JOYFUL IMPACT 

EMILY ROPER and MALLORY GREUBEL, a former finance manager and attorney, are the area mothers behind Lucy & Lolly’s Whimsy Workshop—a bright, sensory-rich studio in Lake Forest built to ignite creativity and connection in young children. Inspired by Roper’s mother’s beloved art/play space in Pittsburgh and named for their daughters, the duo boldly stepped away from their corporate careers to bring something entirely new to the North Shore. Their combined backgrounds in business strategy, problem-solving, and organization—paired with a deep love for creativity and early childhood development—proved the perfect foundation to turn this dream into reality. Since opening in July 2025, they’ve offered thoughtfully curated play, from caregiver-and-me Playful Picassos to drop-off Messy Monets/Dazzling Da Vincis, with a mission to spark joy, imagination, and meaningful growth. As moms of six little ones combined, Roper and Greubel are deeply committed to fostering a space where every child feels safe, seen, and celebrated. Stay tuned for even more exciting news this fall as they plan to expand into seasonal workshops, birthday parties, and creative offerings for older kids.

What conversations are you passionate about bringing to the table? We’re passionate about redefining what creativity and learning look like in early childhood. We want to champion conversations around the importance of slowing down, embracing the mess, and creating environments where children feel safe to be curious, expressive, and uniquely themselves.

How do you define confidence—and how have you built it? For us, confidence is rooted in clarity of purpose, knowing why you’re doing what you’re doing, even when the path feels uncertain. We built confidence by stepping out of our comfort zones, asking questions, and learning as we went. Confidence doesn’t mean having all the answers; it means trusting yourself enough to begin anyway.

What legacy do you hope to leave behind? We hope to leave behind a legacy of joyful impact, a space where children felt seen and celebrated, where creativity flourished, and where families found community. On a deeper level, we want to show our own children, and others, that it’s possible to chase your dreams, take bold leaps, and build something beautiful and meaningful from the heart. If we’ve helped even a few kids discover the magic of their imagination and a few moms feel inspired to follow a spark of their own, that’s the kind of legacy that matters most to us.

For more information, visit lucylollywhimsy.com. You may also follow them on Instagram @lucyandlollys_whimsyworkshop.