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North Bennet Street School

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Book Arts

Fundamentals of Bookbinding II

$1,094

with Jennifer Pellecchia BB '19

Calendar Jun 1, 2025 at 8:30 am, runs for 5 weeks

Dates: Sundays, June 1-29 (5 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Jennifer Pellecchia BB '19

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 are provided for this class.

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

Full Course

Bookbinding 101

$297

with Amy Lapidow BB '95

Calendar Jun 14, 2025 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Dates: Saturday, June 14th & Sunday, June 15th (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. 

Prerequisite: None

Full Course

Italian Paper Bindings

$245

with Bill Hanscom

Calendar Jun 14, 2025 at 9 am, runs for 1 week

Date: Saturday, June 14th

Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Instructor: Bill Hanscom

Explore the history and use of inexpensive paper-covered book structures beginning at the advent of the printed book in Europe and continuing through the industrial revolution of the nineteenth century. During this one-day workshop, participants will create two models of bindings commonly used in the Italian region: a plain paper wrapper and a laced paper case. Models will incorporate handmade papers as well as historically employed sewing techniques and end-sheet constructions. Structural variations and decoration will be examined through images and historical examples from the instructor's collection.

Tools & Supplies: *There is an additional $20 materials fee due to the instructor on the first day of class. The instructor accepts cash, checks, or Venmo. All tools are provided for this class.

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

Marbling with Acrylics: Simply Stone and the Ethereal Shell

$517

with Chena River Marblers

Calendar Jun 21, 2025 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Dates: Saturday, June 21st & Sunday, June 22nd (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Chena River Marblers

Teaching Assistant: TBA

The simple marbled stone pattern is named for its resemblance to a mass of small, smooth pebbles. It has been universally popular with bookbinders for over 350 years.  In this workshop, students will learn how to prepare paints especially for this style of marbling, as well as how to make and prepare paints for the much-loved classical shell stone pattern, which is distinguished by the ethereal halos around each stone.  These basic stone and shell patterns explode into a dazzling array of possibilities. We will explore and discover together as many of these variations as time allows.  

Tools & Supplies: *There is an additional $65 fee for tools and materials due to the instructor on the first day of class. The instructor accepts cash, check, or credit card. All other tools and supplies will be provided. 

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 or bring an apron. 

Prerequisite: Beginner Paper Marbling or equivalent experience. If you have questions about your experience, please contact ce@nbss.edu

Full Course

Marbling with Acrylics: Practice Makes Perfect

$715

with Chena River Marblers

Calendar Jun 24, 2025 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Dates: Tuesday, June 24 - Thursday, June 26 (3 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Chena River Marblers

Teaching Assistant: Chris Aharonian

This workshop offers you the chance to practice and move toward the mastery of marbling patterns and techniques with which you would like more time and guidance. This is a no-rush workshop with a relaxed tempo, allowing for multiple attempts at refining a pattern. Students are encouraged to bring samples of papers that have caused them difficulty or images of patterns they aspire to learn.

For those concerned about the details of setting up a workable marbling situation at home, a thorough, hands-on review of paint, paper, and size preparation will be offered.

Tools & Supplies: *There is an additional $85 fee for tools and materials due to the instructor on the first day of class. The instructor accepts cash, check, or credit card. All other tools and supplies will be provided. 

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 or bring an apron. 

Prerequisite: Beginner Paper Marbling or equivalent experience. If you have questions about your experience, please contact ce@nbss.edu. 

Full Course

Marbling with Acrylics: Miniature Marbling

$517

with Chena River Marblers

Calendar Jun 28, 2025 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Dates: Saturday, June 28th & Sunday, June 29th (2 meetings)

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Chena River Marblers

Teaching Assistant: Chris Aharonian

This is a workshop, new to us, and only for those with marbling skills. We work on half-size professional marbling tanks and begin work by learning how to make well-crafted small, marbled patterns. Finer, more delicate tools are then introduced requiring steady hands and patience. Students will learn the idiosyncrasies of working with very fine precision tools and that smaller does not mean easier. With perseverance, the rewards can be great. We know there will be some of you who will especially love this challenge.

Tools & Supplies: *There is an additional $65 fee for tools and materials due to the instructor on the first day of class. The instructor accepts cash, check, or credit card. All other tools and supplies will be provided. 

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 or bring an apron. 

Prerequisite: Beginner Paper Marbling or equivalent experience. If you have questions about your experience, please contact ce@nbss.edu. 

Full Course

Introduction to Tunnel Books

$245

with Ariana Rutledge BB '22

Calendar Jun 28, 2025 at 9 am, runs for 1 week

Date: Saturday, June 28th

Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Instructor: Ariana Rutledge BB '22

In this workshop, students will learn a few different approaches to constructing accordion-style tunnel books. A tunnel book is a handmade book where the pages work together to create a dimensional scene that gives the illusion of depth and perspective. Students will be presented with a few different images/themes to choose from in creating their tunnel book models and will leave the class with a new bookbinding method and lots of inspiration for their own artist books. 

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

Prerequisite: None

Full Course

Bookbinding 101

$297

with Amy Lapidow BB '95

Calendar Jul 12, 2025 at 8:30 am, runs for 1 week

Dates: Saturday, July 12th & Sunday, July 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. 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

Full Course




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