Meet the Members - Arte e Luar Bookbinding

Hello!

This month we are going to have several interviews in our blog with some of our members, we are commemorating the end of a long month of work where we tried to better our shops with the help of other members of the team.

It was the "Mentor Month", like the one described in Etsy's blog.

This is something we plan to do from time to time, so you may see in the future more months full of interviews with our members.

It will be a short interview, but it will give you the opportunity to know them a little bit better.

And we start with me. Yes, you will get some more information about me.

Oh, what joy! ;)

Ana Ribeiro aka Arte e Luar Bookbinding

Name: Ana Ribeiro
Etsy shop: http://ArteeLuarBookbinding.etsy.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ArteeLuar

Hello! Could you tell us a little about yourself?

Hello everyone! My name is Ana Ribeiro and I'm a self-taught bookbinder, lover of books, paper and fabric. General perfectionist. Passionate about color, texture and pattern.

2014 Small Handmade Medium Stripes Weekly Planner by ArteeeLuarBookbinding

What made you choose this craft?

That I can tell you, is something that I can blame on one of my first craft teachers at school. I still remember, I think it was near Christmas time, we had a class about bookbinding, a very rudimentary one, but it was the first time that I made a book.

Ok, it wasn't an actual book, it was a case for a notepad, but a passion was born and from then on I was always making, one way or another, books. I'm sure that my teacher of then, never thought that he would be responsible for the love of my life.

Why sell on Etsy?

I am an Etsy buyer almost since the beginning and I've seen how much creativity there is in our word because of that. It's a venue that allows you to have a larger audience than you can have on your own, specially when you are starting. Besides that, it allows you to share, talk and experiment with a like minded community.

Small Journal Notebook in Mustard Yellow, Red, Purple and Grey  by ArteeeLuarBookbinding

What do you find most inspiring?

Everything and everyone. I draw my inspiration from all that surrounds me, fashion, architecture, traditional crafts, nature or the people on the streets. I also like the challenge of custom work and the collaboration with other artists and crafters, they show me how much more I can do, how I can follow different paths that I didn't see before. Materials are also a source of experimentation, inspiration and new solutions.

You were involved in the "Mentor Month" program on Etsy. What was the most important thing that you took from it?

I always loved to help. The "Mentor Month" was a chance to help other team members, to give them tools and tips to have a more successful shop. This shows that with a lot of work and the help of one-another, we accomplish much more. Team work is the best. Sharing your doubts, having someone that is in the same boat as you helping, is a wonderful thing.

Custom Small Journal Notebook - Turquoise Red - Inner Circle by ArteeeLuarBookbinding

What do you love to hear from your customers?

That I exceeded the expectations. Nothing is better for me than that, may it be my books or my customer service, it always brings a smile to my face.

All photos by Ana Ribeiro aka Arte e Luar Bookbinding.

Check the other Meet the Members interviews.