Toddlers and their parents are invited to join us for a day of gingerbread craziness.  Christianne will tell a hilarious story about the consequences of giving a mouse a cookie, we’ll decorate our own gingerbread people and then create gingerbread-themed ornaments (complete with your child’s photograph and lots and lots of sparkles) for our trees or homes.  That’s a lot of gingerbread, you might think, but then...if you give a mouse a gingerbread cookie, chances are he’s going to ask for another somewhere down the line.

A full day to celebrate festivals of light around the world! We’ll look at holidays including the Solstice, Kwanzaa, St. Lucia, Diwali, Hanukkah and Christmas and discuss the similarities and differences between them.  Then, we’ll try our hand at some of the traditional crafts associated with the holidays we’ve studied. Bring your own string of twinkle lights, which you’ll embellish to make a unique bedroom window decoration. 

6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Ages: 9 to adult

$55 + HST

What’s better than coming in from the cold to enjoy a hot beverage?  How about if that beverage was one of your own creation poured from a pot that you designed yourself?  During this program we’ll paint our own two cup ceramic teapots and mix our own tea blend while enjoying some beautiful holiday stories.  Be warm and creative at the same time. 

O Preschoolers, O Preschoolers, how crafty are thy fingers? After sharing some of Christianne’s favourite seasonal picture books we’ll get our hands dirty creating beautiful ornaments to adorn our homes. We’ll round out the program by decorating gingerbread cookies. We can’t promise we’ll save any for parents.

6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Ages: Ages 9 to adult

$55 + HST

Create something special for someone special during this sparkly evening.  Using basic faux lead and glass ink lacquer, each participant will complete either a set of four coasters or a series of glass ornaments - unique handmade gifts that are sure to be treasured by their lucky recipients. 

Is there anything better than the warm feeling you get when you give the perfect gift?  This is something we learn, and there’s no better to introduce this to the toddler in your life. Using a series of picture books including Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear!  by Don and Audrey Wood, Christianne will take toddlers through the concept of sharing and gift giving during the holiday season. Then, putting what we’ve learned into practice, we’ll make necklaces or bracelets out of leather cord and special beads to give as gifts to relatives or friends. 

As school doors close and the holidays officially start, come share an evening of seasonal stories at the Lyceum! Christianne will share a selection of her favourites, including some lesser known books that are destined to become your favourites, too! Enjoy some cheese, crackers, oranges and holiday treats while you work together on a craft.  An evening to unwind and get into the holiday spirit as a family. 

Participants will spend the first half of this workshop writing and editing a poem. The second half will be spent using  linocut printmaking techniques to create prints to augment their poetry. The final product will be beautiful printed broadsides to share with family and friends. Those who wish may also print holiday cards.  No poetry writing or printmaking experience necessary!  Fun times with beautiful words guaranteed!

5:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Ages: 12 and up

$55 + HST

The secret recipe for Granny Blake’s toffee was brought to Canada 126 years ago by Christianne’s great grandmother, Amy. With an hour to stir, an hour to cut and an hour to wrap, there’s plenty of time to hear a story. We’ll also make our own gift containers, so we can give our completed delicacies in style. (Shhh...you also get to take home the recipe)

Add some colour to your festive table with a hand-painted wooden bowl suitable for candies or mini mandarin oranges.  The program will start with a few holiday stories to get participants in the holiday mindset. Then, we’ll talk about ways that we can symbolically represent our thoughts and incorporate these symbols into the design for our bowls. The final step will be painting and sealing the bowls themselves, a beautiful keepsake for many years to come. 

1:30 PM to 4:30 PM

Ages: 6 to 10

$45 + HST

During this workshop we’ll create our own candles, and paper lanterns. First, we’ll learn the art of candle making. While we dip, pour and roll, we’ll read stories about light during the holiday season. Using these stories as our inspiration, we’ll write our own celebrations of light to be incorporated into our painted paper lanterns. When we put it all together, our words will shine out into the winter darkness.

6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Ages: 9 and up

$55 + HST

Writers are invited to bring their best work and join us for an evening of creative book making. Take advantage of the Lyceum’s staff to polish your pieces and then work to design a book that complements your own style. Each participant will leave the workshop with five copies of their completed book that you can give as gifts this holiday season. 

The Lyceum’s latest yarn bombing project is so awesome.  We’re going to be creating knitted garden gnomes (or elves) that can be placed under the cover of darkness into your neighbour’s yard like a secret ninja Santa Clause. Depending on your knitting speed, you should be able to make two and gnomes, complete with belled hats. Knitting knowledge is an advantage for quantity, but is not necessary to participate.

6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Ages 7 and up

$45 + HST

We are going to make the most incredible gingerbread house.  And we’re going to decorate it with the most incredible candy.  Each student will make their own traditional full-sized house with real gingerbread.  No graham cracker fakes at the Lyceum. We’ll share some holiday stories and hot apple cider.  A completely delicious evening.  Please make arrangements to transport your gingerbread creation home at the end of the evening.  Participants with allergies are asked to bring their own candy.