It's All About the Box with Claudia Lee
March 15-18, 2027
Aya Fiber Studio | Stuart FL
Claudia Lee | Studio Artist, Designer, Consultant, Author and Instructor Working in Handmade Paper
A two-time recipient of a Master’s Grant from The Tennessee Arts Commission, she was chosen to design and create the 2011 Governor’s Arts Awards. Her work has been published in more than 30 books and journals, and she is the author of Papermaking from Lark Books.
Her work can be found in many private and public collections including The Collection of The Tennessee Arts Commission, The Arrowmont School of Craft, The Southern Highland Guild, The Wilson Collection at the Nashville Public Library and the James Walker Library Special Collections at Middle Tennessee State University.
Liberty Paper is located in middle Tennessee on the site of an old farm surrounded by woods and mountains. The studio is a working and teaching facility where individuals and groups can come to work and study independently or in organized classes.
Technical support is available for those who wish to use a fully equipped paper studio for special projects.
A box is more than a container—it can become a canvas, a sculpture, a keepsake, or a vessel for treasured objects and ideas.
Join mixed media artist Claudia Lee for four days of exploration into the art of handcrafted box making. Designed for artists, paper enthusiasts, book artists, stitchers, and mixed media makers, this workshop focuses on creating strong, beautiful box forms while giving you the skills and confidence to design your own structures long after the class ends.
Claudia began making boxes as a way to move her work beyond the flat surface. Drawn to the sculptural possibilities of form, she developed methods that are both practical and versatile, allowing artists to create custom boxes without relying on commercial patterns or complicated engineering.
Throughout the workshop, students will learn Claudia's straightforward approach to designing reusable templates that can be adapted to any size or purpose. Working with both handmade and commercial papers, participants will construct durable box forms while learning professional techniques for measuring, cutting, assembling, and covering structures.
Once the foundations are built, the creative possibilities begin. Box forms offer generous surfaces for collage, hand stitching, found objects, decorative papers, and mixed media embellishment. Whether your goal is a functional keepsake box, an artist's book container, or a sculptural artwork, you'll leave with a framework for creating boxes uniquely your own.
Students new to stitching on paper will discover an entirely new surface for needle and thread. Claudia's approach combines structure, craftsmanship, and artistic expression, resulting in work that is both practical and beautifully personal.
In This Workshop You'll Learn
How to design reusable box patterns to your own specifications
Techniques for constructing strong, durable box forms
Working with handmade and commercial papers
Measuring, cutting, and assembling custom structures
Methods for covering and finishing box surfaces
Stitching on paper techniques
Ideas for incorporating collage, found objects, and mixed media elements
Approaches for transforming functional containers into sculptural artworks
Who Should Attend
This workshop is suitable for paper artists, book artists, mixed media makers, fiber artists, collage artists, and anyone interested in creating beautiful handmade structures. No prior box-making experience is required.
Leave with completed box projects, reusable patterns, and the confidence to continue designing your own custom forms for future artwork.
-
Students will learn Claudia Lee's practical approach to designing and constructing custom box forms using both handmade and commercial papers. The workshop covers pattern development, measuring, cutting, assembly, covering techniques, and structural reinforcement. Participants will leave with reusable templates and the skills needed to create boxes in virtually any size or format.
-
A handcrafted box can be much more than a container. Box forms provide a sculptural foundation for mixed media work, artist books, collage, stitching, found objects, and personal collections. They can function as art objects, presentation pieces, storage vessels, or meaningful gifts.
-
Absolutely. Claudia incorporates stitching into many of her box and paper constructions. If you've never stitched on paper before, you'll discover how thread can add texture, detail, and visual interest to paper surfaces. Many students find paper stitching surprisingly enjoyable and addictive.
-
Students will work with a variety of handmade and commercial papers while learning techniques that create strong, durable forms. Additional materials may include bookbinding and box-making supplies, collage elements, decorative papers, and stitching materials.
-
Yes. Beginners are welcome, and no prior experience in box making is required. Claudia's teaching style emphasizes straightforward techniques and clear construction methods. More experienced artists will appreciate the opportunity to develop custom structures and expand their mixed media practice.
-
The techniques learned in this workshop can be adapted to create keepsake boxes, artist book containers, presentation boxes, mixed media sculptures, memory boxes, textile storage pieces, and unique works of art. The reusable patterns and construction methods provide a foundation for countless future projects.
Who Is This Workshop For?
This workshop is ideal for paper artists, book artists, fiber artists, mixed media makers, collage artists, journal makers, and anyone interested in creating sculptural forms. It is especially valuable for artists looking to move beyond two-dimensional work and explore structure and form.
Build Beyond the Surface
Discover the satisfaction of transforming paper into sculptural forms while learning skills you'll use for years to come.