it was fun discovering tons of lego bowties all over the internet. this one was too cute not to share. thanks thinkbricks!

Why wear a regular bow tie when you can wear a LEGO bow tie!? In my travels to various conventions, I have seen many people wearing the coveted brick bow tie. In these instances, my usual fear of approaching people quickly disappears.

Why? Because I am distracted by that grand piece of plastic awesomeness! I simply must check out the tie from up close, and pelt the owner with a laundry list of questions. Why? Because, to me, it’s the coolest thing ever!

I recently went on a journey to discover as many brick-built bow ties as I could (along with their builders). I am happy to report that I found a lot and interviewed the builders in detail! So many, in fact, we needed two posts. (Spoiler alert for tomorrow!)

Today, in the first installment, we talk with Brandon Jones, BrickinNick (LEGO Masters US Season 3 winner), and Mark Johnson, owner of BrickCrafts.

Brandon Jones’ Educational Bow Ties

Going to LEGO conventions on a regular basis and meeting a plethora of other nerds, I often run into folks who, like me, work in the school system. One of these people is Brandon Jones. I believe Brandon was the first person I ever met wearing a brick bow tie, and I remember how awesome and fun I thought it was.

Brandon works as a teacher in a Washington State school where he uses LEGO to teach Engineering, Robotics, Moviemaking, and Math through STEM Education classes to Kindergarten all the way up to Grade 12. That’s quite a range!

Melissa: Hey Brandon! I am always excited to see the latest and greatest bow tie you have created. How often do you build a new brick-built bow tie? How excited are the school kids when they see your bow tie?

Brandon: I create a new bow tie to wear at school each week, and the kids (and staff) are always excited and eager to see what design is adorning my neckline. As I enter a room, I’m greeted with calls of “Teacher Brandon, can I see your bow tie?” or “Teacher Brandon, What’s your bow tie today?”

Melissa: What does a LEGO bow tie mean to you? What’s the idea behind it?

Brandon: A bow tie is a fashion statement, and a LEGO one takes it to the next level. But I also use my bow ties as conversation starters and teaching tools in my classes. When the kids ask, “What’s your bow tie today?” I have them guess what the LEGO design is showing and what they think it represents. When I’m wearing an American flag bow tie for the week of Memorial Day, we talk about those who have served our country with such sacrifice and how we can honor their memories. Kids will reply, “Oh yeah, my grandpa was in the army,” and we continue to converse about their connection to Memorial Day, making the holiday more real and relevant for them.

One of my favorite weeks falls around the equinox (the start of fall and spring). With one simple bow tie showing the earth and sun, I can motivate the conversation and my classroom lessons to be about the solar system; Earth, sun, planets, orbits, rotation on an axis, the seasons, longitude, latitude, time, science, math calculation, history, culture, Stonehenge, Mayan and Incan calendars, aliens, conspiracy theories, and nearly anything else that a teacher would want to teach about… all from the design on my LEGO bow tie.

During one week, I wore a bow tie with a model of the Vostok 1 spacecraft—none of the students or staff had a clue what it was or what it represented. There was a shy Russian student, and when they saw my bow tie, they lit up with excitement, jumping up and down, saying, “I know what it is! I know what it is! That is for Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space. He was Russian!” The student got to share the stories with all of the others and spoke with such pride. The personal reward for the student, the interest from the other students, and the total inclusiveness were so very heartwarming. Bow ties can bring us closer together.

Melissa: What are the main questions kids ask you when it comes to your bow ties? Or about LEGO in general?

Brandon: The most common question about my bow ties is, “How is it attached?”. I’m happy to unsnap the tie and show the 2 x 10 LEGO plate with a metallic (non-LEGO) bow tie clip secured to it, and that the rest of the bow tie is just LEGO pieces built onto the plate.

Melissa: Will you ever run out of ideas? Or are you like me and you have way too many ideas?

Brandon: I keep a few of my favorite bow tie designs on-hand, and they circle back now and again, but most weeks I make a new design that relates to special events or days that happen during that week.

