The Book Arts Guild presents 2 workshops by Rhiannon Alpers
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
August 15, 2026, 10am-5pm: “Shaped Boxes & Curious Containers”
August 16, 2026, 2pm-6pm: “Playful Paper Boxes”
Location: Artworks, 200 Dayton St., Edmonds, WA
Register for a weekend of box making with Rhiannon Alpers. We are holding 2 in-person box-making workshops. You can take one or both of these workshops. Receive a discount when you sign-up for both.
Shaped Boxes & Curious Containers: Boxes come in all shapes and sizes — with lids, curves, compartments, and drawers. Unusual artist books and bound treasures often call for equally inventive housing, and this playful one-day workshop explores creative approaches to box-making for book and paper artists.
Together, we’ll investigate the math, materials, and construction techniques behind three styles of boxes: circular, freeform, and lidded containers. As we build sturdy shaped structures and cover them with decorative papers, we’ll also explore dividers, drawers, pulls, and simple ways to expand and innovate from foundational forms.
This workshop is ideal for students with some experience in bookbinding, measuring, or basic box-making who are ready to build confidence and refine their skills. Best suited for advanced beginners to intermediate makers.
Playful Paper Boxes: Paper boxes are the stuff magical packaging is made of — unfolding into endless shapes, compartments, and tiny treasures. In this playful introductory workshop, students will build a collection of small paper boxes from vibrant pre-cut templates while learning the tricks, techniques, and possibilities behind transforming simple forms into functional and imaginative containers.
Working with heavyweight paper and cardstock templates, we’ll explore a variety of box styles including matchboxes, circular boxes, square forms, slipcases, cake boxes, and several unexpected shapes. Along the way, students will learn about materials, basic structural considerations, and clever methods for creating sturdy, functional, and beautiful constructions. We’ll also experiment with simple dividers and modifications so participants can begin customizing and expanding from these foundational forms.
Students will leave with a collection of finished boxes, reusable templates, and plenty of ideas for future experimentation.
Rhiannon Alpers is a papermaker, letterpress printer, and book artist based in Portland, Oregon. She holds both a BA and an MFA in Book and Paper Arts, with 25 years of experience as an educator and commercial printer/bookbinder. She has exhibited nationally and internationally. Her editioned artist book work is held in the collections of the Library of Congress, Yale, Stanford, Berkeley, and Cornell University, Cynthia Sears Artist's Books Collection (BIMA), Oxford and Rijksmuseum Research Library, among others. Her limited edition and one-of-a-kind artist books are published under the Gazelle and Goat Press imprint. More information about her work is available at rhiannonalpers.com.
Registration:
Registration for these 2 classes is now open. Complete the registration form and send it to Jean Wyatt at admin@bookartsguild.org
The registration fee is discounted for members and additionally for taking both workshops. Registration for non-members includes the 2026 membership fee.
Registration price includes supplies. Skill level is beginner to intermediate for both workshops. Participants will receive an email confirmation and list of tools to bring to the class, location information, etc.
Questions: Please contact Jean Wyatt (admin@bookartsguild.org
