I wanted to explore the impact of appearing on the LEGO Masters TV show, personally and professionally. While I have not been on the show, I know many who have.
I started by talking with some of my friends from New Zealand: Rachel and Jason De Vries. I met the De Vries at LEGO House in 2019. When I heard New Zealand was hosting a season of LEGO Masters, I thought this awesome couple would be perfect for the show. Not only did they make it on the show, they were semi-finalists in season two!
Source: HOUSE OF BRICKS
Rachel and Jason reside in Christchurch, New Zealand, with two of their three children, Ryan and Lydia. Their oldest daughter, Amelia, is making her way in the world, studying and exploring the realm of fashion and design.
L-R: Ryan, Lydia, Rachel, Jason, and Amelia in a family photo in 2023 | Source: House of Bricks
I got a chance to chat with Rachel and Jason about many different things.
LEGO Beginnings
Melissa: How long have each of you been into LEGO?
RD (Rachel): Since 2013 when I bought a few thousand bricks for a play box for the children that they never got to play with.
JD (Jason): Since I was a young child. I still have my first-ever set, the Fabuland Michael Mouse (#328).
Jason’s first ever LEGO set | Source: House of Bricks
Serious Business
Rachel established House of Bricks in April 2014. In 2016, she took the training to become a LEGO Serious Play facilitator. Rachel works with Jason as her partner and collaborator in the company.
Jason works as a furniture maker at his family business which was started by his grandfather. The company mainly makes couches and dining chairs, but also creates designs from scratch and by reverse engineering.
Melissa: Rachel, I’m curious, what made you decide to create a LEGO business?
RD: I was a full-time Mum. I left my job in early childhood education to pursue the business idea of House of Bricks. I was inspired by our son who was struggling at school. When he came home with homework, there was this panic around him. So we stopped, took out the LEGO bricks, and allowed him time to think his answers through. As his confidence grew, I knew that I had to do something as there was no way he was the only child out there wired like this.
Melissa: Rachel, you are a Certified LEGO Serious Play facilitator. I looked this up, and it looks intriguing! What prompted you to take this course?
RD: Yes, I was inspired to take this course after starting House of Bricks and stumbling across it online around 2016. After reading the books and all I could online, I knew I had to get this training as soon as possible.
Dare to Be Famous
LEGO Masters UK | Source: IMDb
Melissa: What inspired you to apply for LEGO Masters?
JD: The first season of LM, the British one that aired around maybe 2017. We vowed then to apply if we ever got the chance.
Melissa: What was the process like?
JD: The process was easy—apply online, do an interview, and if we passed all that, do a live audition.
Melissa: Sounds like a smooth process! I am glad it worked out for you! Did the application process and being on the show affect your mental health?
RD: The application process took a bit of bravery to take a leap and apply. The competition itself was as much a mental challenge as it was a brick-building challenge.
If you ever consider doing a reality TV show or LEGO Masters, be sure you do it with the right person. Not the person who will help you win, but the person who will be there for you, and you for them.
Source: HOUSE OF BRICKS
Melissa: What valuable lessons did you take away from your time on the show?
RD: After we were eliminated and arrived home at the Christchurch airport there was a picture of Sir Edmund Hillary saying, “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” After not getting the experience of building in the finale, we looked at this and realized there was so much more to being a part of the competition than what placing we made. LEGO Masters NZ was never about us going in to win a grand prize – it was all about seeing what we could achieve. And, boy did we wow ourselves with what we could achieve, conquer, and do when pushed to the extreme.
Life With Newfound Fame and New Opportunities
Melissa: Has the show sparked new public speaking or educational opportunities related to LEGO building?
RD: Yes, we have been invited to several groups to speak about our time, experiences, and learnings as contestants on LEGO Masters NZ. Our coolest experience was our invitation to join a group of AFOLs in Kaikoura and meet our fan network there.
Rachel and Jason’s Kaikoura Build | Source: Brickset
On one of the episodes, we built a whale tale that also told the story of the mysterious UFO/light sightings of NZ that appeared over Kaikoura in the 1970s. It has become a bit of a legend around the country, so our building was loved by the Kaikoura community.
I am regularly asked to talk with students when I visit their school to share about the experience. I use the opportunity to inspire students to follow their passions, and choose to have experiences with the right person as opposed to the best person.
Melissa: Do you find yourself receiving more commissions or requests for custom LEGO builds since being on the show?
RD: No—that is not something we have ever pursued. We will however, continue to build for ourselves, for fun, and for brick shows.
Melissa: Did LEGO Masters NZ open doors to collaborations or partnerships?
RD: Yes, twice we had the opportunity to work alongside our LEGO-certified store when it opened as the local ‘celebrity guest’ and when they celebrated their first anniversary.
This year WhatNow contacted us again to use our bricks to create a shoot for a big show they were planning. I provided the bricks, hooked them up with a regular client, and we spent a whole day building and filming. For House of Bricks, being on LEGO Masters has created more excitement from students and teachers.
The Business of Bricks
BN: Has being on LEGO Masters NZ helped you to be able to expand business ventures related to LEGO?
JD: Not really. We may use the LEGO brick as a resource, but we aren't allowed to, and we try to avoid using the brand name in the business so we do not breach The LEGO Group’s fair trade rules and legalities around the brand. One cool thing is that we now have two titles with the LEGO name. We both have a LEGO Masters title and Rachel has a title as a certified LEGO Serious Play facilitator.
Melissa: Did any unexpected opportunities arise after your time at LEGO Masters NZ?
RD: Yes, we met New Zealand children’s author Craig Smith after our episode eight build was revealed. Unfortunately, that build got us eliminated, but was loved by those who love the Wonky Donkey series by Craig Smith, and we were humbled by the people's support over such a ‘terrible’ build. As people said, “Well it’s better than anything I could ever build”.
Jason with the Wonky Donky inspired build | Source: Brickset
Melissa: Do conventions sponsor you to attend their events to be featured and sign autographs?
Source: House of Bricks
RD: We go to and support as many conventions as we can around New Zealand, but New Zealand is small, and so are the show budgets, which means no sponsorship is available. When invited we do our best to attend, interact with the public, take many photos with our fans, and sign autographs. I think I have signed more autographs at schools than at conventions.
We can’t wait to attend more overseas shows when the budget allows.
Brick-Built Buddies
Melissa: Do fans recognize you in the street?
RD: Yes, it happens regularly. It started just before the show aired when we appeared on a local TV show called WhatNow, a longstanding New Zealand children's show. However, through House of Bricks and the public profile we had through that for the past 10 years, we were already well-known in our community. Often we have been shopping to have a young child say “Mum, that’s the LEGO lady that came to our school.”
Melissa: Do you still keep in touch with your fellow contestants?
RD: YES!!! We love our team chat with the cast from our season. They are a supportive and kind group.
One of the neat side benefits of being a part of LEGO Masters NZ is the group of 10 friends we gained from the show - our fellow contestants - Robin and his wife Diane after the filming was complete. We could not have asked for a more lovely group of people to experience this all with.
Source: Brickset
Melissa: What advice would you give aspiring LEGO builders who dream of being on the show?
RD: When the opportunity comes to apply - DO IT! The worst you will get is “No, you are not in, but thanks for applying.” Then go back to your bricks and build for you. Build for fun. Build to relax. Build for your mental health. Build to meet people.
Rachel and Jason’s business, House of Bricks, can be found through various social media outlets (Website, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn) if you’re looking for more information on the work they’ve done since their time on LEGO Masters.
If you had the opportunity would you compete in LEGO Masters as a contestant? Why or why not? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
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