LegoMyMamma

Oh, the petition part of my comment is meant for anyone reading; I initially came to the thread to see if anyone had mentioned it. I thought Paganomation's reveal of what misleading information the e-mailing included might be of interest to anyone following this thread. I just included all my thoughts into one post. I never implied you signed their petition. When I first saw images of the sets, I merely thought of them as another option. Any strong defending on my part is mainly in response to their "campaign" of spreading false information & images. It's interesting that comes across as me being a "Friends lover" when I didn't think I would actually buy any sets. I was curious about the new mini-dolls (plus there are a few new colors & pieces I wanted) so I did buy some -- here's my first MOC of Friends: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=64716 Knowing how seriously TLG takes research/focus groups, the portrayal of them taking the easy way out and just making this a dumbed-down version for girls -- which is claimed by the campaigners -- compelled me to speak up online. I'm certainly not intending to quash any criticism based on facts -- which is why I added the link to the inside images of the new magazine to the thread. To buy or not is simple. Yet, each person's interpretation of the marketing of Friends most likely depends on many geo-sociological factors. Like I said, I agree, there should have been an opt-in for the magazine. Maybe a sample sent along with the standard club magazine would have been better. That way, if the receiver isn't interested, they can either file it or give it to someone they think may be To: Hikaro Takyama, Yes, I served in the military too and I do agree TLG realizes their tactics. Have you seen this? http://aboutus.lego.com/en-US/PressRoom/CorporateNews/article/393912.aspx It will be lovely when this is no longer a controversy -- I wonder what the next one will be

Thanks for reviewing this set! My favorite bits are the new newspaper brick (it's printed, not a sticker, right?) and Batman's wings. So the cowl (hat) doesn't come in the set? Also, I like your photo of Poison Ivy -- my personal favorite villain

Hi def, while I agree that TLG should have offered an "opt-in" subscription to this (how do they even know subscribers are girls, do parents indicated it somewhere when ordering club magazine, or is it by name -- which could be tricky for all the gender-neutral named kids). I highly doubt the club magazine that has been published for years will simply never have another photo of a girl & her creation in it. If someone phoned S@H to get that reply -- I'll wait and get more correct source. This post shows the inside pages of that particular issue: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=53012&view=findpost&p=1169395 The goal of Friends is to get more girls building with LEGO. If it isn't of interest to your daughter who already owns LEGO bricks, then just opt-out. Maybe she can give this issue to a real life friend. TLG will certainly send her the "Max" club magazine she didn't receive due to this launch of the new theme Friends. They are cool like that If you can set aside your frustration a bit, the Friends subsite has a Quiz to help a kid match up her interests with one of the new mini-dolls. The Quiz has a pop-up of 2 images from which kids can select their general preference for, an example: riding a bike or reading a book; painting or kicking a soccer ball, etc., etc., since I don't want to spoil the fun I think it's fine for fans to mail paper letters of their own opinion to TLG in regard to Friends. However, the change.dot.org petition electronically sends e-mails to 4 TLG execs on behalf of the mostly hoodwinked signers. As of today, that's 45k people (45k e-mails to the 4 TLG execs) out of the 5 million members which change.dot.org sent a mailing to on behalf of the petition creators (one of them has already admitted to not owning or playing with LEGO as a kid due to its assembly required). Here is what that e-mail said, including false information, which members don't even have to verify -- they can just 'click-through' and electronically 'sign' therefore, another e-mail sent: http://www.paganomation.com/2012/01/the-ongoing-lego-friends-controversy/ Let's think of how much the fan community has asked to be heard: about colors, boxes, themes, bulk bricks, etc., and now we have Ambassadors, surveys, and established ways to send category-specific e-mails. Well, these young women just cut in line in front of you! Personally, I'd rather the TLG execs be busy with real LEGO issues for real LEGO fans. You know, the fans who actually buy LEGO, like you & me

Your Dojo is wonderful! You cared enough to build a beautiful backdrop for your action -- the Shoji screens are

Both Targets I went to have them also on the endcap next to the "construction toy aisle" here's a pic: The mini-dolls are so small and easy to hold & pose. The hair-pieces are also very easy to handle and have a great soft, malleable feel There's also a new camera style in some sets.

