Building Across Borders: The Story of @brickswhynot
- Wes Royer
- Mar 24
- 7 min read
A Mother–Daughter Journey of Creativity, Community, and Kindness
At Blacklug, we believe creativity travels farther than geography. Sometimes a brief meeting at a Lego convention becomes something more — a friendship, a shared vision, and a reminder that community is built not only from bricks, but from people.
When Anabelle — affectionately known as Mumsy by me — and her daughter Bianca stepped into the wider Lego community, they weren’t chasing visibility or recognition. They were following joy. What emerged was @brickswhynot, a platform grounded in inclusivity, honesty, and the belief that this hobby belongs to everyone.
This is their story — told in their own words as much as ours.
From a Chance Meeting to a Lasting Connection
Looking back at Bricks in the Six 2024, Anabelle remembers the moment a simple introduction turned into something meaningful — the kind of connection that lingers long after the event ends.
What began as a conversation about a moc quickly became a shared understanding of creativity and purpose.
“We started talking about your moc, its meaning, us exchanging sigfigs — and it instantly sparked a connection that stayed with me long after the conference was over. In that moment, I truly felt like we had known each other for years.”
That moment captures the spirit of the global Lego community: strangers becoming collaborators, and collaborators becoming friends. For Blacklug, that cross-border connection reflects exactly what inclusive creative spaces are meant to do — bring people together.
A Platform With Intention, Not Just Content
From the beginning, @brickswhynot was never just about posting builds. It was about building community.
Anabelle started her page simply to share her passion and find others who felt the same. But over time, the platform grew into something more purposeful.
“When I launched my Instagram, my goals were to showcase my passion for Lego and to connect with others like me. At the time, I wasn’t even sure people like me existed.”
As her audience grew, so did her sense of responsibility to the community around her.
“I began to realise that I had a unique opportunity to make a positive impact within the Lego community — one rooted in inclusivity, kindness, and connection.”
That philosophy mirrors the foundation of Blacklug itself: creativity is powerful, but community makes it meaningful.
When a Hobby Becomes a Shared Journey
Although the account is now officially shared, Bianca has been part of the journey from the very beginning — attending conferences, supporting builds, and quietly shaping the experience behind the scenes.
So when the announcement came that the platform would become a mother–daughter collaboration, the community response was immediate — and amused.
“Funny enough, Bianca has always been part of my Lego journey. She’s known as my conference partner, my tea provider when I refuse to leave my display table, and the one who stays up late with the gang long after I’ve gone to sleep.”
The transition felt less like a change and more like a recognition of what had always been true.
Today, their collaboration represents something powerful: creativity shared across generations.
Finding a Creative Voice Through Lego
For Anabelle, Lego became more than a hobby — it became a creative language.
She had always been drawn to art and design, but traditional mediums never quite fit. LEGO did.
“With Lego, I found my medium — a way to express myself using bricks that feels truly unique and deeply fulfilling.”
Building original creations quickly became her passion, especially the freedom that comes from designing without instructions.
“Building mocs has become a huge source of joy for me… and fun fact: I actually prefer building mocs over sets.”
But beyond creativity, the journey revealed something deeper: representation matters.
“Most importantly, Lego has given me the opportunity to show that this hobby truly is for everyone.”
Representation and Visibility in the Community
The LEGO world has grown more inclusive over time, but there is still work to do. Anabelle understands this firsthand through her experiences as a mother, partner, and community member.
“As a wife to a person of colour, and a mom of two daughters — specifically one who is part of the LGBTQ2+ community — I’ve experienced firsthand how important representation and inclusivity truly are.”
Her goal is simple and powerful:
“I sincerely hope my channel reflects that the Lego hobby is for everyone, regardless of gender, race, or identity.”
This message resonates strongly with the Blacklug mission — to create spaces where creativity and identity can coexist without barriers.
Bianca: Engineering Creativity
While Anabelle builds from storytelling and imagination, Bianca approaches Lego from a technical perspective — analyzing structure, function, and design.
For her, the joy of building lies in understanding how things work.
“I love studying builds and reverse-engineering them, figuring out how everything fits and functions. I guess my mind is just wired that way.”
That mindset reflects her academic journey in engineering and her long-term aspirations.
“I can now genuinely see myself working at the Lego Head Office one day. Being an engineer there would be the ultimate job.”
Her vision represents the next generation of builders — creators who see possibilities before they exist.
