Kimberly Giffen
About you
What is your name?
Kimberly Giffen
Which country are you from?
United States
How old are you?
45 years young
About your LEGO passion
How did you get into building with LEGO bricks, especially building your own creations?
I got into it the same way many did. I had a first birthday full of LEGO® DUPLO and transitioned to LEGO System around age 3 or 4 and didn’t stop until I went to college. Having my own children pulled me right back into building creations for my kids to play with and that transitioned into more and more advanced creations. They would move onto other things while I continued building.
What kind of creations do you love building the most, and why?
I have always had a deep love of architecture. There can be a focus on pattern and symmetry, and at the same time one can add whimsy, charm, landscapes, and story to it. Architecture is never the same because you can draw from different regions and time periods.
If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring LEGO builders, what would it be?
It’s about growth and not perfection. Make the next creation slightly better than the last. It is about your journey, bringing your best to the table and not about trying to outbuild others.
How does it feel to have your work exhibited here at LEGO House - Home of the Brick?
So ecstatic! I have dreamed about this opportunity since I learned about it 4 years ago.
What’s next for you in your LEGO journey—any upcoming projects or dreams?
I would love to work my passion for LEGO bricks into a career. In the meantime, I plan to continue creating models for conventions, Rebrickable, and the BrickLink Designer Program.
Do you have a personal LEGO portfolio website or social media profile that you can share?
Yes, I post all my creations and works in progress on https://www.instagram.com/k_giffen_creates/.
I have a personal portfolio https://www.flickr.com/photos/k_giffen_creates/.
About your LEGO creation(s) on display
Title
Mystic Falls Keep
Can you describe your model and what it represents?
This creation really came about from my desire to create a fantasy world. I went down the Pinterest rabbit hole of fantasy art. Spiral staircases, castles, waterfalls, cities, built in the trees. Art that takes you to some place magical. Most of my builds start with some research. This build started with the bridge. The idea was that the bridge was the connection of the community. I also wanted to try building in multiple scales so that the smaller scale would be seen as buildings in the distance.
How long did it take you to build?
The model took three months to build.
Approximately how many LEGO elements did you use?
I would estimate 20,000 bricks. I don’t keep track while building, the number is most likely higher.
Are there any hidden details, Easter eggs, or techniques used that fans should look out for?
A unique technique was used in the rock work in the back. It is built on 16x16 LEGO Technic plates that are most commonly used in LEGO art sets. This allowed for the walls to be built as panels and attached to the main section via LEGO Technic pins. Doing so changes the part options available for the rock work.
Up for a challenge? Find the frogs! There are 25.
