Q&A ✦ how I started my bookbinding business, dealing with burnout, tips for new bookbinders & more!

[@dawn4224]

Wow! I was in Vancouver and bought a book from an art fair. This was a few years ago. I just went to my bookshelf and it was your book! I am so amazed that I purchased one made by you. It is a beautiful watercolor journal. Thank you.

[@kriskrumanaker4315]

Nik the Booksmith is a good KZbin channel with good book binding tutorials, too.

[@ClassySmiles]

I am brand new to the world of book binding. I have been watching your videos in awe! I love the authenticity of the Q and A video especially when you talk about burn out and recognizing the signs and listening to your body and the warning signs it sends out. Self-care is the best care! Thanks again for sharing your story and journey with us. Look forward to more videos and learning more from you. I hope to open my own store once I am well versed in this craft!! Wishing you ALL the success!!!!💗💗

[@debraolm7104]

Dear Chanel, U've got me with your SMR videos, which I did not have any idea about!!!! They has been my active meditation time + how I've learnt simple details, tips and more... just by watching..... so relaxing and calming. As a new bookbinding lover, I just wanna TY!!!! Blessed be young Lady. 🌼💛🐝

[@irishelene]

Hey Chanel 🌸 I just discovered your channel and it feels so comforting to hear you speak about yóur burn-out and how you deal with it. I also have a burn-out for a long time now and I literary regonize e-very-thing you mention! The learning of listening to your own body signals, taking better care of yourself, take breaks in between your creative work, the need to lay down as a break, the social anxiety you suddenly have etc! In the beginning it was so hard because my mind still wants to go from zero to 100 but your body wont let you. A hard lesson but also a necessary one. I hope you also realise all the lessons we are able to learn right now about our lifes, our selfes and our choices, it is all for the better. :) I guess we only learn it the hard way! Things that are helping me to calm down is a daily relaxation exercise where you have to tense your muscles, the moment you let go is the moment you can exhale more deeply and then you feel some tension dissolve! I really need to do this for 10-20 minutes a day. I also started running (and I always hated sport, why go sport if you can make beautiful drawings and be creative right!) Buuuuut..it turns out that exhausting myself physically is the only way to come out of my head and into my body! Maybe you can run with your dog 😄 i use an app so the voice tells me when to walk or run and gives compliments! Also something sweet, writing down the things you are greatful for, I now it sounds lame but this way you teach yourself to have an eye for the positive in your daily life instead of focusing on the bad scary future we make up in our minds. You are doing great! Tell yourself how proud you are of yourself and realize the journey you already took! 💪💖

[@ReensaraiArtbyReenaS]

yes i fell in love with handmade paper...yet especially the paper from my original people.

[@soloalpinist]

Thank you for sharing everything with us. You and your videos are very inspirational. :)

[@wovenscrolls]

I've been doing bookbinding for about 3 years now and am constantly learning more each time I watch a fellow bookbinder:) There is so much out there for us all to learn, so I always watch other people work like they are the teacher and I am the student (Empty Cup Approach). Your kind and encouraging words just got you another subscriber:)

[@QueannaJulien]

I started with Sea Lemons video on Coptic binding too!!!!

[@imhmms8105]

Miss Chanel, t you for answering our questions and sharing your insights about your journey as a bookbinder. Bitter Melon or Ampalaya in my country is definitely one of the vegetables that I tend to avoid, but with your channel I have a new appreciation for it. Forever wishing for the success of your channel and business!

[@toosweet0303]

Love this..I'm so happy for you..I started watching when u were at like 400 subscribers and omg amazing journey and progress..much love. Bookbinder from Trinidad and Tobago 💓

[@RoundSeal]

I really liked your reasoning behind the name 'bitter melon', considering books (and journals) are such repositories of memory and personal knowledge. I've never eaten it myself, but I'd like to try it now!

[@ReensaraiArtbyReenaS]

I find your videos really calming.still experimenting with bookbinding to make watercolor journals for traveling.

[@lc5464]

I received my journal last week and it is beautiful! Thank you, Chanel!

[@Hud_Adnan]

I always liked Coptic Stitches but never really got into bookbinding until I saw your videos which are really easy to follow, thank you

[@WoodlandInspired]

Hi Chanel! Awesome Q&A, so much helpful information and I love all the questions you receive. Congratulation on your 1 year of KZbin, I just started so I have a long ways to go. Thanks for sharing your experiences, take care! 💜

[@ReensaraiArtbyReenaS]

yes i love textiles too.it connects us back to something in our roots perhaps..

[@ReensaraiArtbyReenaS]

thank you for doing a Q and A happy to get to know you. been following your channel recently as a peaceful break of releasing the stress of the day.

[@negarrahimzade7315]

Thank you Chanel it was very helpful I fully understand the burnout part as I was in the same situation as yours and it ended up into my illness

[@robynryckman5257]

In Canada I found George Hill & Co. for supplies. You can get book board, cloth, PVA, brushes, paper and more from them :). I mainly do the coptic stitch as well!

[@geovannnacv]

I literally just saw the most popular video of your channel, and i found very interesting bookbinding :) I love seeing ``artistcs things``, like drawing, painting, craft, etc. ( my english is very bad, sorry ;-; )

[@enlisu524]

It was an honour to meet you in person and hear your story in person at a Vancouver fair 5 summers ago, you’re story inspired me to start my own landscaping business 😁

[@tripletgirl2484]

Thank you for sharing your experiences!