Representation, Identity, and Visibility: Bianca’s Voice in the Community
For Bianca, visibility in the Lego community is not something abstract — it is personal. It is shaped by family, culture, and lived experience. As a young woman from a biracial family navigating a space that has historically lacked representation, her presence carries meaning beyond the builds themselves.
She speaks about identity with clarity and confidence, grounded in the reality that people often make assumptions before understanding the full story.
“It’s funny, because in life, when people see me, they often assume, ‘Oh, she’s white.’ But I come from a biracial family — my dad is Black and originally from England, and my mom is a French Québécois woman.”
Her perspective reflects the complexity many young people of colour experience — being seen through a simplified lens while living a much richer identity.
“Yes, I have my dad’s crazy curly hair and lived experiences that don’t fit neatly into a single box. When people see my background, they try to label me. But the truth is, I don’t need a label to explain who I am.”
In a community where representation is still evolving, her visibility matters — not because she seeks attention, but because authenticity creates belonging.
For Blacklug, this resonates deeply. Representation is not about checking boxes; it is about ensuring that people can see themselves reflected in creative spaces.
Bianca understands that simply showing up — building, sharing, and participating — can encourage others who may feel uncertain about whether they belong.
“If this helps others in our community, then I’ve succeeded.”
That statement captures a quiet but powerful form of leadership: influence through presence rather than proclamation.
The Power of Seeing Yourself in the Hobby
In creative communities, representation often begins with a simple realisation — someone else who looks like you, thinks like you, or shares your background is already there.
For Bianca, moments of encouragement from others have reinforced the importance of visibility.
“If someone tells me that one of my posts inspired them, it absolutely makes my day. It lets me know we’re doing something right.”
Inspiration, in this sense, becomes a cycle: visibility leads to connection, connection leads to confidence, and confidence leads to participation.
That ripple effect is especially meaningful for young women of colour entering spaces where they may not always feel aligned.
Her approach is grounded in positivity and responsibility.
“At the end of the day, I hope people feel happy from seeing our posts. Because for us, building Lego — like my mom always says — is a happy place.”
Happiness, creativity, and belonging — these are the foundations of a sustainable community.
Women of Colour in Creative Spaces: Changing the Narrative
The presence of women of colour in the Lego community is growing, but visibility still requires intention. Builders like Bianca are helping shift the narrative simply by participating fully and authentically.
Her journey reflects a broader cultural shift — one where young women are not just joining creative spaces, but shaping them.
She represents a generation that sees engineering, design, and creativity as interconnected pathways rather than separate disciplines.
“I really feel like I see things in bricks before they exist. That kind of creative problem-solving excites me — and honestly? It would be a dream come true.”
That mindset — technical, imaginative, and forward-looking — embodies the future of the hobby.
And for communities like Blacklug, it reinforces an important truth:
Representation is not only about being seen. It is about expanding what people believe is possible.
A Legacy of Inclusion Through Family
What makes Bianca’s voice particularly powerful is that it exists within a family story — one built on support, encouragement, and shared creativity.
Her mother’s journey created a foundation. Her presence builds on it. Together, they demonstrate what inclusive creative spaces can look like in practice.
Their story shows that representation does not happen in isolation. It grows through relationships — between parents and children, mentors and newcomers, communities and individuals.
And in many ways, that is the real legacy they are building.
Not just models.
Not just posts.
But pathways for others to follow.
The Core Value They Stand For
If brickswhynot becomes known for one thing, they hope it is this:
“Kindness.”
A place where people feel welcome.A space where feedback is valued.A community where creativity brings joy.
That vision aligns perfectly with the spirit of Blacklug.
Because in the end, the strongest builds aren’t made from bricks alone.
They’re built from people.
Editor’s Note
By Wesbrixx — Founder, Blacklug
At Blacklug, we talk a lot about community — but every now and then, you meet people who truly embody what that word means. Anabelle and Bianca are exactly that. Their generosity, honesty, and openness throughout this conversation reminded me why this space exists in the first place.🖤
I want to personally thank them for trusting Blacklug with their story.
For sharing their experiences so openly. And for continuing to support what we are building.
Their willingness to stand alongside Blacklug — to champion kindness, representation, and connection — does not go unnoticed. It strengthens the foundation of this platform and reminds us that this movement is bigger than any one person or brand.
To Anabelle and Bianca:
Thank you for your friendship, your creativity, and your continued support of Blacklug.
We are proud to build alongside you.
Make sure to follow @brickswhynot and support the amazing work they are doing in the community
Comments