Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Vela.
Hi Tony, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As the popularity of print materials decreases over the years, their value only increases. I meet these materials after they have survived the tests of time, natural disaster, human destruction, and more, and bring life to them once again through the timeless art of bookbinding. My family business, Vela Custom Bookmakers, offers hand bookbinding, restoration, and conservation for individuals and rare bookstores. We also offer bookbinding for corporate entities and legal bindings for law firms through our production bindery, The Bookbindery.
Our second-generation family bindery has been operating in the heart of Houston, TX for over 50 years. My father-in-law, Phil Ochoa, first began bookbinding at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX. Phil worked alongside Zolton Olah, a bookbinder with nearly 20 years of experience, before opening his own business with his wife Debbie. Over time, Phil and Debbie honed their craft and raised their kids, including my wife Natalie, in the business. Now, having worked in the family bindery for 15 years, I am fortunate to work alongside Natalie, raise our own children in the craft, and continue the tradition of bookbinding. My works can be found across special collections departments, university libraries, and state archives, including at the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research, University of Texas Rare Book Collection, and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. In 2018 and 2019, I received the “Best of Show Award” from the Printing Industries of the Gulf Coast Graphic Excellence Awards.
In addition to my bookbinding, restoration, and conservation work, I have been an instructor to fellow craftsmen for 10 years. My instructional experience covers a range of environments, including the University of Houston, the World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and various masonic lodges. Most notably, I have been a recurring instructor at the Printing Museum of Houston throughout the past decade.
Through operating my family bindery and teaching fellow bookbinders, I am grateful to foster a community of dedicated craftsmen, develop my own skills, and train the third generation of Vela Custom Bookmakers. Preserving this valuable trade, one restored artifact at a time, is my greatest pride.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, It has not always been a smooth road. As a small business owner, you always feel the “Feast or Famine” mentality. We are always fortunate to have a load of work so Covid didn’t really have much of an effect on us except it let us catch up on past due work.
But one thing that keeps us ahead too, is custom work. I love taking on projects that are not the norm for most bookbinders. Things that most people would turn away. I do work for antique stores and homeowners that involve leather desk top inlays. Custom boxes and displays for interior designers. Custom menus for restaurants.
So, the ability to adapt to clients needs really seem to help out if things seem to slow down on actual bookbinding.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In addition to bookbinding, menus and custom jobs, I have been an instructor for many years. I really enjoy helping people young and old, find a new hobby or to be able to put the art of bookbinding to practice. Some of my students are hobbyist or curious about how books are made. A lot of my students are wanting to know how to make journals or artist books for themselves.
But I also have several students that have been put into a position to care for rare and antiquarian books and need to know how to do so properly. Students in that field have come from MFAH, Newton Gresham Library at Sam Houston State, Special Collections at University of Houston and rare book collections at Masonic Lodges all over Texas, Lanier Theological Library. Also, I have been teaching at The Printing Museum of Houston for several years up to their recent closing.
The reaction students have when they complete a book and see what they were able to do, and the confidence the others have to be able to care for precious books properly.
What matters most to you? Why?
My family. I have 4 boys and 1 daughter. A few of them have a strong interest in bookbinding, whether it’s the art of it or the business end of it. They all grew up in the business and I hope that at least a couple of them carry on the craft.
Pricing:
- Family bibles. 700
- Hand bibles. Leather/220 Faux Leather/145
- Custom leather bindings. Starts at 250
- Custom edition bindings. Starts at 120 depending on qty
- Conservation. Contact us
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.VelaCustomBookmakers.com
- Instagram: @VelaCustomBookmakers
- Other: Twitter. @VelaCustomBookmakers
Image Credits
@Nacho_dung
www.nachodung.com
