My sister: Why does everything have eyes?

Le me: It makes everything feel alive and fun, like cartoons from the 50s. A good example is a game with a bear and a bird. There are lots of easter eggs hidden around the set.

Okay and how many are there?

Yes I put in as many references as I could from all fairytales, even a biological chronicle and magic blue box. But the point is to get the main feeling across of the “Fairytales” theming by designing as many details as possible. There’s also a classic witch hat & flying broom , potions & ointment above the beds, and a large steering pot in the fireplace.

What was your inspiration to make this set?

I’m trying to become a brick theme designer. Through brainstorming I had written out a concept for LEGO Ideas but shelved it because it didn’t seem fitting. But it does for the BrickLink Designer Program. So when it got announced I got to work and developed it.

Okay, what is your favorite fairytale?

What a shrektastic question. The answer has multiple layers to it, like an onion.

Of course it is. And out of the ones that are actually in your set?

Red Riding Hood because it’s the most playful setwise. I worked functions into key storyparts so children can playfully reenact the story while the parent is reading it.

What is your favorite minibuild from the set?

Either the vending machine or stairs, but I think the vending machine wins. It’s inspired by the one from the Power Miners Lavatraz set.

What is your favorite fairytale related meme?

“Somebody toucha my spaghet.” – like it is portrait in the set. Well actually it’s pizza since there isn’t a spaghetti element but if you add lots of sauce it’s basically the same. But when does it become soup? When does pouring milk in a bowl of cereal become soup instead of sauce?

Some angry Italian is making the hand gesture right now. How do you expect busy parents to build such a large set?

By building 10 – 15 minutes with your child everyday while reading a short story and a couple of Sunday afternoons. The most time consuming thing is searching for pieces. Best way to counter this is to flip upside down ones, and not mix different bags; or last resort just point a piece out. It’s okay to skip a day if you don’t have time, but it doesn’t take long and is time well spent. There’s a somewhat flexible baseplate so building can be done in bed, just put the pieces in a bowl. You can use your phone for the stories and instructions, just lay it on bed and turn around the instruction images with the button while you read the story. You can add a shortcut to visit this page from your home screen so you don’t have to search for this tab to open the stories and instructions.

What’s the best thing about the set?

Oh that’s got to be the chimney. It may seem repetitive but the build is actually spread throughout the instructions. Due to the shape of the piece being round with soft edges, it’s really satisfying putting many of them together. It was the strangest part to design though. When you’re not using the standard grid making builds stable becomes quite a challenge. Then you’re looking for that 1 random piece that’s just thin or wide enough to keep the build in place.

Did you get stuck a lot designing the model?

Yes. Working out small ideas by themselves is fairly easy compared to incorporating them all into 1 stable model, while having each one maintain their signature look, and being accessable to play with. And then there’s the neverending cycle of changing part of the concept in general resulting in large overhauls. I wanted a roof with 2 bends, easily the hardest part to design. It’s doesn’t come off but folds open from the center. At first I wanted it to be 1 steady roof but the standard grid angles didn’t work out. Now the top of each side fold into each other and allow for access from the top. I figured it’s about 50/50 when something just doesn’t work out (well enough), you’ll see trying a different way unlocks new potential in play as well as design. Now instead of designing something with the first solution that pops up, I make multiple solutions and look at what’s best to use in this situation. If you’re making dragon wings it’s better to have them pop off as a whole instead of a small child breaking off a small piece and eating it.

What’s the white thing, with the red and green lights?

Nobody knows really, but if you get 10 of them you could build spacecrafts with them in games.

What’s the bar of studs doing above the kitchen?

It’s hanging there. If you find the 3 lost studs hidden in the set you become a True Storyteller .

Will the instructions be printed?

No, I’m sorry they won’t. I’ll see what I can do with a printable PDF. But on the flip side I did do my best to make them digitally as comfortable as possible. Everything is clear, large, and readable. The use of Almost White instead of Pure White and more ambient colors so switching between display and natural light won’t cause as much fatique. The model exists out of many 5 minute builds, allowing the builder(s) to take a break when needed without loosing track and pick it up again without the pressure of needing to spend 30 minutes on it. In the end many small pieces form the larger picture.

Alright, is there still something you want to say?

Help me Ignite The Dream