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 29th & Sunday, August 30th (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Jennifer Pellecchia BB '19

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. 

Tools & Supplies: *Please bring a notebook and a pencil. 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. 

Dates: Saturday, September 12th & Sunday, September 13th (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. 

Tools & Supplies: *Please bring a notebook and a pencil. 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. 

Dates: Saturday, September 12th & Sunday, September 13th (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Instructor: Bill Hanscom

This two-day workshop will begin with a presentation detailing the traditional methods and materials of the Ethiopian scribe and bookbinder. Students will then construct two historical models. The first will be a basic binding with bare wooden boards demonstrating the fundamentals of the unsupported link stitch, board attachment and repair, and the construction of a ləbas (a protective cloth over-cover). The second will be a full leather binding with 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. Students will be given the opportunity to decorate their bindings as time allows.

Tools & Supplies: *There is an additional $50.00 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. 

Dates: Saturdays, September 19 - October 17 (5 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Jennifer Pellecchia BB '19

Price: $1,095 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 course will focus on hardcover structures. Students will continue with rounded back case bindings and end the course with a book with words. Throughout the course, students will fine-tune their skills through repetition and develop a focus on details such as endpaper structures and headband variations. Topics of discussion will include an overview of bindery equipment, such as stamping on the Kwikprint and trimming with the plough.

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

Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Bookbinding I or equivalent experience. If you have 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 clothing
• 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.  

Date: Sunday, October 11th

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Colin Urbina BB '11

Endbands are a classic way to add another creative flourish to a multi-signature book. In this one-day class, students will learn to make two types of endbands: the simple and functional stuck-on endband and the challenging single-core endband.

Tools & Supplies: *Students should bring an old paperback book to be altered. 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. Students will need some experience making multi-signature books and good manual dexterity to get the most out of this class. If you have 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. 

Date: Saturday, October 17th

Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Instructor: India Patel BB '24

Used to decorate books since the 16th century, paste paper is made by manipulating a mixture of paste and paint on paper. This workshop will cover the fundamental aspects of making paste paper, from making paste and mixing paints, to preparing paper and creating patterns. We will focus on two key techniques: making and using jigs to create regular patterns and modifying rollers for repeated patterns. We will reference contemporary paste papers, as well as historic examples found on book covers and endpapers. 

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 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.

Dates: Saturday, October 31st & Sunday, November 1st (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Amy Lapidow BB '95

In this class, students will learn how to construct two styles of boxes: the slipcase, a compact, 3-sided container for a book with many decorative possibilities, and a French box, a 4-sided container that can easily be made at home. Students will learn to measure so that the box will fit their books, discuss appropriate materials, assemble, and cover their boxes. 

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: No experience necessary. Previous Bookbinding 101, or Fundamentals of Bookbinding I, experience a plus. 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.