Yo Quiero!

Korean builder edulyoung has been featured endless times on this blog already, so one more time isn't gonna hurt.

The adorable features of this little Chihuahua model almost make me want to hate my wretched small real-life dog just a tiny bit less. For just a moment.



What's more, you can even purchase an exclusive copy of this set (or just the instructions if you prefer) over at edulyoung's Bricklink store.
 

Jitter bug

I'm not saying those Eastern Europeans are over obsessed with the rave scene or anything, but even this lively little Firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus) by Polish builder Bartosz Kacprzyk...



...transforms into a wild dancing robo-bug...



...but then ultimately succombs to 'E' withdrawal and massive dehydration at about 4am...



Yeah kids, it's all knee-pads and glow sticks and Swedish House Mafia at first. Then the next thing you know you're waking up either (a) on the balcony of some guy in a shell suit called Tomasz with vomit all down your It's All Gone Pete Tong T-shirt or (b) in a scene from The Hostel.
 

Chibi-tomically correct

Ok, to ease myself back into this blogging gig, I thought I'd dig some up some classic stuff by one of my favorite Japanese builders Moko.

This adorable skeleton seems so perfectly in proportion to his other chibi characters (such as Menma from Ano Hana below) that I can almost picture him building it into every one of them! Which now I think about it, is a worryingly obsessive-compulsive thought. I need to get out more...

 
 

Small fries

I keep telling people one of these days I'm just gonna switch to doing microscale stuff for an entire year or something, try and drag that category out of the doldrums of "modern downtown" that it seems to be so often stuck in.

Well clearly great minds think alike, judging by these fab microscale creations by Stacy Sterling (Hi Stacy!). Pictured here are mouth-wateringly recognizable versions of Porkys, Mickey's Diner, White Castle, and a strangely familiar 50's style movie theater complete with microscopic posters!

 
 

...hmmm, some kind of obsession with unhealthy food vending establishments Stacy? Presumably a former obsession, otherwise you'd have a spare tyre like me! 

Face Off

Chris McVeigh reminds us what happens if you invite Hannibal Lecter over for a staring contest!


 

The pin is mightier than the sword

Having grown up in an era saturated with classic WWII movies, I immediately had a warm feeling when I saw this excellent (life size?) recreation of a MK2 grenade by Nick Jensen. Which is probably a strange feeling to have about a grenade, I grant you.

Forty days and forty nights...

...left until BrickCon 2011!

This will be BrickCon's 10th year (wOOt!) and it looks to be a good one. Right now a devoted team of organizers are juggling a hundred different logistical nightmares that I can only half imagine, while several hundred adult LEGO fans (myself included) are frantically trying to complete their MOCs in time for the big event.

If you haven't already registered to attend, then swing on over to www.brickcon.org right now and do so, because registrations this year are being capped at 400.



Much is new this year, including a revamped website, additional convention space for AFOL activities and events, and extended public exhibition hours (to reduce congestion).

And in the spirit of this year's slogan, the AFOL community has rallied to bring us an astonishing number of different themes and collaborative displays...

	Art/Mosaic/Sculpture	Robotics
	Battle Bugs	Steampunk
	Bionicle	Technic
	Bricks of Character	Town/Train
	Castle	[New] Bling your AT-AT
	Dragon Fly In	[New] Numereji 2421
	Great Ball Contraption	[New] Pirates
	Mecha	[New] Pythonscape
	Microscale	[New] Superheroes
	Model Team	[New] The Dark Side
	Moonbase	[New] War Beasts
	Operation Bricklord	[New] World Architecture

There really is something for everyone! Detailed information about each theme can be found here. If you're interested in contributing MOCs to any of these displays, just contact the relevant theme coordinators. Or if you are looking for volunteer opportunities, contact the organizers - I'm sure they have a million and one different jobs that they could use help with.

Over the coming weeks I'll be featuring some of the above themes in detail, to give you a flavor of what each one is all about (particularly the new ones).

Right, better stop blogging and get back to working on my MOCs. No time to waste!
 

The Phoenix Rises!

After a long summer hiatus - if you can call it that in Seattle - involving a lot of intense (and occasionaly secret) building in preparation for BrickCon 2011, The Living Brick is finally back! With a new look and a new url...

www.thelivingbrick.com

Look for a resumption of the traditional festivities and jollyness very shortly. As well as lots of new features and surprises. Should I happen to think of any.

- iain