slovakiasteph

We had this set when I was a kid... looking at this review, I'd forgotten how nice of a design it is! Think I'll have to build it again...

That would be cool! Maybe I'll just make my own for my family next year. This year i made their crackers (okay, so they don't "pop," but you can't find nice crackers in the States) and put in a riddle, some chocolate, and a small ornament. Everyone loved them as the riddles were personalized. Anyway, back to LEGO... maybe I'll bookmark small sets I see (like the monthly model builds) and use those? P.S. The first time I heard of Christmas crackers was when watching The Good Life.

Are you talking about sets like these: Andrea at the beach as $6 sets? From the pics, I was assuming they had a person in them... I read your introductory post earlier today... welcome!

I'm undecided on this set-- don't love it, anyway. What am I going to do with a purple car?

Great review! Can't wait to get this set. I'm not sure I'll be able to build it, though... might be too difficult... because I'm a girl.

I'm unsure about this set-- while the build looks fun enough, not as fun as others. It's mostly the theme that I'm not fond of. Happy with all of these Friends reviews! Nice work! I know your reviews will always be good.

Thanks so much for this great review, Pandora! I laughed in several places. Was unsure of this set before, but this review made me want it... LEGO really should compensate reviewers as salespeople!

If you want a laptop even more inexpensively, check out this set: Olivia's desk

I picked up this set at Wal-Mart the other day for $10-- I'd seen that they had some of the new Friends sets (all of the $10 sets and the Cafe) when I was in previously but had neglected to get one, so went back purposefully to get one for me and a friend. I apologize for the pictures; not as clear as I'd like as I'm visiting friends and don't have access to my usual "lightbox" setup. We also don't have sun in Michigan. So, to compensate, an image from the LEGO website in case you're not familiar with the set: And, on to the review! Box and Instructions I like that the box is purple and not pink, anyway (a la Paradisa)! Makes me much more likely to pick it up as an AFOL and looks less like a child’s toy. The back shows the front, basic scene broken down into smaller vignettes, as well as the five Friends characters and their sets. The instructions are simple, with a few pieces added per step. Everything is detailed clearly, with no ambiguities, and each color is distinct. Toward the end we have the piece inventory. There are also a few advertisement pages showing other Friends sets. The build A very simple build. I'd read a review of Olivia's Workshop, and that set seems to have a slightly more complicated build. All I had to do here was put the drawers/cabinet together, add legs and tile tops to the table and desk, and build the eight-piece inspiration board, which is the most “complex” build. There's a step-stool as well (Emma's standing on it, but it's partly hidden behind the table in the cover image) and a round seat that I would put with the desk. Originally, the first time I built, I didn't put the purple 1x2s on the bottoms of the table legs and desk because they seemed high enough already (2 bricks high, then a plate for the tabletops and tiles on top of that). They add a bit more visual interest, but it would be nice to work at a table without having to stand on a stool, no? When I took the pictures, I added those so the set would match the original. Parts I like the pink and purple drawers, the laptop computer, MP3 player, the RULER, my favorite (which is printed, not stickered), and the translucent pink mug. There are also a few 1x2 tiles in various colors; I'm not sure what those are supposed to represent, perhaps fabric samples? Extra pieces... Minifigure Honestly, I like her and am slightly enamored. She's so cute that I had to show her to my brother (visiting over the holidays) and say "look, isn't she cute?" Cute notwithstanding, I'm not sure what I'll do with the fig since she doesn't fit with the rest of my LEGO. She was smaller than I'd expected; I guess after seeing so many close-ups of the new dolls, I didn't think she'd be so tiny! Sorry, I really couldn't get a clear (at all!) photo of just the fig. The completed model Everything comes together cleanly and the set looks nice as a whole, although it does contain five smaller builds, so for an AFOL, they were a bit unsatisfying. Adding legs onto a table doesn’t give me much pleasure as a built, and it took me perhaps five minutes. Still, there's definitely some playability here as Emma can move about the room and work on her computer, eat the giant sandwich with green filling, sort through drawers, and work at her table. Summary A cute but basic set. I think some of the other $10 sets will provide a slightly better value, but I like what this set accomplishes and like the purple and aqua pieces especially! And, just for fun... Since I've seen so many dismembered Friends figs in reviews lately, it's time for a little revenge... I'm the proud owner of a blacksmith shop! Oh no! Knight attacks! I'll just use the water wheel as a counter-attack! Knight: "It's just a flesh wound."