[@janiceko9061]

Thank you for filming this video. I just started bookbinding and love watching your video. I have learnt a lot from there. :)

[@adampacher9285]

my fave bookbinding youtuber/ creator

[@auroraasleep]

I /love/ bitter melon! Haven't had it in over 20 years, but it was delicious. I learned about it at a job in college and the Asian food market was just down the road from my apartment, so my then-boyfriend-now-husband and I tried it. We moved away and haven't had it since, but YUM!

[@alittle2014y]

Thank you for sharing this moment with us, Chanel! I really like all your videos and I keep watching them while I work

[@tngtheresa1899]

Congratulations Chanel! Ah yes bitter melon, I have also grown fond of it in soup, tea and stir fry method, the juice is still too overpowering for me🤣. I love thinly sliced bitter melon stir-fried with eggs. Thank you for your inspiring videos showcasing your journey to us all. I am also slowly honing my bookbinding skills as well.

[@theresedignard4267]

Congrats on your one year anniversary. Cheering you on from the sidelines. I find using a pin vice with the push mechanism makes holes in the covers much easier than an awl. The one that you press down and it activates the drill bit. The holes are easier on the wrist and hand too. Of course, I have cheater and used a dremmel. :) Love your videos. Keep up the great work.

[@praetoriansrule]

Therese whatever works for you and makes you happy, go with it there is not just one way to do it.

[@pcje]

我第一次製作裝訂書也是在8年前看海檸檬的影片學的，真是各位的師傅阿。

[@ReensaraiArtbyReenaS]

I love bittermelon as I discovered the asian way to eat it.Bittermelon is so precious for south asian south indian foods.I still love it.

[@lindahigham5317]

Good afternoon 👋☺️ bitter melon bindery 🌹 Thank you for sharing this video and all the questions you answered today I have been enjoying and learning from your videos and I am looking forward to my book order to arrive enjoy your week 🤗🌹💌☺️🦄

[@ange77777]

You're great!! Wish you all the best🥰🥰

[@merakitra]

I’ve also grown up eating bitter melons, didn’t like it, but I love it now, funny, eh? They don’t taste bitter to me, more like a cool taste. Well, it’s a summer vegetable anyway. Really enjoyed your videos, thank you.

[@ReensaraiArtbyReenaS]

yaaaaa the nonprofit heart ache i feel you... perhaps in bookbinding you are creating a way to give back to your original ppl in some beautiful way..

[@wendyleigh3222]

Love your videos! You are so inspiring. 🥰

[@ReensaraiArtbyReenaS]

may we all heal together.

[@Anvii.M]

When I saw the channel name for the first time I was like oh so is it because she likes bitter melon or because the name is kinda beautiful I don't like bitter melon much but since I was young when my mom and grandma made bitter melon I wouldn't eat it but I do like bitter melon fry that dry bitter melon if you haven't tried it try it.

[@ReensaraiArtbyReenaS]

awwww so many of my vancouver friends love california too

[@insidethefishbowl]

I am a relatively new subscriber, and I really have enjoyed your content. I discovered book binding years ago through my local university's community education center. That might be a resource that your viewers who are interested in learning can also look for. Specific to you, have you heard of the San Francisco Center for the Book? They are wonderful and have the best classes I have ever taken. You know, just in case you need an excuse to go back. Thanks for the Q & A and all of your inspiring videos!

[@bittermelonbindery]

I'm on their newsletter! I hope to visit them in San Francisco soon.

[@ReensaraiArtbyReenaS]

so happy you started this craft in 2013

[@fcsolis]

Thank you.

[@butacrafts]

Thanks for answering my questions and sharing much more about yourself and your business. Congratulations again for the milestone! It’s great to hear about people embracing their culture and being proud of it. I hope we can all do the same so we will keep our culture and heritage alive for the future. It’s cute that your earrings also look like bitter melon!! 😍 I too dream of owning and running my own non profit. I’m not sure if I can anymore given my mental health conditions. Thanks for sharing that part of the story.

[@butacrafts]

Some Patreon offering ideas (or any support platform) 1) Material reviews and recommendations. Discounts codes 2) Behind the scenes: experiments, learnings, Oops! 3) Random giveaways (eg: quarterly lucky winner for specific tier only) to your supporters for enabling your learning and growth (binding experiments, book binding materials and resources, some of your books) 4) Other areas of interests and resources (eg mental health, supporting small businesses, Asian women support group, Asian women mental health)

[@bittermelonbindery]

@@butacrafts thank you for all these ideas!

[@michaelmeyers4917]

Where do you buy your papers? There's a place in LA called McManus and Morgan. Beautiful papers. They have been around for ever. I imagine you already know about them.

[@bestdaysmagasine261]

How much do you do by day and how you decide the kind of paper and cover designs ?

[@ReensaraiArtbyReenaS]

instrumental piano music ahhhh

[@munirniaz5023]

I have the feeling that Reensarai likes you.

[@ReensaraiArtbyReenaS]

wow I relate to your story

[@joanpringle-canning2834]

🤗🤗💕💕🤗🤗

[@maggiezine]

I know your earrings are supposed to be daisies but they also look like when you cut rings of bitter melon hah