Some designs are easy to find inspiration for, like major holidays (Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Christmas, Memorial Day) or seasonal changes (fall, winter, spring), or for some of the odder days (National Rubber Ducky Day, Groundhog Day, Star Wars Day). But, I also like to dig deeper into weekly events to recognize others like Amelia Earhart, Native Americans, Yuri Gagarin, celestial events like the Equinox, or to show solidarity for current world events.

Melissa: Where do your ideas come from?

Brandon: I cannot say where my ideas come from, but some of the designs come together quickly (in 10 to 15 minutes) as I’m scrambling to get out the door Monday morning, while others are tougher and take time. Often, I’ll work over the weekend, spending an hour or more trying many different design ideas and fine-tuning the details or colors. The passion to show, share and create is endless, and I hope my ideas and designs keep flowing so my bow ties are fresh for many years.

Melissa: Thanks for showing us the ‘behind the scenes’ of your brick-built bowties! You can check out Brandon’s many LEGO builds on his YouTube, Flickr and Instagram.

BrickinNick’s Iconic Bow Ties

Next up we have BrickinNick. Nick was the winner of LEGO Masters US Season 3, where he showed off his brick-built bow tie as part of his attire on the show each week. I’ve seen Nick around at various LEGO fan conventions wearing his fashionable bow tie.

Nick was kind enough to post free instructions on how to build a LEGO bow tie on his website. Thanks, Nick, for sharing your bow tie instructions with our BrickNerd readers!

Melissa: Hey Nick! Can you tell the readers what got you started in the world of LEGO? When did it all begin?

Nick: LEGO has been a lifelong passion for me, I remember finding my first Duplo-like building blocks at my grandmother's house when I was very young, as well as my grandparents taking me to the store when I was four years old to get my first LEGO set, which was LEGO Res-Q #6431 Road Rescue.

Melissa: What made you decide to create your first LEGO bow tie? Did something inspire you?

Nick: I have to be honest, I don't quite recall the specific inspiration, there was probably some kind of event. I think it was just wanting to show my love for LEGO when I was at formal events but in a subtle manner. I've been making LEGO wearables for my stream, like sunglasses and hats, so it was a simple transition and a fun way to try something new.

Melissa: How many LEGO bow tie variations have you created? Do you have a favorite?

Nick: There's definitely been a wide variety of them over the years. My favorites are the classic red and black, but I've made many, many colors, as well as more creative ones, like a Pokéball inspired one, Destiny (the video game) faction-inspired ones, as well as holiday-themed ones.

Melissa: As a non-bow tie wearer, whenever I see a brick-built bow tie in the wild, my mind starts racing with questions. I stare at it and wonder if it is heavy, how the heck does it stay on, and if kragle was used. Can you put my wonders to rest once and for all?

Nick: I've got you covered! I originally used LEGO for the strap—basically just a loop of clips—but that quickly became uncomfortable, especially due to the weight. I then, very fittingly, had my grandmother help out and sew some velcro to a ribbon, which I looped through some modified plates with bar (part #48336) on the back of the bow tie. It was much lighter and very comfortable!

As for structure, the design I use is quite durable outside of the most intensive use. When I knew I'd be moving around a lot, like for dancing at a party, I occasionally would run a small piece of tape near the outside edge of each side on the back of the bow tie which I could easily remove after the event.

Melissa: Do you have any random fun, funny, or interesting stories about a time you wore your LEGO bow tie in public? I ask because I have a beautiful, bright pink LEGO clutch purse that gets the best (usually excited) looks, comments, and questions in the most random of places.

Nick: That clutch sounds legendary—I hope I get to see it in person someday! And strangely enough, I feel like the funniest thing that happens with my bow ties is how often people don't even notice I'm wearing a LEGO bow tie, or it at least takes them a very long time to notice. The red one stands out a fair bit more and often garners a compliment and smile.

But the black one in particular sneaks under the radar much more, and people sometimes won't notice even after chatting several times throughout an event. People will even meet me in person after having watched LEGO Masters and only realize then, seeing the bow tie in person, that I had been wearing a LEGO bow tie (and my teammate on the show Stacey and her LEGO hair bow) on every episode.

One of the most exciting things has been seeing that kids noticed Stacey and I wearing LEGO bows on the show, and them feeling inspired to build their own! It's always amazing to see kids be inspired by something you've built.

