Unwind with calming bookbinding ✦ Upcycling classic novels into sketchbooks

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I was recently learning about book design, and was browsing ebay to see if there were hardcovers in good condition that I could upcycle into blank books. This collection of Reader's Digest books were barely used and in excellent condition. It turned out to be a fun and challenging project, using the skills I learned from the American Academy of Bookbinding.
You can shop my t-shirt and other bookbinding merch here 📚 bittermelonbindery-shop.fourt...
0:00 Unboxing
0:29 Removing text block
0:55 Preparing cover
2:04 Preparing signatures
2:58 Installing hooked endsheets
4:44 Punching holes
6:08 Tipping on tissue guards
6:34 Sewing book block
10:40 Aligning the first and last signatures
11:40 Trimming fore edge
12:16 Gluing the spine
13:23 Rounding the spine
14:07 Backing the spine
15:53 Trimming the top edge
16:23 Lining the spine
18:09 Adhering linen tapes
19:55 Making endband cores
20:15 Colouring top edge
20:51 Sewing endbands
25:12 Making the spine bonnet
25:50 Filling the spine
26:39 Attaching the bonnet
27:42 Gluing bonnet to cover
29:11 Lining the inner covers
30:45 Adhering the covers
32:16 Pressing
33:05 Pasting illustration
33:52 Final flip-through
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Filming Equipment
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro with Canon 24-105mm F/4 lens
Editing Software
DaVinci Resolve Studio www.blackmagicdesign.com/prod...
FAQ
✦ What tools and materials do you use? • Bookbinding Tools & Ma...
✦ Where can I buy bookbinding supplies? your local art supply store, Blick Art Materials (US), TALAS (US), Hollander's (US), DeSerres (CA), Etsy
✦ What adhesive are you using? Archival quality PVA glue, there are multiple brands
✦ How do you make your book cloth? • How I make bookcloth f...
✦ Where do you get dot grid writing paper? • How I source dotted wr...
✦ Where did you get your guillotine cutter? amzn.to/49O6VmY
✦ What brand is your...
thread - Crawford Irish Waxed Linen Thread
corner rounder - Akiles Diamond-1
✦ What is that laser cutter? www.xtool.com/?ref=IJ2xikCBlQ...
✦ Where is your music from? I use Epidemic Sound, sign up for a 30-day free trial here: share.epidemicsound.com/asrshm
✦ What is your dog's name? Lucy 🐕
Produced on the unceded territories of the Tongva people. Learn more: native-land.ca/

[@bittermelonbindery]

These books are available for auction: app.galabid.com/bittermelonbooks/items The pages are Strathmore 400 series drawing paper, 80 lb weight (130 gsm). The auction closes next Friday July 12 at 9pm PT!

[@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!!!🤭

[@negarrahimzade7315]

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

[@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

[@shinybreesilver3264]

Beautiful as always and the attention to detail is superb!

[@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!

[@janalewis3030]

Beautiful!

[@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! 😻

[@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.

[@HeathenHammer123]

simply wonderful!

[@TheFridayForge]

Sublime! Very well done.

[@jeannettesalazar6442]

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

[@mycrazycartoonz]

Beautiful work Chanel.. just so perfect.

[@ChantelleArts]

your books are always so beautiful 🥰

[@katiehanrahan5293]

Beautifully done!

[@docpeeps]

Absolutely lovely.❤

[@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

[@vdc7153]

Simply beautiful 🙏❤️

[@rosehavenfarm2969]

Brilliant to sand in the box.

[@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.

[@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.

[@IchIchiNaru]

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]

@@IchIchiNaru Whoa I had no idea!

[@user-et1hi8es5s]

Υπεροχο 😊

[@alexisashley8818]

Here at 42 secondsssss YAYYYYY

[@bittermelonbindery]

✨🏆✨

[@Kolbaska_wild]

Это здорово

[@solitarymacaroni]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@lindahigham5317]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@grigoryol]

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

[@allinoneyt3671]

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

[@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.