In this class, students will learn to decorate provided cookies with royal icing. Instructor will demonstrate and explain wet-on-wet technique, outlining, and flooding. Participants will get to take home cookies that they decorate.

Students should bring a container to take cookies home.

Experience Level: Beginner

Experience the joy of the season at a Holiday Wreath Making on Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the  Mansion Carriage House.

Maggie Taylor of Delight Flower Farm will share basic wreath building and design techniques to help students craft a unique, seasonal decoration. Students will use locally-sourced supplies (fresh evergreens, berries, pine cones, tree nuts, ribbons, dried flowers, etc.) to make a beautiful holiday wreath to take home (about 20 inches in diameter).

A cash bar will be available.

$65/person. Register by Nov. 27. All sales are final.

If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu.

About the instructor

Maggie Taylor is a farm owner who has been growing flowers and leading workshops since 2011. Trained as an artist, she loves turning natural materials into objects of joy and empowering others to as well. Depending on the time of year she may be teaching about fresh flowers or winter evergreen wreaths.

Maggie’s teaching style is accessible, informative, encouraging and often humorous! Other capable farm crew members assist in teaching large groups.

Experience Level: Beginner

Take part in a delicious series with an international flavor at Wines of the World on Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Mansion Solarium.

Renowned wine educator and television personality Mike Lee will lead this delightful and delectable wine class, where he takes students on an enchanting journey through the vineyards of Europe and California. With a wealth of knowledge and passion for introducing students to tasting, talking, and understanding wine, Mike’s engaging style immerses students in the Old World.

Mike’s class is for beginners and wine lovers alike, from the refined elegance of Bordeaux to the inspiring hills of Tuscany and the bold flavors of Rioja. Each class will include tastings of 5 to 6 wines. You must be at least 21 years old to participate.

$60/person* (Ages 21+). Register by Nov. 28. All sales are final.

*Or $200/person for the entire series. Sign up for all four classes and use the promo code “WINE40” to get $40 off at checkout.

If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email Olivia Bunting at owarren@illinois.edu.

About the Instructor

Mike Lee is an accomplished wine, spirits, and beer educator with 9+ years in the alcohol industry. Having achieved the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (London) Certified Educator achievement in Wine, Lee is certified to teach levels 1 and 2 internationally. With experience with class sizes large and small, he is known for his ability to adapt to any learning environment with excellent facilitation skills.

Experience Level: Beginner

Experience the joy of the season at a Holiday Wreath Making on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the  Mansion Carriage House.

Maggie Taylor of Delight Flower Farm will share basic wreath building and design techniques to help students craft a unique, seasonal decoration. Students will use locally-sourced supplies (fresh evergreens, berries, pine cones, tree nuts, ribbons, dried flowers, etc.) to make a beautiful holiday wreath to take home (about 20 inches in diameter).

A cash bar will be available.

$65/person. Register by Nov. 28. All sales are final.

If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu.

About the instructor

Maggie Taylor is a farm owner who has been growing flowers and leading workshops since 2011. Trained as an artist, she loves turning natural materials into objects of joy and empowering others to as well. Depending on the time of year she may be teaching about fresh flowers or winter evergreen wreaths.

Maggie’s teaching style is accessible, informative, encouraging and often humorous! Other capable farm crew members assist in teaching large groups.

Experience Level: Beginner

Experience the fun of cooking together as a family at Family Pasta Night on Tuesday, Dec. 10 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the Mansion Carriage House.

In this family-friendly workshop led by Blue Dragonfly Catering owner Leah Bodine, you will learn how to make gnocchi, basic marinara, meatballs and tiramisu.

$70/family. Register by Dec. 3. All sales are final.

If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu.

About the instructor

Leah Bodine calls herself the ‘accidental chef’ with years of experience in the food industry. She started her catering company, Blue Dragonfly Catering, to express her creative mind in food preparation and cultivating recipes. She loves sharing her skills with others and seeing the fascination on students’ faces when they realize how creative they can be and how easy it is to do so.

Her experiences in the food industry have led her to live in Paris and cater for rock and country legends.

Experience Level: Beginner

No barn? No problem! Join the barn quilt movement by creating your own painted quilt block to use at your own home at Barn Quilt Painting on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Greenhouse Auditorium.

The workshop will start with a pre-primed board with a design already drafted (choose from a cardinal or poinsettia design during registration). Students will tape and paint at their own pace, choosing from a wide variety of colors.

Instructor Jane Cade will also share history of barn quilts, techniques, tips, and discuss how to properly seal your finished piece after the paint has dried for 48 hours. Leave with a 20×20″ wooden ‘quilt block’ to keep for yourself or share your talents and give someone a handmade gift.

$90/person. Register by Dec. 7. All sales are final.

If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate, please email owarren@illinois.edu.

About the Instructor

Jane Cade is a retired teacher from Clinton Junior High School. She has been painting barn quilts for eight years and sells her work online and at craft festivals. She teaches classes at Parkland Community College and will be teaching classes at her workshop beginning next year.