To: Leela, Thanks for liking my chair design. Funny about thinking of a coffin -- I'll need to get more wood To: Redhead1982, Also, thanks for enjoying the chair design. I think Friends sets are an asset to any MOCer! To: SilvaShado, Glad you appreciate the cross-integration of pieces from other sets in Friends sets & vice-versa. To: AndyC, Olivia's rocking chair is definitely not going into your basement Thanks for your kind comments! To: lightningtiger, Thanks for taking the time to look at my MOC. I only put 4 pictures here on EB, however if you have some time to see more on Flickr, you can see it's a hand-held circular saw Olivia is using: The placement of the hand-saw on the pictures here on EB is in its holder on the side of that work-table. I would like to make a radial-arm saw some time though; I will have to get out some pins for making it pivot and adjust for angled cuts. I will make sure the blade is perpendicular to the wood piece As for other tools/machines you mentioned, there actually is a drill-press in her woodshop -- can you see it? I would like to make a table (bench) circular saw at some point in time too. This vignette didn't have room for a planer. If I make one, I'll be sure to give Olivia ear defenders. As for a lathe, am not sure, I never used it as much as these other machines. I guess I'm kinda square that way. The machine I will be tackling to make next is a band saw, or possibly a jigsaw. It takes time to create something with so many moving parts like those to be size-ratio compatible to minifig (or mini-doll) scale. Friends sets are a good addition in color and elements (the table ruler is from Emma's design studio). The vice-grip is my favorite part of the set -- it's actually what inspired me to re-create a woodshop like ones I've used to build wood furniture for my home. That's actually how she got that classic minifig head -- tighten, pull, and "pop" it came off Thanks for also for liking my rocker -- and motivating me to build more machines!

B-OV-20E Welcome to Olivia's Woodshop! Welcome to Olivia's woodshop by LegoMyMamma, on Flickr Olivia is busy building something for a friend. Can you guess what it is? Olivia using a glue gun on the rocker by LegoMyMamma, on Flickr The blue bricks in Olivia's Inventor's Workshop set are a great color for an accent wall. The ruler from Emma's Design Studio comes in handy for the woodshop work table -- remember, measure twice, cut once! Olivia sitting on rocking chair she built by LegoMyMamma, on Flickr Olivia sits easily on the rocker she built. Olivia busy in her woodshop by LegoMyMamma, on Flickr Full side view of her wood-shop. (Photo added for clarification Jan 13) Olivia's woodshop - classic MiniFig head size comparison by LegoMyMamma, on Flickr These sets integrate so well with other System bricks ~ the wood-grain printed tiles help her Woodshop seem even more realistic. Gosh, that classic yellow MiniFig head is almost as big as she is While opening this set, I was first amazed at how small the mini-dolls are in real life. I love them. They are actually easier to MOC with for me. Although not having legs move reverse tandemly (like other MiniFigs), they are wee bit limited on placing onto a base plate diagonally. Oh, well, I will just tile my next floor For any anthropological interest: I open box, cut plastic bags, take out bricks I wanna touch first. Then (after getting to Olivia - who is so easy to put together and hold - not better or worse than classic figs - just a new option) I place all bricks & pieces in front of me. I build. Halfway through this build, I looked at instructions just to get all bricks/elements organized which the set-design used to create the vice-grip. Because, I fell in love with it upon first seeing this set. Thanks for visiting!

So far, in the USA they have them at the end of the LEGO aisle, as well as some next to Polly Pockets, and some other places (where the rack is mobile). Here are a few pics for you:

Those of us like you & your family, who are already LEGO fans, parents of LEGO fans, friends of LEGO fans, etc., may not realize there are girls who don't currently build with LEGO bricks (other than, say, a table at a daycare or preschool setting) and so the goal is: to get more girls building. The development of a "girls" theme in response to a call of, "we need more LEGO stuff for girls." So TLG spent 4 years researching and interacting with girls, and their parents. If this gets more girls who do like Polly Pockets, American Girl dolls, etc., playing and building their own playsets of LEGO bricks -- instead of being stuck with pre-fab scenarios, then great! This way, they too get to participate in spatial skills development -- just like girls & boys who already manipulate LEGO bricks with their imagination. Maybe the mini-dolls aren't perfect for everyone, yet they aren't the first (or last) incarnation of a figure to go along with sets. All the new bricks & elements add more color & build options to current builders as well. So, it's pretty much a win-win

Oh, thank you Siegfried! I had remembered seeing a topic on Friends on EB last week, but when this whole "campaign & petition" of theirs came up, I wasn't sure I should *gum up* this thread Gary Istok just sent me some of his LEGO History information to upload to the blog -- to provide more information to counter their misinformation. That should be up soon: Feminists freak out over Friends Their spamming of the LEGO Group Facebook page is what really motivated me to speak out -- especially on Christmas day! 95% of the spammers merely "liked" the page that day for only the purpose of re-posting the ad & their own manufactured tagline. ---- To: lightningtiger I do know some AFOLs told me they made comments on the SPARKsummit site, but not sure if the feminists will approve them -- we'll see To: David Thomsen LOL -- good point! That's one reason I wanted to present their "skewed" info and counter it on the web.