My dad got me MB HK set for Christmas... a little swingset. Yeah, MB definitely isn't LEGO quality, but it's cute, and I like the fence pieces in mine. And the kitty, of course. Thanks for the review!

Great idea-- every town needs a coffee house! I like the way the stage is built... looks like a typical stage in mini form!

Sigh... I think I was hoping I wouldn't like the Friends theme... my LEGO money is stretched thin as it is, and I can't get all the sets I want before they retire. This doesn't help! I think the figs are cute, although the minifigs look very odd next to the two. Not sure if I'd ditch the dolls and use the pieces in my town or keep the Friends sets separate... if I can't hold myself back, of course.

I like the variety of Christmas trees and the design of the building, as well as the colors. Very creative use of the light brick as well!

Thanks for your comments! I had a lot of fun with this build! Any other suggestions? I'm going to try to take new pictures as well if I have time... hopefully I can get some clear ones this time!

I use those Sterilite containers too-- honestly, if I had to take a lid off a box every time I needed a new piece, I'd probably give up building! And I sure wouldn't be putting pieces away! I find drawers are the easiest, and I have them arranged around my workspace on the floor so I can reach them all. I have five of the 3-drawer ones (pictured previously) and three of the 5-drawer ones. That works great for me, although I suspect if I ever disassemble my Slovak town, all the pieces won't fit in the space I have...

Thanks for your responses, everyone! HighFlyer, do you have any suggestions on how I can spruce up the interior a bit and still keep a rustic feel?

B-OV-24E This was inspired by the park near my parents' house-- there's a chalet open there in the winter, and they have an ice-skating pond, cross-country ski trails, a sledding hill, and a toboggan run. Originally I wanted to make the toboggan run, but it would have been structurally unsound. Since I'm from Michigan, outdoor sports are practically a lifestyle... we even have people there who like snow! So, my winter chalet! The entire scene Just the chalet... with a sledding hill off to the left Inside... a big fireplace, recycled wagon wheel light, hot chocolate, and a seating area where you can watch the sledders! The sleigh... And, the horses' stable with a holly and ivy strand. There's a saddle over the fence and two buckets: one for grain, one for water Link to brickshelf gallery. (Sorry, I haven't been able to get good clear pictures lately... not sure if it's my camera or what. It's even sunny today!)

I've heard of yellow snow, but blue snow? I think the snow sculpture is my favorite part! I've seen quite a few of those and yours represents them well. The details on the building give it a realistic and interesting look.

Very nice, I like this a lot-- especially the tree upstairs! Imagine driving past this house at night and seeing that. I was wondering, though, why they need windows? It does break up the walls a bit, but no windows upstairs?

Well, I worked on an entry for an hour last night... am liking the way it's shaping up.

Rather tricky? Rather impossible for me... I can get one in the peg, but not the other three. I might very well have a roofless gazebo! On a positive side, I came back to find your review because I figured you would have something to say and I thought maybe I was doing it incorrectly. Good review! I won this set from TLG's winter design contest and have been putting it together the past few days. Not a set I'd recommend for the beginner LEGO builder, however, even if they're an adult.

No, I wouldn't buy a car from that guy! Look at that face! I was wondering... why did you use trans tiles for the gumballs... and not opaque? They would show up better, anyway, and I think gumballs are usually solid colors.

They all look nice! I like the roof on the corner building especially. As for the tan house, I think the middle story/floor looks a bit plain... even something small like window flower boxes would spice it up a bit! This is something I struggle with too-- I don't like the look of something, but not sure why. Sometimes you just get tired of fiddling with them.

B-RV-12D Okay, you've convinced me... I'll try to take some pictures of my town tomorrow. It's supposed to be sunny. In the meantime... another country house. Originally I just had the house, then added a little greenery outside-- it looks much better that way! The bottom floor has a mini kitchen (two hobs in the back that blend in with the wall), table and chairs, and a bench for the living room area. Upstairs, a bed and two nightstands. Any ideas for anything I could add up there? I do like the simplicity, and don't want to throw off the balance. It just looks a bit plain.