Review: 41115 Emma's Creative Workshop
Posted by LostInTranslation,It’s kind of hard to believe, but 2016 marks the 4th anniversary since Friends was launched (I was convinced it was only 3 years), and I think a number of the sets in the newly released wave contain very clear echoes of those first sets launched in 2012. One such set is 41115 Emma’s Creative Workshop, which harks back to Emma’s love of fashion that was first shown in 3936 Emma’s Fashion Design Studio. But is this set a rehash (the bane of fans of City and Star Wars), a sign of the Friends designers running out of ideas, or a good follow-up to a previously established character trait? Let’s take a look.
For starters, 41115 interestingly contains more parts than its predecessor yet retails at a lower price point (in the UK at least – 108 vs 79 parts, £8.99 vs £9.99). The set contains one minidoll (Emma, of course) dressed in a really cute denim pinafore dress over a pink t-shirt, with a handy pocket for her accessories. I couldn’t resist having a little fun with the photograph of Emma, making use of the spare scissors part. Emma Scissorhands, anyone?
The studio build is broken down into several items of furniture: a workbench, chair, desk and display board. The desk is situated next to a window which is composed of two pillars in lavender and topped with dark blue 2x2 studless curves; I don’t know if it was a deliberate choice on the part of the designer, but this is the same colour scheme as used in 41095 Emma’s House, so I’m sure it could be incorporated into that set somehow. Emma clearly loves all shades of purple and even has a laptop in dark purple, which is a new colour for that element.
This set answers the burning question of ‘Why are there so many bows in Heartlake City?’ – because Emma is obsessed with making them! There are bows attached to the lintel above the window and also a screenshot (sticker) of them on the laptop. The easel also uses a sticker featuring the creative process for designing bows in various fabrics and shapes. The easel also includes two new 1x1 yellow ‘post-it’ note tiles, which are printed with text that sadly I can’t decipher.
My favourite part of the set is undoubtedly the sewing machine. The light bley bench on which it is situated is fairly functional but the machine itself is a wonderfully detailed mini model. The top is even hinged to replicate lifting a needle out of the fabric – there is no actual needle-like element, which is the only thing that could make me love this build even more. On the side of the machine there is a pearl gold 1x1 round tile printed with a pink jewel which is perhaps out of place on a sewing machine but is a lovely element nonetheless. The rest of the workbench is taken up with small plates and bricks representing bobbins of coloured threads. One useful and rare part included in this set is the pearl gold 1x1 modified round tile with pin – there are four of them here.
This may be an echo from the past but in my opinion that’s no bad thing because some of those first Friends sets still count among my favourites. As a pocket money purchase, I think this set has a lot to offer, and I really like it (perhaps because I am interested in textile crafts myself). I don’t think that it can be simply written off as a rehash of 3936 simply because it relates to effectively the same subject matter. I think this set more clearly conveys Emma’s passion for fashion – the entire process from designing to making to displaying and sharing online. A lot of the items of furniture included are different and don’t overlap, and the two sets could easily be combined together to form a larger workshop because the colour schemes are similar but not identical – predominantly pink, (medium) lavender, purple and medium azure.
I look forward to buying more of the new wave of Friends set and seeing if they also manage to strike the right balance of reflecting the past but adding a new angle. What do you think? Is this set too similar to the past?
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25 comments on this article
Those post-it notes are awesome.
I think this is super cute with so many features that I will likely get one for myself that the kids can play with as opposed to one for them that will end up dismantled in their box. It definitely looks to me as though it complements the earlier set (which we don't have) rather than them being too similar. They would look great combined into a larger studio though two Emmas would be strange so she would have to find a different employee to work with her in her expanded studio. Unless of course they become identical twins. Emma and Emmaline.
Oh and the reason I like it so much is that I too like to design and sew!
One of this set's strengths is that it compliments the original so well. It's biggest strength is, of course, that sewing machine. It's a brilliant little build.
The clothing pieces for this Emma minidoll doll are stand outs too.
The post-it notes will be popular I'm sure.
The post-it notes are all over this wave. I like them, but not so much this set.
A decent review but the intro is like the tired complaints that Police or Star Wars sets keep getting re-released. Don't forget that Lego mostly sells to parents and kids. Every year there are new 5 year olds who will want Lego for about 5 years. It's only the AFOLS who notice the same ideas rotating through the range, especially if they sold well the last time.
