Lynda Jones:
Gingerbread House Workshops

Tradition!
December is here! And with it comes that familiar whirlwind of holiday gatherings, cooking, shopping, and scrambling to get everything done. And yet, in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, there are always those little things that tend to remind us of seasons past. They pull us away from the busyness and direct our focus on what's truly important. They are our traditions, the parts of the holiday season that we look forward to with the most anticipation. Whether it's that annual trek to cut down your very own Christmas tree or the one recipe that you wait the entire year to make, traditions remain the things that help to shape our memories.

Gingerbread Geniuses
Rossi Studios' employee Lynda Jones definitely has her fair share of noteworthy holiday traditions. If asked to list them, she might mention her "world-famous" scones, which she bakes each year for friends and family. Or she might tell you about the unique and special gifts that she carefully creates each Christmas for her three sisters. However, one of Lynda's all-time favorites remains the annual Gingerbread House Workshops that she teaches at Wood Memorial Library in South Windsor, CT. Every year, a crew of shining little faces, some first-timers and some "veterans," gathers to learn the art of making gingerbread houses. Some children arrive with very specific plans, knowing exactly how they intend to carry out the construction of their houses. Others are more spontaneous, allowing the gumdrops and licorice to serve as inspiration throughout the creative process. But regardless of the method, each child leaves with a unique masterpiece of gingerbread and candy.

Adding a Little Rossi Style
Every year, the Gingerbread House Workshops help to ring in the holidays with a special sort of magic and cheer. This year, Lynda added the whimsy of Rossi Studios to the mix. Before the young "builders" began to create their houses, Lynda handed each of them a pewter Karen Rossi angel pin and told them that it could be used to decorate their gingerbread house. Excitement filled the room as they marveled over such a neat surprise. They chattered about the special "little fairies" that they now held in their hands.

As the decorating process started, some kids chose to place the angel pin on top of the house, giving it a position of honor among the M&Ms and pretzel sticks. Others seemed almost fearful to allow the shiny treasure to get anywhere near the sticky white frosting (or "cement," as they call it). Still others pinned them to their shirts, waiting for the right moment to add them to the gingerbread houses. Yet, in every case, the children found the perfect way to add a bit of Rossi style to their own artistic creations.

Creative Minds at Work
Anyone who's ever attended one of Lynda’s workshops has left with a greater knowledge of the joys of gingerbread house decorating. However, Lynda is quick to point out that she learns quite a bit from the children as well. She often watches in awe as the kids fearlessly set out to create the most magnificent houses their minds can dream up. Where adults might meticulously plan out the perfect design, kids avoid over-thinking things by just diving in with extraordinary enthusiasm.

Lynda says that "the imagination that goes into [these houses] is incredible!" And, she's certainly the one who would know. After more than ten years of teaching the workshops, Lynda has seen hundreds of amazing gingerbread creations. And, with each house that's created, what she loves seeing most are the faces of her students as they fill with pride. That is, without a doubt, her favorite part of the job: watching young artists at work and helping them to embrace their incredible imaginations.