⟡ Awl About Bookbinding ⟡ Support Our New YouTube Series

Chanel Ly is organizing this fundraiser.

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I’m Chanel Ly, the creator behind bitter melon bindery and author of Handmade Books at Home. After four years of filming quiet process videos in my studio, I’m ready to take you on a new adventure where we explore the world of book arts and bookbinding, and visit inspiring artists.

The first episode is now live! I sat down with book artist Insiya Dhatt to chat about the differences between book arts and fine binding. We also visited San Francisco Center for the Book, and got a close-up flip-through of books from the OPEN SET design binding exhibition. Watch it here: Ep. 1 - Are you a Book Artist or Fine Binder?

Why Your Support Matters

Books hold stories, and so do the hands that make them. Through Awl About Bookbinding, I want to make the craft more visible, accessible, and exciting for everyone. The bookbinding community is deep, expansive, and full of surprises – I can’t wait for you to see it for yourself.

My partner Eliot and I are a small two-person team, working together to coordinate, shoot, and edit the series. Each episode costs a minimum of $2,000 to produce, and we’re aiming for five more in 2025. Your donation will help fund the production, travel, and materials necessary to create high-quality videos.

100% of your contributions will directly support the show’s creation. My long-term goal is to secure ongoing sponsorships to ensure the series continues and reaches even more people.

Upcoming Episodes & Topics

Future episodes will take a deep dive into:

⟡ Book & Paper Conservation

⟡ Fine & Design Binding

⟡ Historical vs Modern Binding Techniques

…and much more!

Your contribution, no matter how small, will be part of Awl About Bookbinding’s origin story. You will help create content that educates, inspires, and connects the bookbinding community. If donating isn’t possible right now, sharing this campaign with fellow book lovers is a great way to support us.

Thank you for contributing in whatever way you can. I can’t wait to bring this series to life!

How This All Started

My viewers and patrons have encouraged me to keep exploring and learning to hone my craft. I’m so grateful, because it has led me here. I was eager to learn advanced bookbinding techniques, but online research wasn’t cutting it. So, I took the leap and attended the class of my dreams at the American Academy of Bookbinding, an experience that completely changed how I saw the craft. It introduced me to a world of fine binders, conservators, and book artists pushing the boundaries of bookbinding.

Not everyone has access to these kinds of resources though. Awl About Bookbinding is my way of bringing these spaces, techniques, and conversations to a wider audience, so that more people can be inspired to learn and connect with the incredible community of bookbinding.

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