Date: Saturday, August 15th (1 meeting)

Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Instructor: Fionnuala Hart-Gerrity BB '11

In this class students will learn the basics of using Japanese tissue and wheat starch paste to back fabric and make their own bookcloth. We’ll cover topics including the types of fabrics best suited for making bookcloth, choosing an appropriate weight of tissue for backing, and techniques for successfully adhering tissue. Each student will practice with a piece of quilting-weight cotton, and then make a second piece of bookcloth with fabric supplied by the instructor. Students may bring their own fabric if they wish and consult about options for backing. Students will leave class with the knowledge and supplies to make their own bookcloth at home.

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

*Optional: Students may bring their own fabric if they wish and consult the instructor about options for backing. 

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 closthing
• Long pants suggested
• No loose jewelry
• Long hair must be tied back

Prerequisite: None

Age requirement: Students must be 18+ by the class start date 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.

Please Note: North Bennet Street School will be undergoing exterior construction this summer, which may cause occasional noise or temporary changes to building access.

Dates: Saturday, August 15th & Sunday, August 16th (2 meetings)

Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Instructor: Sue Muldoon

Learn to weave and shape backpacks of various sizes using reed. On the first day of class, students will make a small backpack and learn basic weaving techniques(over/under weaving, twining, lacing, and weaving a closed bottom backpack). On the second day of class, students will learn how to measure and create their own patterns for their second bag while exploring additional weaving techniques (layering, triple-twining, twill patterns, and more) using the instructor's inventory of natural, dyed, and rattan materials.

Staining and sealing methods will also be discussed for students to complete at home after the backpacks have completely dried. Students are encouraged to bring in additional elements and pieces of ornamentation that are personal to them, such as beads, ties, wire, wool, leather, and more.

Tools & Supplies:

Additional Supply Costs: Students must purchase supply kits from their instructor on the first day of class. The first-day kit costs $70, and the costs of the second-day kit vary depending on students' projects, which they will decide after completing day one. Estimated costs for bags according to size are $50 (small), $80 (medium), $100-$125(large), and $20 (lids, flat rate). Costs vary for add-ons such as ceramic handles, beads, aluminum wire, etc. The instructor accepts cash, checks, credit cards, PayPal, 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: None

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ by the class start date 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. 

Please Note: North Bennet Street School will be undergoing exterior construction this summer, which may cause occasional noise or temporary changes to building access.

Date: Sunday, August 16th (1 meeting)

Hours: 12:00 - 4:00 pm

Instructor: Kylie Weinzierl

In this beginner level workshop, students will learn some of the earliest techniques of metal forging. Using a variety of hammers and mallets, as well as tools like anvils, dapping blocks, steel forming blocks and other raising and sinking tools, students will learn how to shape and texture metal, anneal, rivet and/or solder as we work to make small decorative copper and brass spoons out of sheet metal. Please note: copper and brass can leach copper into food when used in hot and/or acidic foods. Spoons are for dry goods and/or decorative purposes only

Tools & Supplies: All 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: None

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ by the class start date 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. 

Please Note: North Bennet Street School will be undergoing exterior construction this summer, which may cause occasional noise or temporary changes to building access.

Dates: Monday, August 17 - Friday, August 21 (5 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Patrick Moore

Price: $1,250 is the full cost of the class. A $150 deposit is due at the time of registration. Students will have the option to pay in full or pay over time with a weekly payment plan when registering for the class. The payment plan details will be shared during the registration process. 

This intensive, hands-on weeklong workshop uses stereotomy and stereotomical drawing methods to guide participants through the full construction of a scaled eyebrow dormer using timber; sized and detailed so its geometry, framing, and assemblies can be translated directly to actual shop and field work. Beginning with geometry transfer from nets and templates, the class moves into timber layout, cutting, assemblies, shaping, framing, sheathing, and finished roofing assemblies. Emphasis is placed on using stereotomic techniques to generate reproducible templates and construction drawings, to establish continuous load paths, and to resolve junctions (flashing, waterproofing, and framing connections). 

Intended for architects, designers, carpenters, general contractors, and timber framers, the course balances geometric thinking with hands-on carpentry and construction detailing to ensure participants can both design and execute curved roof work using stereotomy.

Learning Objectives:

• Construct a fully scaled wood eyebrow dormer mockup that demonstrates correct curved geometry, framing layout, and continuous load path, and verify its dimensional accuracy against provided templates.
• Translate paper templates into timber by applying layout, cutting, shaping, and assembly techniques to produce reproducible components and on-site templates suitable for field fabrication.
• Evaluate and integrate waterproofing, flashing, and roof-assembly details for curved dormer geometry.
• Prepare a contractor-ready package—including scaled template drawings, material lists, and step-by-step assembly sequencing.

Tools & Supplies: All 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: Participants must be familiar with basic hand and power tools and have a working knowledge of basic drafting tools. If you have questions about your experience, please contact ce@nbss.edu.

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ by the class start date 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. 

Please Note: North Bennet Street School will be undergoing exterior construction this summer, which may cause occasional noise or temporary changes to building access.

