like donating clothing. Could be BRAND NEW. It will likely get chucked into a landfill if you donate it to a goodwill or second-hand store. So honestly, it's probably better for her to use the cover to make something and then figure out what she wants to do with the paper later on than it getting donated around and eventually chucked. Also as she said at least the books in this video are very common, widely printed, and easy to find (Sherlock Holmes?) So it's not like she's depriving someone else of a rare and difficult to find book lol. They are probably a dime a dozen.

[@NeuralPixel1997]

I work at a library. I can tell you that these books are given to us by locals and though they are in good condition, we can’t do anything with them, there are thousands of copies. We throw them away. She is doing the book a service.

[@bittermelonbindery]

@@NeuralPixel1997 Whoa I had no idea!

[@dawnbaker9274]

Sanding in a box...why did I never think of this? Beautiful work as always.

[@lizvanwessem2055]

Chanel - Watching this, it feels like your skill level has surged forward by quite a margin - the effect of your classes at the American Academy of Bookbinding are very clear. And while most of the time I was able to work out what you were doing and when, did anyone else have a "well why didn't I think of THAT?" moment when Chanel put the paperweight on the book as she was sewing it? (Heaven knows I've enough of the things around here...). Anyway. it was lovely to see the skill progression. :) hope they sell for lots of money to help you keep going!

[@bittermelonbindery]

Thank you so much Liz, I'm really excited about bookbinding!!!🤭

[@Rik_21]

This is sooo beautiful!!!! May god bless you with all the love and support. Thank you for your amazing hardwork💙💙💙💙 stay healthy.

[@Linzrose3]

You are insanely underrated this is a beautifully hand made book

[@KatPadmore]

That endband technique blew me away! Absolutely gorgeous craft as usual, you seem more confident and comfortable in your work and it really shows in the final product

[@MyLifeInTheDesert]

I would love to buy one of these upcycled books but I don’t see them on your website - will you do more of these ?❤

[@jfredmuggs3586]

Your vices are beautiful! After a tough day of dealing with medical issues it is so relaxing and comforting to listen to the materials as you work on this project. Scratch the amazing Lucy behind the ears and under the collar for me! Looks like you have recovered from your classes. Thanks for an exceptional video!

[@Amanda.Jayne.]

Oooo beautiful as always! I'm so glad for you that you have some cool new tools in your book binding arsenal! The finishing press is awesome! 😻

[@ChantelleArts]

your books are always so beautiful 🥰

[@negarrahimzade7315]

This time was all traditional 🎉thank you Chanel for sharing it ❤❤

[@mycrazycartoonz]

Beautiful work Chanel.. just so perfect.

[@jeannettesalazar6442]

You are the best in your area. Love your work. ❤😊

[@HeathenHammer123]

simply wonderful!

[@shinybreesilver3264]

Beautiful as always and the attention to detail is superb!

[@AdityaaChouksey]

The amount of skills required to work like this woah; blown and this is inspiring me to open a book workshop in my house later in life

[@TheFridayForge]

Sublime! Very well done.

[@lyntonlevengood4459]

Would you consider doing custom themed bindings of the book blocks you removed? Could be quite an awesome exercise.

[@katiehanrahan5293]

Beautifully done!

[@janalewis3030]

Beautiful!

[@docpeeps]

Absolutely lovely.❤

[@vdc7153]

Simply beautiful 🙏❤️

[@lesleygoodall-page8035]

I have guillotine envy! So lovely to see you make such beautiful books. I’d love to have a 10th of your skill.

[@jamieduv]

Very interesting work and you make it look so easy and relaxing. I'm curious. What did you do with the previous book pages? Have you thought about or interested in doing anything leather bound?

[@bittermelonbindery]

Not sure what I'll do with the original text blocks yet... yes I will definitely make and share leather bindings! I'm slowly upgrading my setup so I can do so.

[@rosehavenfarm2969]

Brilliant to sand in the box.

[@dhananjayverma370]

From where didi you ordered these books ?? Please do tell .

[@fozzygirl]

I can't figure out what R and V stand for on the endpapers!

[@shailr]

I thought it was right(and up) and left to signify front and back.

[@fozzygirl]

@@shailr Oh, you might be right!

[@bittermelonbindery]

Recto and Verso! It's Latin to identify the front and back of the book. Something I learned in school. You can also use F and B for front and back.

[@alexisashley8818]

Here at 42 secondsssss YAYYYYY

[@bittermelonbindery]

✨🏆✨

[@ЯэтоЯ-ю4р]

Всё, вы покорили меня, с меня подписка на ваш канал! 😊❤

[@Kolbaska_wild]

Это здорово

[@Pjpuglife]

Do you sell your books you make? You have a ton of links but no links to your homemade journals . Very confusing

[@MaureenAstrid]

There is a reaction pinned where she put a link to an action for the books ❤ @pjpuglife

[@Pjpuglife]

@MaureenAstrid I'm sorry I don't know what reaction or action means . It's OK nvm

[@bittermelonbindery]

My journal collection has been delayed because of printing issues... Hope to release it in the next month or so, wish they didn't take so long!

[@lindahigham5317]

Hello Chanel 🌹 Thank you for sharing this video Amazing Congrats 🎉🎉 ☺️🌹💌🖌️🎨📚🦄🤗🩷🩷

[@Adept-s8z]

What you're describing initially raises some concern. Destroying books, even if they are classic works like "Moby Dick" or "Sherlock Holmes," can seem irresponsible and even offensive. These works hold cultural and literary value, and replacing them with blank pages appears to be an act of vandalism against the heritage they represent. But interestingly enough, I myself use uninteresting or even "cringe-worthy" books as donors for my creative projects. While this might seem similar, for me, it's a different approach. Transforming old, perhaps forgotten or underappreciated books into something new and unique is an act of creative revival for me. I use such books to create my own authorial editions or to revive works that are no longer published. It's not just a way to preserve literary heritage, but also an opportunity to contribute my own work to the field. Haha, it turns out I condemned myself above and justified you below.))

[@ΠΑΝΑΓΙΩΤΑΚΑΡΑΝΤΖΟΥΝΗ]

Υπεροχο 😊

[@solitarymacaroni]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@meherclermehercle1698]

Where is "Moby Dick"?😉

[@grigoryol]

Видео интересное, но не информативное. Не понятно, какое действие происходит, как оно называется и для чего осуществляется.

[@momtso]

I appreciate the craftsmanship, but destroying a book to make a sketchbook feels wrong in every conceivable way.

[@allinoneyt3671]

Will you please be a part of my life Will you marry me?

[@bearllande]

destroying a perfectly good book into a sketchbook? that's a definite downgrade.

[@michaelfourie345]

So beautiful 😍

[@michaelfourie345]

Me at 39 seconds in: Wait, what, is that a scalple she's holding??? She's not going to ... Ahgggg Noooo. I'm off to get some anesthetic before continuing.