New Creative Play Studio Promises Whimsy for Children

By Jenny Liang For local moms Emily Roper and Mallory Greubel, their studio, Lucy and Lolly’s Whimsy Workshop, is a labor of love. In this creative space, children are invited to explore their creativity, spark their curiosity, and express themselves freely in a welcoming environment. It's not just about the crafts they bring home, but the confidence and joy they discover along the way.

This summer, the studio offers single pop-up classes for children ages 18 months to 5+ years, featuring sensory play, process art, and hands-on fun. Beginning this fall, multi-week sessions and private parties will also be available.

Mallory Greubel (left) and Emily Roper have designed a vibrant, hands-on experience for children. The idea for Lucy & Lolly’s Whimsy Workshop was sparked by a beloved studio in Pittsburgh, owned by Roper’s mother.

“When I lived there, I saw firsthand how much joy it brought to families and how deeply it resonated with the community,” Roper said. “Mallory and I wanted to bring that same magic to Lake Forest, to create a space where kids can explore freely and parents feel supported in nurturing their children’s creativity.”

Drawing from that inspiration, the two moms began designing a vibrant, hands-on experience for children. Their space is filled with imaginative play areas, sensory stations, and themed art activities to spark creativity and curiosity all summer long.

“This summer, we’re kicking things off with themed pop-up classes that invite children to explore our imaginative play space,” Roper explained. “There are plenty of open-ended setups to inspire creativity. Each class includes sensory play, bins for scooping, pouring, and even some water fun, and beautiful themed process art to take home.”

Beyond their typical themed classes, Lucy and Lolly’s Whimsy Workshop will also offer classes based on children’s books.

“We'll read a story together, we'll talk about it, and then the whole class, from craft, sensory, and even some play, will be themed around the story,” Roper said.

But to these moms, why is sensory play so important?

“When little kids are getting ready to either start preschool or kindergarten, with the sensory activities, they can work on those fine motor skills like pouring, holding small objects, and creating with different types of materials,” Roper said. “They’re building their confidence through creation.”

The creative play and art studio was named after Roper’s daughter Lucy and Greubel’s daughter Elizabeth (nicknamed “Lolly” by her older brother), inventing the workshop’s alliterative name that easily rolls off the tongue. But the curated experience that the co-founders aim to offer doesn’t just pay homage to their daughters in name but also in their projects.

“Watching them play is a big inspiration for a lot of our art projects, our messy play, and our sensory manipulatives,” Greubel said. “Seeing what they're interested in and what they're drawn to is a big inspiration for what we do here and how we theme our classes.”

The co-founders also paid special attention to backing up the “whimsy” part of their name. With a wall of bright, colorful photos and balloons, adorable craft tables, and shelves full of toys from every child’s dream, Lucy and Lolly’s Whimsy Workshop invites Lake Forest children for a truly special experience.

“The workshop is magical in a sense,” Roper said. “We're trying to bring joy for kids and create something that they feel is magical. We designed our space to feel like you're stepping into this fairy-tale world.”

With Lucy and Lolly’s magical environment setting the scene for their imaginative activities, Roper and Greubel are thrilled to begin offering classes in July and start the journey of expression for so many kids.

“We are just excited to be part of the community, and we're excited to welcome people in and have them come to the space,” Greubel said. “We think it's really unique, and they won't find another location like this.”

Check out Lucy and Lolly’s Whimsy Workshop at 840 S Waukegan Road, Suite 111, Lake Forest. To learn more or book a class, visit lucylollywhimsy.com. Follow their Instagram for updates @lucyandlollys_whimsyworkshop.