Dates: Monday, August 17 - Thursday, August 20 (4 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Erin Fletcher BB '12

French binder Jean de Gonet crafted an alternative to the overly stiff bindings traditional from earlier centuries, while also developing a unique eclectic aesthetic that became undeniably linked to his legacy. Breaking away from these stiffly bound books, de Gonet’s structure creates a less rigid binding that offers more flexibility between the reader and the text. His innovation went on to inspire countless other binders, such asSün Evrard, Carmencho Arregui, Anne Goy and Edgard Claes, who pushed his structure even further.

In this workshop, we’ll be creating a de Gonet inspired binding that takes additional influences from Evrard’s Simplified Binding and Claes’ Dorfner Binding. Our models will follow in de Gonet’s footsteps by blending traditional with unconventional materials. Students will get the opportunity to work with leather in this workshop.

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

Prerequisite:Students should have some previous binding experience. If you have any questions about your experience, please contact ce@nbss.edu. 

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 closthing
• Long pants suggested
• No loose jewelry
• Long hair must be tied back

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ by the class start date 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. 

Please Note: North Bennet Street School will be undergoing exterior construction this summer, which may cause occasional noise or temporary changes to building access.

Dates: Saturday, August 22nd & Sunday, August 23rd (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Patrick Moore

In this hands-on workshop, participants will construct a scaled down high-top patio table (* ½ scale) based on the German National Carpentry Team’s design, incorporating a self-supporting X-brace structure. You will use practical stereotomy, known as Schiftung, to manually draw out the design full-size, ensuring accurate angles and lengths for precise layout. This traditional method, deeply rooted in German carpentry practices, will guide your construction process, allowing you to build a stable and visually striking table while mastering layout and joinery techniques.

The repetitive "Mandala" geometry in the design of this table creates an intricate, symmetrical pattern that is both visually captivating and structurally efficient. This geometric approach echoes traditional design principles, where each element interlocks with the others, forming a cohesive, self-supporting structure. By integrating this pattern with Schiftung, participants will not only refine their layout and angle skills but also experience the beauty of a design that balances aesthetics with functionality.

Key Highlights:

• Apply practical stereotomy (Schiftung) for ½ scale design layout
• Master accurate angle and length calculation techniques
• Build a self-supporting X-brace table
• Learn advanced layout and construction methods
• Hands-on experience with reciprocal design principles

Tools & Supplies: All 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: Participants must be familiar with basic hand and power tools and have a working knowledge of basic drafting tools. If you have questions about your experience, please contact ce@nbss.edu.

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ by the class start date 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.

Please Note: North Bennet Street School will be undergoing exterior construction this summer, which may cause occasional noise or temporary changes to building access. 

Dates: Saturday, August 22nd & Sunday, August 23rd (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Todd Pattison

In this workshop each participant will be given a book in unbound folded signatures, Structure of the Visual Book by Keith Smith, (fourth edition - 432 pages and over 450 photographs of artists books) which they will then have two days to bind. Outside of a school or workshop setting, bookbinding is practiced in relative isolation and often involves specialized equipment that not everyone has. This class aims to address both those challenges by providing an opportunity to bind a book with others in the well-equipped bookbinding facilities at NBSS. Each student will have their own bench for the two days and access to equipment and basic materials, although they should bring covering and other materials for their binding design as needed. While there will be no formal instruction provided in this class, Todd Pattison will facilitate the workshop and will be available to offer advice, guidance and any information as needed. In addition, participants will be encouraged to collaborate, share ideas, seek inspiration and generally discuss their binding concept and approach with other participants as they see fit.

Tools & Supplies: 

Student Supply List -

• Participants should bring any covering materials they would like to use (leather, parchment, cloth, marbled/decorated paper, etc)
• Any other specialized materials you would want to use on your binding

NBSS Provided -

• Binders board
• Sewing thread and supports
• Several types of blank paper for endsheets
• Thread for endbands
• Adhesives

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: Participants should have some bookbinding experience in sewing signatures and constructing a binding, but otherwise the workshop is open to all levels. If you have any questions about your experience, please contact ce@nbss.edu.

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ by the class start date 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. 

Please Note: North Bennet Street School will be undergoing exterior construction this summer, which may cause occasional noise or temporary changes to building access.

Dates: Saturday, August 22nd & Sunday, August 23rd (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Dan Weissman CF '20

Teaching Assistant: Juliana Heck CF '24

Interested in woodworking and looking for a way to get started? This introductory course is designed to give beginner students an overview of shop safety as well as some of the most common machines and hand tools used in woodworking. We work towards the completion of a small project while building basic skills and getting comfortable with machinery and working at the bench. This class is geared toward beginners looking to get a peek into woodworking. For more in-depth skill-building, check out our Fundamentals of Fine Woodworking and Fundamentals of Machine Woodworking classes. Many students choose to take Woodworking 101 before a Fundamentals class, but it is not required. 

Tools & Supplies: All 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: None

Age Requirement: Students must be 18+ by the class start date 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. 

Please Note: North Bennet Street School will be undergoing exterior construction this summer, which may cause occasional noise or temporary changes to building access.