After studying Illustration at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Yi Bin Liang BB '19 joined the NBSS Bookbinding program. Her artistic background is apparent in distinctively graphic and painterly bindings, pen & ink illustrations, and even the equipment she uses to ply her trade. We caught up with Yi Bin at her home studio for a laughter-filled conversation about her technique, plans for the fall, and where craft and artistry meet.

Learn how to make a petal fold book with NBSS middle school and Continuing Education instructors Colin Urbina BB '11 and Erin Fletcher BB '12. This fun shape has "petals" which are folded and glued together, and unfolds looking like a flower or an accordion. Give yours as many or as few petals as you like!

In this short video, NBSS Retail & Exhibit Manager Kristen Odle demonstrates how easy it is for anyone to quickly photograph their small-scale work. Using just a smartphone and a simple setup, she covers the basics such as lighting, setup, editing, and more.

Cabinet & Furniture Making student Kolin Schmidt CF '21 shows us around his home shop in Iowa, which his grandfather built in the late 1960s for his own hobby woodworking projects. Kolin got creative to keep woodworking when our building closed, carving spoons in his Boston apartment before deciding to head back home to Iowa, where he could take on more extensive projects. He explains that even though the shop has a few quirks and drawbacks, it's been a great space for him to get work done.

There's much work to be done right now to build a more just, inclusive, and equitable world. As we reflect on how we at NBSS can strive to be allies for positive change, we've come across some resources that promote racial and ethnic diversity in our fields. Connect with those who are already doing this work, and support the efforts of those uplifting communities.