#brighton bricks

#BrightonBricksBuild LEGO Garden Birds

Challenge

Create your own Lego garden bird. Will you create a blackbird, a chaffinch, a blue tit, a woodpecker or any other bird you may find in your garden. When building think of how big you going to build your bird, what colours you might need, and how you can use Lego pieces to represent the different parts of the bird.

This challenge is done in partnership with Sussex Wildlife Trust

Sussex Wildlife Trust are a conservation charity for everyone who cares about nature in Sussex. Focus on protecting the wonderfully rich natural life that is found across our towns, countryside and coast.

https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk

They are also running a back garden bird race challenge, where each weekend they are asking people to sit in their gardens or look out of their windows for one hour and note down all the wild bird species that they can see.

You can use the list below to help you identify the birds you spot, and give you ideas of what bird you could build out of Lego. 

https://assets.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/back-garden-bird-guide-1.pdf

#BrightonBricksBuild Lego Challenges

We post new challenges every day, so if you want to see what other challenges we have visit 

http://brightonbricks.com/lego-activities

I am doing partnership posts to help promote fellow small businesses as well as charities & community groups. In this strange time it is important we help each other as much as possible.

If you know of any small businesses, charities or community groups who would like some promotion & use Lego to help people. 

See more #brightonbricksbuild challenges at

http://brightonbricks.com/lego-activities

It be great if you can share photos of your builds using the hashtag #brightonbricksbuild

I am doing partnership posts to help promote fellow small businesses as well as charities & community groups. In this strange time it is important we help each other as much as possible.

#BrightonBricksBuild Create a LEGO Bee

Challenge

Create a LEGO Bee as it was World Bee Day on 20th May 2020. Be great to see some beehives as well 

https://www.un.org/en/observances/bee-day

And don’t forget to share your builds by using the hashtag #brightonbricksbuild on Twitter / Instagram or post it to our Facebook page

#BrightonBricksBuild Lego Challenges

We post new challenges every day, so if you want to see what other challenges we have visit 

#BrightonBricksBuild LEGO Board Games

Challenge

Find ways of combing board games & LEGO either by creating LEGO version of board games, or use LEGO pieces replacing board games pieces

This challenge is done in partnership with Dice Saloon, a board games shop / cafe in Brighton, and where we had our first ever Lego show back in 2017. Four of us got a couple of tables together showing our Lego displays and it was great to see so many people come along to the show. The highlight was the Lego modular MOC with modular sets and custom build modulars all together.

For me board games and Lego go so well together, so it was a no brainer we did our first show at Dice Saloon, and it has been great to see how they have expanded over years and with their new venue on London Road hopefully opening this year, it is a great time to be a boardgames fan in Brighton 

Due to the lockdown and the fact they were in the process of moving locations they are not able to operate either physically or online button so they have a Pay Not To Play Support Donation

www.dicesaloon.com/products/pay-not-to-play-dice-saloon-support-donation

And don’t forget to share your builds by using the hashtag #brightonbricksbuild on Twitter / Instagram or post it to our Facebook page

#BrightonBricksBuild Lego Challenges

We post new challenges every day, so if you want to see what other challenges we have visit 

#BrightonBricksBuild Create a LEGO Treehouse

Challenge

To create a Lego Treehouse. For inspiration see the Creator Lego Treehouse set in the photo. What sort of treehouse would you build? Will you build a realistic one, or will you let your imagination go wild?

And don’t forget to share your builds by using the hashtag #brightonbricksbuild on Twitter / Instagram or post it to our Facebook page

We did this challenge in partnership with Sussex charity Chestnut Tree House, a children’s hospice supporting local children & young people with life limiting illnesses 

Chestnut Tree are in urgent need of support and help, and you can do that in two ways, one by promoting this challenge, raising awareness of Chestnut Tree. The other thing is by the important one, donating whatever you can which you can do via 

https://www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk/crisis-appeal/

#BrightonBricksBuild Lego Challenges

We post new challenges every day, so if you want to see what other challenges we have visit

LEGO Helping Through Play: Mental Health Awareness Week 2020

This week it is Mental Health Awareness Week, and one of the reasons I set up Brighton Bricks was how LEGO helps me with my mental health problems, and I know play can be a really important way of keeping a positive mental health wellbeing. We have done several events for previous mental health days (photos below)

If anyone is having mental health issues, I wanted to share a few links with useful information, which hopefully will help. One of the main things to remember is to talk, and not be silent. Talk to a friend, family member, or contact a organisation like The Samaritans, just talk.

For me personally I love LEGO as it helps me with my anxiety issues, it calms me down when I follow instructions. And that is also why I love LEGO as there is no wrong way to build, some people are set builders and enjoy seeing something being created step by step, and others are free builders, creating their own masterpieces and MOCS. You deal with LEGO the way you feel the most comfortable.

So here is some useful mental health information

NHS

Mental Health helplines

www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/

Mind

What can I do to help myself cope?

www.mind.org.uk/need-urgent-help/what-can-i-do-to-help-myself-cope/

Mind in Brighton & Hove

www.mindcharity.co.uk/advice-information/

NHS Every Mind Matters

www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

They also do a Mind Plan quiz, where by answering 5 questions you can get top tips and advice for you.

www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/your-mind-plan-quiz/

Grassroots Suicide Prevention

Offering training so you can be better prepared and equipped to help someone in difficulty.

www.prevent-suicide.org.uk/training-courses/

If you have any advice or information which would be good to add to this list please let me know at [email protected]

Thanks

What Lego Minifigures would I like - MARVEL edition

One of the things I love about Lego is the minifigure, and I have been known to buy a Lego set just for the minifugures included. Every now and then i think about what minifigures I would would love Lego to make, so I will be making a series of blog posts featuring some of my dream figures. I would love to hear what you think, what would you like to see?

