Tag Archives: umemaruko

Shinto tradition, Swedish horses, and Danish bricks to celebrate the New Year

Japanese builder umemaruko uses LEGO to charming effect as part of seasonal decor and holiday traditions (we previously covered her beautiful fall collection). To usher in the Year of the Horse, the builder presents a trio of models. Hanging on the wall is a Nehiki Matsu, a pine sprig charm that is a precursor to the kadomatsu traditional display, where the items symbolize wishes for the new year. Umemaruko’s wishes for the year: to stay grounded and to keep growing! Also in the display, a pair of horses inspired by Swedish Dala horse wood carvings and a kagami mochi – mochi with stacked with dried persimmon. Traditionally, the branch would be burned and the mochi eaten, but I hope umemaruko still has good fortune even if these bricks don’t meet that fate.

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Celebrating autumn with bell jars and bento boxes

LEGO’s Botanicals line introduced many to the world of brick-built decor, but for builders like umemaruko, LEGO has always been a medium for elegant home decorating. Alongside her wall hangings and table settings, umemaruko celebrates the seasons with a rotating mix of bell jar vignettes. Her latest is an enchanting encapsulation of fall featuring forest critters picnicking among mushrooms.

The builder augments her fall collection with a custom wreath and a seasonal bento box.

As falling leaves and mushrooms give way to snowy nights, I wonder what LEGO decorations umemaruko will craft next?

Kick off summer with a spicy LEGO lemonade

With summer ramping up in the northern hemisphere, now’s the perfect time to find new refreshing drink recipes to beat the heat! This LEGO still life of spicy lemonade from umemaruko looks like it could be straight from the June issue of Bon Appetit. While the build itself is elegantly simple, the arrangement, colors, and photography add up to pure delight. This is the first time we’re featured umemaruko on the site, but their feed is definitely worth checking out, especially if you enjoy botanicals and brick-built decor for the modern home.