Ornament workshop kicks off the holidays in Lakewood Ranch

By Lesley Dwyer
| 1:15 p.m. November 30, 2024

Lakewood Ranch's Pam Hazelwood shows off her ornament in progress.

East County
Neighbors

Sarasota’s Pam Shoosmith wanted to start off the holidays as if she was in a Hallmark movie, so Shoosmith grabbed a table at The Grove with her mom and two friends for A Very Merry Ornament Workshop on Nov. 30.

“We wanted some friend time,” Shoosmith said, “We’ve been watching lots of Hallmark movies, so we felt like this was an activity they would do on the Hallmark channel.”

Arts A Blaze Studio hosted the workshop. After the ornaments were painted, owner Joann Kavanaugh took them back to the studio to fire them and they would be ready to be picked up in one week.

There will be plenty of ornaments to be picked up. Among those attending the event were Marissa Ianetta, Lauren Fitzgerald and Yvette Korral, who went to McIntosh Middle School together. Each year Ianetta visits her friends in the area from Georgia and they always look for something fun to do.

They not only picked the A Very Merry Ornament event, but they brought nine kids to the workshop with them.

“We wanted to give their mamas a little break,” Fitzgerald said.

Sarasota's Pam Shoosmith is on the left with her mom Lilyan Shoosmith, and Lakewood Ranch's Julie Stephenson and Pam Hazelwood are on the right. The friends are using the lights on their phones to make their painting more precise.

Bradenton's Lilyan Shoosmith paints a reindeer ornament.

Marissa Ianetta, Lauren Fitzgerald and Yvette Korral bring their kids and their friends' kids to A Very Merry Ornament Workshop at The Grove on Nov. 30.

Bradenton's Emma Hamper, 6, is working on a snowflake.

Bradenton's Noah Hamper, 9, is painting a penguin ornament.

Jioia Ianetta, 1, is visiting her grandparents in Lakewood Ranch from Georgia.

Leila Freeman, 1, is on the run. Veda Krolik, Autumn Bryan and Rhea Krolik chase after her.

Jani Storbeck lives in Tennessee now, but she still comes home to Lakewood Ranch for the holidays.

Arts A Blaze Studio hosted an ornament painting workshop at The Grove on Nov. 30.

Rhea Krolik, Autumn Bryan and Mila Hoort show off their freshly painted Christmas ornaments.

author

Lesley Dwyer

Lesley Dwyer is a staff writer for East County and a graduate of the University of South Florida. After earning a bachelor’s degree in professional and technical writing, she freelanced for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Lesley has lived in the Sarasota area for over 25 years.