MARVEL

What superheroes or super villains I have missed out? What sets could these come in?

What other themes should I look at, maybe a Disney series 3, DC Comics, maybe musicians, cartoon characters, movie characters

I run Brighton Bricks, which started off as an Adult Fan of LEGO group for the people of Brighton & Hove, and has grown & developed over the years when I realised LEGO was more than just a toy

I have done workshops, team building events as well as working with various community partners to help bring people together.

 Why? Because I believe there is a whole world of potential with these plastic bricks, any it can be for anyone and everyone, from master builders to people who never seen any brick in their life before. All it takes is connecting one brick to another, then another and the possibilities are endless. 

I have never been a master builder and prefer to build from sets, as I find the following of instructions relaxing and helps me with my anxiety. A sort of mindfulness to it. But I enjoy watching the results of master builders and seeing what amazing creations people can come up with. 

 The reason for setting up the group was because I grew back in love with LEGO, after a dark age period from childhood to my mid 30s when I got back into it. I realised LEGO was a solitary activity for me, and I wanted to reach out to other fellow fans. The group has allowed us to have regular meet-ups, to take part in LEGO shows and be part of the community.

 This sense of being part of the community has led me to spread out and engage with local charities and community groups like The Rita Project, as well as dementia groups, homeless charities, mental health organisations and many more.

 On 10th October I co-hosted a LEGO workshop with The Rita Project, which was about creating conversations about domestic abuse, and about what can we do about it. How does Lego help this conversation you may ask, well to start with it is the ultimate ice breaker, putting people at ease. We started off building from instructions to introduce everyone to the plastic brick and what it can do. 

 Then the real fun happened when you had to take apart your instruction build model, and then build from your imagination using different themes first on your own, and then with someone else. So, using creativity & team work, sharing ideas and having to work with other people. All while you are playing with these bricks, you can let your mind be free to talk about important topics such as domestic abuse, and what we can do about it. And loads of free conversation was had at this event.

 A sense of play is what we lose as adults, and for me playing with LEGO allows us to have fun, to enjoy the moment, and this what I want to encourage.

 So if you want to have some fun, the plastic brick & Brighton Bricks can help facilitate conversations, as well as team building sessions. 

Over the last few days a load of new LEGO sets have been revealed. I have posted these on the Facebook page / group but want to combine them all together in this one post

p.s I will keep updating this, as I need to add on the Jurassic World and new Star Wars sets 

LEGO Harry Potter

75954 Hogwarts Great Hall

878 pieces | $99.99 USD | $129.99 CAD | Available August 1, 2018

Welcome to magical adventures at the Great Hall at Hogwarts!

Build and recreate magical scenes from the Harry Potter movies with this detailed 4-level LEGO Hogwarts Great Hall play set, featuring a fireplace, benches, tables and reversible house banners, plus a tower with a spiral staircase, potions room, treasure room, sorting hat, Mirror of Erised and lots of assorted magical artefact accessory elements. Includes 10 minifigures and buildable Basilisk and Fawkes creatures, plus Hedwig and Scabbers figures.

Includes 10 minifigures: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Susan Bones, Professor McGonagall, Professor Quirrell with dual Lord Voldemort face, Hagrid, Albus Dumbledore and Nearly Headless Nick, plus buildable Basilisk and Fawkes creatures, and Hedwig and Scabbers figures.

Features the buildable Great Hall and a tower.

The Great Hall features tables, head table with seats, fireplace, 2 reversible house banners and 4 ‘floating’ candles, food (turkey leg, ice cream and a small cake) brooms, trophy cup and a teapot

The 4-level tower features movable Grand Staircase spiral steps at its base, potions room, treasure room with chest and a turret featuring the Mirror of Erised with changeable pictures and roosting spot for Fawkes.

Also includes a boat with hanging lantern.

Place the pupils in the boat and sail to Hogwarts Castle.

Help Hermione and Susan create magical potions.

Feast in the Great Hall, then use the sorting hat to select the pupils’ houses!

Welcome the new students with Hagrid, Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall.

Use the magic wands to pitch Harry against Draco in the Dueling Club!

Swoop Fawkes into battle and help Harry battle the giant Basilisk serpent.

Gaze into the Mirror of Erised with Ron and change the picture.

Turn Quirinus Quirrell into Lord Voldemort by rotating his head!

Recreate iconic scenes from the Harry Potter movies.

Accessory elements include 7 wands, 3 tumblers, umbrella, lantern, broom, sorting hat, cauldrons, potions, candles, 2 wizard brooms, food, trophy, teapot, chest and a spider.

Build even bigger adventures and combine with 75953 Whomping Willow.

Hogwarts Great Hall measures over 14” (37cm) high, 6” (17cm) wide and 11” (30cm) deep.

LEGO Powerpuff Girls

LEGO Star Wars

Solo: A Star Warts Story Kessel Run Millennium Falcon 

LEGO Marvel Superheroes

Outrider Dropship Attack (76101) - 124 pieces

Thor's Weapon Quest (76102) - 223 pieces

Corvus Glaive Thresher Attack (76103) - 416 pieces

The Hulkbuster Smash-Up (76104) - 375 pieces

Thanos: Ultimate Battle (76107) - 674 pieces