Melissa: Did you create Stacey Roy’s hair bow on LEGO Masters too? If so, where can I get instructions, or buy one? I would love to get my hands on one!

Nick: I did! I had always wanted to come up with a hair bow design, and LEGO Masters gave me the perfect excuse to try it out. It's been very hectic since LEGO Masters, but both instructions and a place to buy one will be coming sometime this year for sure!

Melissa: Hooray! That brings me to my last question for you. Do you have any advice for anyone who is interested in building brick-built bow ties but doesn’t know where to start?

Nick: There are many different ways to do up a LEGO bow tie. Lots of folks enjoy doing a studs-out design that allows for easy decoration, which is awesome for quickly changing the look for different occasions. My design keeps things a bit more subtle, being more SNOT-based and showing fewer studs, but with a bit more work can also be customized for more unique designs. I think going for whatever kind of design is best suited to your personality is the way to go!

And definitely don't be afraid to use some non-LEGO things like tape, ribbon, or velcro to help you wear and keep your bow tie together (though I always encourage folks not to harm the bricks with cutting or gluing, but that's just me, hahaha).

Melissa: Thanks for chatting with us! Readers can follow Nick on his YouTube, Twitch, and Instagram profiles.

Mark Johnson’s Crafty Bow Ties

Mark Johnson is the owner and operator of BrickCrafts. Mark is a friendly guy who can be found in his booth at many LEGO conventions. Next time you are at BrickUniverse, BrickFair, Brickworld, or see the #BrickCraftsVan parked at a convention, look for his booth and his wicked cool brick-built bow tie along with a whole variety of other crafty LEGO fashion items like earrings, necklaces, flowers, and more.

Melissa: Hey Mark! As one of my go-to vendors for shopping, I always appreciate your brick-building skills and creations. Can you tell our BrickNerd readers a little about your LEGO life?

Mark: LEGO is part of my everyday life. I fell in love with LEGO in the 70s when I received the first Expert Builder Auto Chassis 956 for Christmas. I was lucky enough growing up to have my own LEGO room in the basement. When I wasn’t outside, I was in the basement with my LEGO. In the 80s, I used LEGO for a high school Rube Goldberg project, long before Great Ball Contraptions (aka GBC). The GBC is still one of my favorite attractions at conventions. In college, I led my team on a robotic car project where the objective was to traverse a predetermined figure-eight course around two “buildings.” Our objective was achieved using only the LEGO pieces and motors available at the time before Mindstorms came around.

photo courtesy of BrickCrafts with permissions.
these happy customers found some Mother's Day gifts at Brickfair, New England. And check out that adorable little brick-built bowtie!

Between 2000 and 2004, I found BrickLink and started making build-your-own LEGO Christmas ornament kits and began selling them on eBay. Then in 2008, I took my older son, Zack, to BrickFair for the first time. For fun, I had started making jewelry for my wife, Sandy, to wear to school when she was teaching. The following year, I was a vendor at BrickFair selling both jewelry and ornaments.

Melissa: How long has the BrickCrafts business been around?

Mark: The company, BrickCrafts, officially started in 2014 after I was laid off from my full-time IT position. That’s when I made the decision to do this full-time. Prior to 2014, it was a part-time hobby for me. I have been making wearable LEGO since the early 2000s.

In addition to custom made-to-order bow ties, I make long-stem roses, fidget spinners, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, barrettes, bobby pins, cufflinks, hair elastics, keychains and license plate frames. And if you don’t see what you want, just ask!

Melissa: How do you make your bow ties?

Mark: There are lots of different ways to create a LEGO bow tie. When I created my bow ties, I didn’t want to be limited by colors and parts not being available. I wanted the wearer to be able to easily customize the bow tie if they wanted to and not have it fall apart while wearing it. I also didn’t want the bow ties to be a single color, but at the same time have that option available.

The current version is different from my original in that I now use a two-part construction epoxy when attaching the magnetic backing to the LEGO. In the original version, because of the strength of the magnets used, the metal backing could be separated from the LEGO at warmer temperatures. This year, version three of the BrickCrafts bow tie will now have the option of up to six colors and have studs on both the face and the top of the bow tie for additional ways to be customized. When a customer asks for a custom color combination at a convention, it takes me about two minutes to gather parts, assemble, glue, and package the custom bow tie for them.