Yes, I love the sticky notes! They are so cute.
Yeah, I want to echo that rehashes happen because a new cycle of kids comes along every year. You may have a fire engine from 3 years ago, but it's probably long off the shelf and a new generation of kids wants them.
I do like that Lego does some variety, giving us say Swamp Police or Forest Fire in exchange for the usual fare.
I could be wrong, but it looks like the sticky noted say "Ian" and "Marc".
The post-it's appear to say "Ian :)" and "Max ?" suggesting some old fashioned "which boy do I like" type thinking. And there is an image on the back of the instruction book that shows this set "belonging to" the previous purple house set.
Of course I understand why rehashes occur. I'm merely bringing the point up for debate here, and as I conclude in my review, I don't think this is a rehash. A lot of the people who frequent this site are AFOLs, so I think it's valid to raise points that may be a factor for them in deciding whether to purchase or not, when they have been collecting a theme over several years.
Thanks for pointing that out Sastrei, I didn't spot that on the back of the instructions.
One of the things I love about this set is that the wall and window colors are designed to complement last year's 41095 Emma's House! It's a nice bit of design continuity, and I'd love to see someone integrate this set into the larger dollhouse set.
It's also great for parts, what with the post-it notes and FOUR of the gold accessory holders.
Hmm, I may have been convinced to pick this up, some good parts here!
As I said on Flickr: i love that medium-azur colored lamp! It looks cool, and is a good use for the flower petal 2x2 (modified) design. I may just have to BrickLink that part!
I hadn't put together that it went with Emma's house - so I might get it for that reason. I've been trying to figure out what the post-it note said as well - I thought originally it was pertinent to the set I was just building (Exploration Car).
Woah, I have,t noticed that cool parts when I was looking at the pictures before! Thanks for all those reviews!
In the episodes she has changed creative minds. Can't wait for all the amusement park sets! They have plenty still to offer, Friends will be around for a while yet!
I do love the idea that Emma spends her days frantically racing around Heartlake City putting bows on EVERYTHING she can find. That does indicate some kind of manic OCD complex, though ... And now I'm picturing the Heartlake Police Department (where is the law enforcement in this town, though? Or are they all over in Lego City?) having to deal with the latest crime-spree by the Mad Bow-Woman.
I have both sets, this one and the 2012 one, and recently built them side by side, and realized they compliment each other nicely, as different aspects of the same room. I think it's essential to have both of these.
^^ Heartlake City is run by the mob - the police have been run out of town - unlike Lego City, which is a virtual police state
Yeah, I just can't help the thought that Heartlake City had a seedy underground that nobody knows about. Those girls are just so cheerful all the time. I'm sure they're up to something sinister...
I think Lego Friends marked the further ruin and division of what was, up until Paradisa, a sexless toy that boys AND girls could comfortably and easily play with. There used to be a sense of aspiration being instilled in children of both sexes with many classic Town sets only featuring one Lego Girl as a Doctor, Shell Pumps worker etc....now it seems bimbofied and....pink. A real shame. Detractors will disagree perhaps but Lego has lost one key facet that it proudly had in the past, a reliance on imagination as opposed to growing lust for licensed brands being churned out into overpriced toys...
^ I suppose it all comes back to making money, in the end (which is the end-goal of every business that exists in the world, so we can't fault them for that). It's not like girls *weren't* buying Lego prior to Paradisa (as you said, the first real theme that went crazy with the pink bricks). I would imagine the thinking is that, with themes specifically targeting a certain demographic, that demographic is likely to spend a lot *more* than they otherwise would've. Given how successful "Friends" continues to be, that's probably not flawed thinking, either.
Can I just say love the sense of humour/creative pose in the lead photo! Nicely done. I enjoy seeing reviews of many of these sets. Thanks again for the work you all do.
Nice review full of helpful insight! What a cool set! My grandma was a professional seamstress and pianist, and she made most of my clothes until I was 16. I modeled them for the local fabric store, and loved being around the sewing gear and folks. This is a lovely set that encourages everyone to find a creative activity and dig in. Beading, quilting, knitting, decorating with new curtains, and many other crafts are wonderful ways to express yourself. And the bows are just precious! Now I know what I missed while rearing two boys and no girls. Will definitely slather my little granddaughter in bows. This set is just precious. Can't wait to have fun with it!