Welcome to my site! This site is mostly dedicated to documenting my journey learning the art of book binding. I’ve also shared projects that I’ve worked on in the past – notably photography and podcasting. I hope you’ll enjoy this little corner on the web!
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Recent posts
Change your environment to interrupt your thought patterns
For the last few months, I’ve been feeling a bit out of sorts. My job is mostly remote and while working from home offers a lot of flexibility, it also keeps one at home for majority of the time. I find that when I spend the bulk of my time in the same place, it…
The benefits of bookbinding for mental health
On days when you might be feeling a bit stressed, anxious or just low on energy, it is helpful to have an activity that can take your mind off of things, and help you calm down. Bookbinding is one such activity that can help ease you out. The process of bookbinding can be a meditative…
A philosophical fiction story about bookbinding
There was a time when bookbinding was considered a sacred art, a craft that required patience, skill, and dedication. It was a practice that demanded a deep understanding of the materials and a reverence for the written word. In those days, bookbinders were revered as artists, and their work was celebrated for its beauty and…
The joy of getting orders from complete strangers
When you start out with your small business, you spend days and weeks and months, hoping to get an order from somewhere. I’ve written about what it’s like to be the owner of a small online store when you’re just starting out – there are long stretches of time between consecutive orders, and each new…
Five more common mistakes to avoid during bookbinding and making DIY books
A long time ago, I wrote a post on six common mistakes to avoid when making your own DIY books. I had just started making my own books at the time, and the mistakes I documented then sound hilarious and highly “beginner” mistakes 🙂 Having spent some time doing a lot more bookbinding since then,…
Don’t pity the solo traveler. Traveling solo is fun!
Recently over the long weekend, I went solo to Washington DC to check out the museums and enjoy the city on my own. At the entrance to one of the museums, the security guard was helping groups of people who were traveling together through the security check. When it was my turn, he asked me…
Seven ideas to get into a daily journaling habit
The physical act of writing your thoughts down and putting pen to paper, can be a powerful tool to help you clear your mind, and get rid of thoughts that might be bothering you that would otherwise keep circling in your mind. I’m not a heavy journal-er, but I do find a lot of value…
Twenty creative materials to use in your bookbinding projects and DIY books
Bookbinding is one of those arts where once you get the hang of it, there is literally no limit to the materials you can use to make new and unique books. Whether you are a professional bookbinder or a DIY enthusiast, there are many interesting materials that you can use to add unique touches to…
Want to do more of something? Find a way to make that activity enjoyable.
You know how we all have those things that we know we should do, but we never get around to doing them? It’s either not the right time, or you have to do something more important, or you’re just not in the mood, or you’ve found a reason to procrastinate again. I have a bad…
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Sonali Mangal 