I brought my LEGO bricks and Pixelblocks together tonight to test the statement on the Pixelblocks web site that their product is compatible with "other" construction toys. Pixelblocks snap into LEGOs as you can see in the first photo! This means, for example, that Pixelblock sculptures can be built on top of LEGO baseplates. In making hybrid sculptures, a few Pixelblocks nested in a LEGO construction add a translucent crystaline accent. LEGOs in Pixelblock sculptures can provide some eye relief from the busy vertical texture that surrounds Pixelblocks. I love it when toys interoperate.

Also, in my holiday travels, I found another construction toy with pieces even smaller than Pixelblocks. The opaque Craft House Snap Art Beads come in 18 colors to Pixelblock's 20, cost less, and can be assembled in 2 and 3D. Though Snap Art Beads stack, the flat, puzzle piece design of the blocks doesn't lend itself well to interesting 3D constructions, and the packaging seems to concede this point by showcasing all 2D designs. Unfortunately, Snap Art Beads don't connect with LEGO bricks or Pixelblocks.

So I close this moblog post wondering what in this heirarchy of bricks, blocks and beads is larger than a brick and smaller than a bead?

- mike lee - langley park, md