Utterly amazing representation of Helm’s Deep from Lord of the Rings by Daniel Z “DNL”
We have a couple smaller sets built, or in process, to add to all the other castles we have (Harry Potter, etc.) but nothing nearly this evocative and wonderful. Take a stroll through Daniel Z’s photostream on Flickr. He’s done some absolutely amazing builds!
(Shout out to Eric for forwarding this amazing find – took long enough for me to post, huh?) 😉
I’m a bit late in responding to the LEGO® Friends line. I have mixed feelings. I played with LEGO® as a child, had the cool wheels set and the standard bricks.
I’m sure they did a lot of research (hopefully?) and even focus groups before launching this line. But… we already have DUPLO® for oversized “people”. We even have a Dora at home (my son wanted something from the set and Dora was… “okay”). 😉
What I don’t get is, why do these figures have to be so different from the basic minifig? The storm troopers and other special minifigs are just great. Having sets that would be interchangeable with and able to take advantage of the supposed “boys” sets would be so cool. A number of studies show that girls develop fine motor skills earlier than boys (boys get the avantage in gross motor skills instead – running, climbing). So, why do the girls LEGO® figures need to be bigger, smoother (rounder?), DIFFERENT than the entire minifig universe already in existence?
I really like the geisha, viking and other female minifigs they’ve been releasing in the random packs (go ahead and feel every package to see if you can find the unique weapon, hat, specialty item for the one you really, really want. lol).
Don’t get me wrong, I still like some princesses. I just find it sad that LEGO® has decided to reinforce stereotypes with fashion trendy, stylized sets that don’t mesh well with the existing sets. I’m definitely for more female characters, stuff that girls can look at and want to play with. But, I want it to go with the sets I already enjoy building and playing with with my son.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/lego-is-for-girls-12142011.html
I’m definitely the wrong target audience for these sets. They look chunky, clunky – far less detailed and just garish in color (how amusing is it that some people wanted these sets to get the color to do Perry the Platypus?). Then again, I find that I seek the middle ground in the toy universe in general. Not particularly caring for the ultra-militaristic for boys or the ultra-princessy for girls. To each their own I suppose.
As my ever reliable source for finding cool things LEGO® put in the email he sent… “uh oh…..”
Make: LEGO and Arduino Projects
What’s not to like about THIS combination?
We love creating with our bricks and we’re itching to get going on Arduino projects. What a great mix!
Check out all the cool Arduino stuff at one of our favorite places to shop – Adafruit
Another great RSS find by my favorite fellow LEGO® aficionado. Well done chalk paintings are amazing in their own right… but combined with LEGO®. Just wicked!
Lego Army Invades Chalk Festival - chalk painting designed by Leon Keer
Read more about it over at boingboing
Okay, I’m a Star Wars addict, people who know me well know this. I admit it. And a LEGO® addict too, people who don’t know me well know this! This is just way too cute.
Toddler Trooper
With lots more fun at Kalexanderson’s photostream over at Flickr. Have a look. 🙂
Thanks to aquadan for another wicked find.
DIY goodness in brick form can be found over at instructables.
LeGummies brick shaped gummy candies
What a great potential end of Summer, before they have to trudge back to school, project to do with your kids even!
This is the neat thing about LEGO®, the ability to redesign and reuse the pieces to create something else. Take a look at Tyler Neylon’s use of 50 (well, as he says, 58 actually) pieces.
50 Designs with 50 Pieces
And Klementina Kos has a great design sense (and I want her bins of bricks!).
Check out this article over at Fast Company. Some really great stuff going on out there at the Google Science Fair.
Well, where there is dark & evil there has to be light & good, right? More LOTR for your enjoyment.
David Kaleta's Rivendell. Elrond should be quite pleased. Click the pic to see his Flickr stream for more detail.