Hey EB, I created a blog to compile the online activities of a feminist group vilifying TLG because of the new Friends line (which, btw, the Friends theme site went live today on Friends.LEGO.com) Here is the blog: http://feminists-freak-out-over-lego-friends.blogspot.com/ They started a twitter hashtag of #liberateLEGO to spread their social-action agenda. I have been using their own hastag to counter it with information they have left off their articles Anyway, feel free to comment and not let a few squeaky wheels skew the facts about LEGO Friends. It's meant to get some girls who don't currently play with LEGO interested -- such as girls who play with American Dolls, etc. -- this way they can realize they can build their own playset with their own imagination! Plus, it's merely one theme -- and they claim LEGO is not advancing gender equity. Thanks!

Wonderful ~ I can almost smell the aroma of fresh-cut pine wreaths! I love greenhouses, garden centers in Winter! Your photos seem fine; there is a really crisp one -- the others have a nice soft glow. I especially like the one where "Mr. Hinkle the gardener mists the flowers" because it actually appears misty! Best of luck!

Aw, I'm a Butterfly My member number correlation / set number is: http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=7607-1

Happy Halloween EuroBricks!

It used to be (last year) that on V.O.D. on Comcast there was a Kids channel called "Activity TV" (with various types of creative hobbies) and from there you could watch the LEGO videos (like the old skiiers one, sort of a miniland style) and all the LEGO commercials. Also, they had the videos on their web site to watch and we were able to download to then watch on our own computer. The site even had a LEGO category with a Minifig head in the top scrolling banner of themes. For some reason now, not a trace of LEGO on that site I suspect TLG had some hand in that. It was nice though, in that you didn't have to be a Comcast subscriber to view, since it was online. It's probably good that TLG is trying to control their content better in the form of LEGO Club TV channel on YouTube and the various theme subdomains on LEGO.com. It seems like the brick really went viral this past year!

Yes, I wear a LEGO Hagrid necklace There are also some examples of LEGO jewelry on this BLOG

Thanks for sharing this -- some of the pictures are good and it is quite a long article. I do hope TLG doesn't grow too fast for its own baseplate! At first I thought "Daily Wail" in the title was a typo .. then I realized

Guess it's hip to be squared http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/fashi...worn_by_ka.html ~

Wonder if any EB AFOLs are in the accompanying video http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB1000...NDEyNDQyWj.html ~LMM

If only Redbeard were alive today to see the dedications of these wonderful MOCs My vote: fonz -- 7 For the museum quality and fabulous silhouette shadow! Really, I came & left this voting thread several times, because all the entries are wonderful inspirations! Thank you

I saw that Duplo one several times too -- I think the TV channel was a family one (maybe ABC Family), yet the Dad & Boy house build was definitely on the FX channel (hmm, wonder what that means ;-) and is on the LEGO Club TV channel on YouTube Although the Duplo one isn't there yet -- perhaps soon. It's interesting too how they promote as helping with "social skills" on that particular commercial. If I see the Duplo one online, I'll try to remember to post a link here.

This may help clarify any questions about whether or not to publish confidential LKIC images. Also, I highly doubt there is an "official" polling Flickr stream for this focus group (which has been around since 2006); I think I might know the stream you saw and believe TLG asked them to remove the leaked images. It's like I Like Pie said a few comments ago, these surveys are "designed" for kids; TLG knows how & where to poll AFOLs ;-) By skewing up the feedback, it really messes up all the $$$ they spend on market research, ya know ... Good thing LEGO doesn't have an Army -- else we'd be losing the battle, for all the classified info leaked Personally, I think that EB has a policy of no confidentially-marked photos is quite admirable

Yes, TRU exclusive is the first thing that came to mind when I saw this today, especially the yellow & green -- then I needed to re-look at that concept art. I couldn't remember which one I voted for Couldn't find it on the Internet, luckily I found it in a folder, posted them HERE When does TRU usually "actually" start selling the Fans' Choice set?

LOL -- nice try Dano ~ too bad your image doesn't match the BS image, yet it does the one on Flickr Besides, being an "honorary Brick~Buster" you should be able to spy those small details Why not just give credit to the person who took the time to scan it & upload it to begin with? Wouldn't that be what you would want for your own images?