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Chanel Ly

@bittermelonbindery

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📘✨ Watch @awlaboutbookbinding show
✨📙 @bungulosangeles workshop Oct 16-18, 2026
📚✨ Find Handmade Books at Home in bookstores or your library

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Make your own! Sketchbook kits are available from @talasonline 📔 Link in bio.

Learn how to make a sturdy lay-flat sketchbook with luscious cotton paper. This beginner-friendly project is designed as a self-guided bookbinding class and includes a free video tutorial and PDF pattern to cater to different learning styles. The skills you gain will surely aid you in future bookbinding projects! I’m also available for questions if you ever get stuck or need support.

You can get the FREE pdf pattern now in my shop!

The hardest part was figuring out a seamless way of installing the pocket. Be conscious, as it can lift as you reach the end of the book. I’m thinking of ways to reinforce it, but if it does lift over time, it will be just fine to reglue it, and don’t forget to press!

Note: The orange book in this reel has cold press watercolour pages. The TALAS kits have Carta Pura 140 gsm cotton paper. by @bittermelonbindery

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10 months ago

This may be the most exciting post I’ve made… my book is in almost 150 indie bookstores across the US! Your preorders helped make this happen 🥹 If any of these shops are local to you, please dm me a picture if you see it on the shelf! It would make my day.

This list is from the main distributor so there are probably more stores who stock it. I’ll keep an updated list on my website so let me know if I’m missing any.

You can also request Handmade Books at Home at your local library 📚 I grew up borrowing craft books to teach myself new skills and it would be a full circle moment to have the book in libraries 🥰

#bookbinding by @bittermelonbindery

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3 years ago

Come make this double pamphlet notebook with me at @bungulosangeles ❀.ೃ࿔*:･ Oct 16-18, 2 weeks away!

Not only will it be relaxing and fun, it will also be educational! You’ll learn:

⟡ How to make the most professional-looking notebooks by understanding the basics of paper grain, folding, cutting, and pressing

⟡ Where and how to source paper for writing and journaling

⟡ Tips and tricks on working with washi and other East Asian papers (the most beautiful traditional papers ever)

⟡ Which adhesive to reach for depending on what you’re gluing

⟡ How to continue your bookbinding practice

I love talking about anything book arts and paper related so please come with questions and curiosities!

Spots are going now that BUNGU LA has opened up the workshops to everyone (you can attend workshops without an admission ticket to the fair). Register through my bio site today 💕 by @bittermelonbindery

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15 days ago

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23 days ago

Just a few of the cover and chiyogami combos you can customize at the @bungulosangeles workshop 🐻 Learn how to make your own fountain pen friendly inserts and notebooks. Sourcing tools and materials are half of the process so I’ll share where I get everything including Japanese papers and how to get started on bookbinding!

BUNGU LA is taking place 10/16-10/18. Register for the workshop thru the bio site link in my bio! Admission tickets are no longer required to attend workshops. by @bittermelonbindery

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23 days ago

Awl About Bookbinding Ep 2 is coming to you from Japan!! It was so special to interview @miyakoakai a miniature book artist and author, while I was there on a family trip. Thank you Miyako for showing me your impressive miniature book collection 😍 and thank you @megigarashi for interpreting for us 💕

Available now on my YouTube channel! by @bittermelonbindery

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a year ago

Swipe for highlights of my first year in library grad school at UCLA 🎒 by @bittermelonbindery

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a month ago

Highlight of my summer so far! @penlandschool was a wonderful place to try out new decorative bookbinding techniques I’ve had mental blocks with. Erin of @herringbonebindery is such a great instructor and she made it so easy and accessible to learn embroidery on paper and leather. I got to even experiment with my Chinese knotting. I’m really excited to dive into this more.

Full breakdown of materials used and a recap of my Penland experience is now on my Patreon page. by @bittermelonbindery

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4 months ago

Make these notebooks following my PDF pattern! Go to my shop to order a step-by-step digital guide on soft cover notebooks, jackets, and wrappers ✨ It includes a lot of my favourite paper and materials recs.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the plain and reliable pamphlet stitch. It’s a satisfying and easy stitch and there are limitless ways to elevate it. Here are some of my ideas :) by @bittermelonbindery

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6 months ago

The Japanese Paper Place sent me a konnyaku kit to turn any paper into a strong fabric-like material! This is a game changer for bookbinding. The papers don’t need to be crumpled but this is a common practice and it does help with kneading the starch into the paper fibres. I personally enjoy the texture too.

Konnyaku kits are now available in my shop!

A full deep dive into washi (Japanese paper) for bookbinding is coming to YouTube this week. It hasn’t been easy learning how to use washi, especially the lighter weights, so it was really nice to get tips and recommendations from the JPP.

@thejppofficial is a wholesaler, so if you’re looking for a konnyaku powder source, reach out to them for a reseller in your area! by @bittermelonbindery

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9 months ago

🎵Sound on 🎶

How’s binding the sketchbook kit going so far? What do you think of the video tutorial?

You can find all the links in my bio! by @bittermelonbindery

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a year ago

A little zine I made for my archives class. Most of the work was in the voiceover exploring the memory of bookbinding. By memory, I mean knowledge, history, emotions, experiences, and more. It’s an academic concept that I really enjoyed learning about. The full project is available to watch on Patreon.

I’m loving the simplicity of suminagashi and I’m hoping to refine my technique a little further to share my papers with you! I learned by taking a virtual workshop with @centerforbookarts 💕

Text on the pages in case it’s hard to read:
my memory
group memory
collective memory
we are what we choose to remember
it’s okay to forget by @bittermelonbindery

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10 months ago