Dates: Monday, August 18 - Friday, August 22 (5 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Samuel Feinstein BB '12

Books generally have titles. In this week-long intensive, students will learn to title their books by hand in several different ways. We will title books using brass type in type-holders, historical style with handle letters intentionally misaligned, and aligned titling with handle letters, on spines and flat surfaces--done in blind, in gold, and with pigmented foil. We will discuss type, layout, and the ideas behind the many styles of titling. This workshop is for the novice or the practitioner who wants to extend their hands to be able to title with them.

Tools & Supplies: *There is an additional $175 fee for tools and materials due to the instructor on the first day of class. The instructor accepts cash, check, Venmo, or PayPal. 

Preprequisite: None

Dates: Wednesday, August 20th to Thursday, August 21st (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Fox Maasch

Teaching Assistant: Laura Kraegel BB '25

In association with Chena River Marblers, this step-by-step acrylic paper marbling class will be taught in the St.John/Chena River Marblers method and is ideal for beginners but also includes innovations to challenge experienced marblers. Students will be introduced to a wide range of marbling patterns and techniques, both traditional and contemporary. Depart happy, with many marbled papers in a spectacular array of patterns and colors.

Tools & Supplies: All tools and supplies are provided for this class. We do recommend bringing an apron and an old towel.

Attire: Please wear shoes that are comfortable for standing in (and that you don't mind getting wet!). Clothes may get paint on them, so please dress accordingly.

Prerequisite: None

Dates: Saturday, August 23rd & Sunday, August 24th (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Ariana Rutledge BB '22

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. 

Prerequisite: None

Dates: Saturday, August 23rd & Sunday, August 24th (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: James Reid-Cunningham BB '90

Sewing creates the foundation for bookbinding. In this workshop, participants will execute four historic sewing structures dating from the 11th to the 20th centuries: herringbone sewing on split thongs, packed sewing on double-raised cords, sewing on single-raised cords, and sewing on single-sawn-in cords.

Tools & Supplies: Please bring the following items to class.

• Bone folder
• Scissors
• Olfa or Exacto knife
• Straight and curved needles

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

Date: Saturday, August 23rd

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Willow Coronella JM '20

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

Dates: Saturday, August 30th & Sunday, August 31st (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Charles Thompson

Teaching Assistant: Haniel Wides CF '24

Participants will learn the basics of staked furniture by way of making their own three-legged stool with hand tools. We’ll learn how to make tapered chair legs, either by hand plane or draw knife. Then, we’ll figure out seat layout, and splay angles, and discuss what those mean in relation to design and function. Lastly, we’ll saddle a seat and join them to the legs with a tapered mortise and tenon joint.

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

Dates: Saturday, August 30th & Sunday, August 31st (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Dan Weissman CF '20

Teaching Assistant: Alana Schwartz CF '25

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 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

Dates: Monday, September 15 - Tuesday, December 16
*Monday - Friday schedule / Class does not meet on holidays, at night, or on weekends
No Class: September 23rd, October 2nd and 13th, November 11th, 27th, and 28th

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Eli Cleveland CF '09
*With additional guest instructors

Overview: Build a solid foundation in the most essential woodworking skills with this in-depth, comprehensive furniture-making course designed for both beginners and those looking to build expertise. This intensive class will guide you from basic hand and machine skills to advanced techniques in furniture making. Through a series of demonstrations and exercises, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to build most tables and case pieces. Complete a number of small projects before moving on to building a shaker nightstand and a cabinet on stand. This class is suitable for beginners to lifelong, enthusiastic hobbyists and everyone in between. For those who wish to apply to one of our Career Training programs and who don’t have much prior woodworking experience, this course provides prerequisite skill-building. 

These major topics are covered throughout the course: 

• ​Tool sharpening (flat-edge tools)
• Hand tools skills and development
• Joinery (various mortise and tenon & dovetail joints as well as compound joinery)
• Machine room safety, machine set-up, and procedures
• Lumberyard trip (measuring for and selecting the correct lumber for a project)
• Turning (spindle and faceplate)
• Veneering
• Case and table construction
• Finishing

Tools & Supplies: Please bring the items on this supply list to the first day of class. Need an item? Our NBSS Store/Gallery carries dozens of tools and supplies in addition to NBSS branded items and handmade goods. You may make purchases online, in person (Monday- Thursday 7:30 am - 2:00 pm), or via email at store@nbss.edu. Tool orders must be made via email or over the phone.

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

Technical Standards:  Though this is an introductory course, the nature and length of the instruction require that students meet these Technical Standards. For any questions about your ability to meet these standards, please contact ce@nbss.edu.

Prerequisite:  None

Veterans: Qualifying veterans may use VA benefits, including the Post 9/11 GI Bill® or Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) benefits, to cover the tuition for this course. Withdrawal from the course may impact VA housing benefits for those receiving them. To express interest in using VA benefits for the Three-Month Furniture Making Intensive please send an email to ce@nbss.edu including the following information. 

• Full Name
• Address
• Phone #
• Email Address
• A current Certificate of Eligibility / Apply for your benefits here: https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/

Price: $9,612 is the full cost of the class. A $950 non-refundable, non-transferable deposit is due at the time of registration. Students will have the option to pay in full or pay over time with a payment plan when registering for the program. The payment plan available will be listed at the bottom of the class listing. Note: General Registration and Cancellation Policies do not apply to this class. View more details on our CE FAQs page.