Melissa: What have been your youngest and oldest bow tie customers?

Mark: My youngest customers have been between three and six months old. On multiple occasions, I’ve had moms attach bow ties to little girl’s headbands. The oldest is a friend of mine, Jack, that I know from doing holiday craft shows. Jack is in his eighties and wears a two-tone green bow tie on his green apron. There are also a few dogs with bow ties attached to collars that I’m aware of.

Melissa: That’s awesome! I really hadn’t thought of how versatile the brick-built bow tie is until now. Wearable LEGO is a great way to find fun and awesome people. The earrings I often wear represent fun and create a great icebreaker for conversations. What does the brick-built LEGO bow tie represent to you?

Mark: I’m not a sports fan. You see people wearing things with their favorite teams all the time. My favorite team is LEGO. As a die-hard LEGO fan, I enjoy rooting on my favorite team by wearing and using LEGO with the things I make. I enjoy sharing my passion for LEGO. The LEGO bow tie is just one of the ways that I help share all there is to love about LEGO.

photo courtesy of brickcrafts with permissions.
this kid is enjoying Maryland Galactic Con 2016 in his newly purchased lego rose bow tie fighter. I wonder who he’s going to give that beautiful rose to?

Melissa: I’ve noticed your bow ties are really solid. What’s your secret or is it top secret like the Coca-Cola or Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe?

Mark: I use three different types of glue depending on the situation. I don’t recommend anyone using these glues for any model-building projects. The ABS cement that I use for things like bow ties and earrings is quite volatile when exposed to air. I have everything I’m going to assemble lined up and ready to go before I open the glue. If the cement drips where you don’t want it to be, it instantly scars the surface. The cement also has about a two-minute working time depending on the humidity.

The next glue I use is a two-part epoxy construction adhesive that bonds to both plastic and metal. I use the epoxy for bow ties and for things like barrettes or cufflinks where bonding with metal is necessary.

The third glue is for outdoor conditions which I use on my LEGO license plate frames. The license plate frames have to withstand extreme cold and warm temperatures and moisture.

check out my new license plate cover made by Mark for our car since the last one was stolen! photo credit: brickcrafts

Melissa: Are you a one-man show? I always see you solo at conventions and wonder how you do it!

Mark: For the most part, I am a one-man show who loves what he does. My wife is counting the days until she can retire from her job and work and travel with me. My younger son, Max, helps me when I’m home by counting parts for sets and packaging online orders. Max will often come to BrickFair with me.

When I’m traveling solo on the road, you might find me sitting at a picnic table in a rest area filling online orders out of my van. When I’m at a show, it’s not uncommon to see me filling online orders in the morning before the show starts. There are times where I do shutdown my online stores for a week or two, but for the most part I’m making something fun with LEGO every day.

Melissa: Do you have any favorite bow tie stories? Anything fun, funny, or straight-up awesome?

what goes great with the LEGO bow tie fighter? Why Darth Vader cosplay, of course! photo courtesy of BrickCrafts.

Mark: One of the fun parts about doing shows is people-watching. For fun, I will take note of someone wearing a fun, colorful, or uniquely colored outfit who has not yet visited my booth. I will then make a LEGO bow tie or earrings to match their outfit, and add it to my display. Later, if that person stops by my booth, they see what I made and think it is perfect!

When I go to LEGO conventions, quite often local news will visit early in the morning and do a segment at the event. I will often give reporters a bow tie and/or earrings to wear that match their outfit, which the reporter loves! They share that joy on-air with their viewers. and people often tell me they saw it on TV first.

this bow tie adds a splash of awesome to this family photo! photo courtesy of brickCrafts

Melissa: It was great talking to you, Mark! I’m sure some of our readers will see you at future LEGO conventions or on your website, Facebook, or Instagram.

But that’s not all! We have even more awesome LEGO bow tie builders coming up tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Do you build and wear LEGO bow ties? If so, comment below with a social media link so we can see!

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