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North Bennet Street School



Our Classes

Ethiopian Bookbinding

$245

with Bill Hanscom

Calendar Apr 25, 2026 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Date: Saturday, April 25th

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Instructor: Bill Hanscom

Ethiopian manuscript culture represents one of the oldest bookbinding traditions still practiced today. During this one-day workshop, participants will construct a full leather historical binding with wooden boards, inlays of patterned cloth, and traditional endbands of interwoven leather strips. Basic tooling techniques, as well as common designs and motifs, will be discussed and demonstrated. Participants will be allowed to decorate their bindings as time allows.

Tools & Supplies: *There is an additional $40.00 materials fee due to the instructor on the first day of class. The instructor accepts cash, checks, or Venmo.  All other tools and supplies will be provided for this class

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions.

  • Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
  • No loose clothing
  • Long pants suggested
  • No loose jewelry
  • Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: Bookbinding 101, Fundamentals of Bookbinding I, or equivalent experience. If you have any questions about your experience, please contact ce@nbss.edu.

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Full Course

Chip Carving

$520

with Jeff Fleisher

Calendar Apr 25, 2026 at 9 am, runs for 1 week

Dates: Saturday, April 25th & Sunday, April 26th (2 meetings)

Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Instructor: Jeff Fleisher

Chip carving is a decorative form of carving used to enhance a piece of furniture or a small object like a jewelry box, by incising a pattern or design directly into the surface of the wood.  The two-day workshop covers a brief history of chip carving, the chip carving knife and how to sharpen it, layout and design, along with carving and finishing techniques.

Tools & Supplies: Please bring items from this supply list to the first day of class.

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions. 

  • Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
  • No loose clothing
  • Long pants suggested
  • No loose jewelry
  • Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: None

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Full Course

Danish Modern Plant Stand

$225

with Rachel Prentki CF '18

Calendar Apr 26, 2026 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Date: Sunday, April 26th

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Rachel Prentki CF '18

This one-day class introduces students to mortise & tenon joinery and the lap joint, which are traditional furniture making techniques. This class is a great way to familiarize yourself with woodworking and is perfect for those who are curious about the craft. The students will use the table saw, mortiser, and router to construct the plant stand and learn basic skills. The plant stand is designed to fit a 10-inch diameter by 10-inch high planter. The plastic planter and wood will be supplied in class.

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies are provided for this class.

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions. 

  • Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
  • No loose clothing
  • Long pants suggested
  • No loose jewelry
  • Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: None

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Full Course

Jewelry Making 101

$270

with Danielle Robichaud JM '05

Calendar Apr 26, 2026 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Date: Sunday, April 26th

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Danielle Robichaud JM '05

Learn the basics of jewelry making and get to know your way around the bench. Move through a series of beginner-level projects to gain an understanding of basic fabrication and insight into more complex techniques.

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies are provided for this class.

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions.

  • Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)     
  • No loose clothing
  • Long pants suggested
  • No loose jewelry
  • Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: None

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Full Course

Gold Tooling with Egg Glaire

$500

with Ariana Rutledge BB '22

Calendar May 2, 2026 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Dates: Saturday, May 2nd & Sunday, May 3rd (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Ariana Rutledge BB '22

Students will learn the basics of direct gold tooling with egg glaire from a historical trade-style approach. They will learn how to set their type and how to mark up the surface of their leather, along with many other tips and tricks. The skills learned in this class, although directly related to a quicker trade bindery method, can be helpful to any type of gold finishing work. Success as a finisher comes only with significant practice and patience; the goal of this class is to provide students with the opportunity to get a feel for the process so that they are equipped to continue to practice on their own.

Tools & Supplies: A notebook, pencil, apron, and a leather book you'd like to tool (not required - practice plaquettes will be provided). All other tools and supplies will be provided.

Attire: Students should bring an apron, smock, or wear clothing that they don't mind getting dirty.

Prerequisite: None

Fundamentals of Bookbinding I

$1,094

with Jennifer Pellecchia BB '19

Calendar May 3, 2026 at 8:30 am, runs for 5 weeks

Dates: Sundays, May 3-31 (5 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Jennifer Pellecchia BB '19

Students will learn the foundations of bookbinding by combining hands-on exercises and discussion. The class starts by exploring non-adhesive structures: soft cover pamphlet, Coptic, historical longstitch, and link stitch. The class ends with a look at case bindings, with the creation of two hardcover flatback bindings. Students also learn different structural elements, sewing variations, and covering and cutting techniques using various materials, tools, and equipment. Throughout the course, discussions will cover terminology, paper grain and folding, selecting proper materials and tools, and adhesives and their properties.

Tools & Supplies: Please bring a notebook and a pencil. All other tools and supplies are provided for this class.

Prerequisite: None

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Full Course

Fundamentals of Machine Woodworking

$1,150

with Dan Weissman CF '20

Calendar May 3, 2026 at 9 am, runs for 5 weeks

Dates: Sundays, May 3 - 31 (5 meetings)

Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Instructor: Dan Weissman CF '20

Teaching Assistant: Stephen Thrasher

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the safety, setup, and use of some of the most common woodworking machines. This class is suitable for both beginners looking to jump-start a hobby in woodworking and intermediate/advanced students looking to refresh their skills. Students learn to perform basic machine procedures while gaining the confidence to undertake more complicated operations. We cover the use of the planer, jointer, table saw, radial arm saw, bandsaw, and additional machines as time allows. Each student is given the chance to install and set blades on each machine, along with the necessary fences, guides, and fixtures. Proper techniques for operating each machine safely and for recognizing potentially dangerous situations are emphasized. Each student completes a box with a sliding lid, beginning with milling rough lumber. This course focuses on machine work. Check out our Fundamentals of Fine Woodworking class if you are looking to work at the bench and improve your hand skills. Many students take both classes. If you are just looking to get your feet wet in the shop, check out our Woodworking 101 class.

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies are provided for this class. 

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions.

  • Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
  • No loose clothing
  • Long pants suggested
  • No loose jewelry
  • Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: None

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Bookbinding 101

$300

with Amy Lapidow BB '95

Calendar May 9, 2026 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Dates: Saturday, May 9th & Sunday, May 10th (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Amy Lapidow BB '95

In this two-day workshop, students will get a quick introduction to various bookbinding techniques by exploring three different book structures. The class will begin with a simple pamphlet and continue with constructing two multi-signature books, known as flatback case binding and link stitch binding. Finally, students will construct a box to house all of their creations. Bookbinding 101 is a great way to familiarize yourself with bookbinding and is perfect for those who are curious about the craft. All levels of experience are welcome to register.

Tools & Supplies: Please bring a notebook and a pencil. All other tools and supplies are provided for this class. 

Attire: This is a general list of how to dress for the shop environment, please contact ce@nbss.edu if you have any questions.

  • Closed-toe, comfortable, and protective footwear (sneakers or boots)
  • No loose clothing
  • Long pants suggested
  • No loose jewelry
  • Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: None

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ to attend adult CE classes. No one under 18 years old is permitted to register for an adult class, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Full Course




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