What I’ve Been Doing

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling, Miscellaneous2 Comments

Once I came back to the puzzle table after my two year hiatus, in addition to working on jigsaw puzzles I’ve been re-reading through the blog. Every. Single. Post.

I started at the beginning in September of 2016 when I received the enormous box containing the Memorable Disney Moments puzzle with 40,320 pieces and kept reading right on through. Of course it was way too many posts to read in one sitting, and when it was too painful to sit in a chair putting puzzles together I would take my computer and read through old posts in bed. It was nice to refamiliarize myself with all the puzzles I’ve done, read all about what fantastic puzzles mom would find at the thrift stores and how much fun we had working on them together, and to read through all the many moods of me. (Apparently when Stacey is p*ssed off she can be VERY funny!😈)

And even though I had just read through the entire blog my memory isn’t what it used to be. I was thinking about all my mini puzzles; which ones I had already done and which ones were yet to be assembled. So one very early morning when sleep eluded me I went through all my Wentworth mini puzzles and all my MicroPuzzles to see which ones had already been completed and which ones I had yet to do. My memory can’t be trusted so I used the blog to search for each image to be certain whether or not a particular title had been posted about. I was shocked to find that there were only five Wentworths that I haven’t done – but even more shocking there were FORTY MicroPuzzles that needed some puzzle love!

The picture above is just some of the MicroPuzzles that still need to be assembled. I was a member of the subscription service, and even when I stopped puzzling for a while the mini puzzles kept right on coming through the mail. At some point I had to replace my debit card and the subscription service stopped. (I’m kicking myself now that I didn’t take care of keeping the subscription going when that happened, because now MicroPuzzles has ended their subscription service and all those fantastic images that were unique to subscribers only are gone forever.😥)

Anyway, now all the mini puzzles that need assembling are back in the puzzle room where they belong. Hubby did some work in there while I was away from the blog, and moved all my puzzles around. I had a system, and he bleeped it up! I had shelves for puzzles that were yet to be assembled, piles and boxes of puzzles to be donated, some that were being sent to Penny, and now I don’t know what’s what anymore. All the puzzles are on new shelving units in my walk-in closet, and I’m going to end up having to take my computer in there to check which puzzles I’ve done and which still need putting together. Many of them I know for sure whether or not they’ve been done, but there are even MORE that I have no idea whether or not it’s been assembled yet and I’ll have to check the titles against the blog posts to see what’s what.

So in addition to assembling puzzles, writing up posts, and window shopping for new puzzles online I’ll have to slowly go through all the puzzles that are here and figure out which group they belong in. I’m actually looking forward to it though (just don’t tell hubby); it’s kind of nice to take a trip down memory lane every once in a while. And I’m certain I’ll find some great puzzles that I forgot I had!

Get Your Stitch Together

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles11 Comments

Unlike almost every other post I’ve done here at My Jigsaw Journal the picture of the completed puzzle will have to be a little farther down instead of at the top. There’s a LOT of cuss words in this puzzle, and I wanted to be sure to give anyone who wishes the option to decide whether or not to see the image.

This puzzle was a gift from my bestest puzzle buddy Penny, who was so excited that I finally got back to the puzzle board that she ordered a couple of naughty image puzzles to be delivered to my front door. You have no idea how hard I laughed when I saw the images that she choose for me – she knows me so well!

What The Puzzles is a new-to-me puzzle brand, and it was new to Penny as well. Luckily this brand seems to have very good quality. The pieces are a little thin but very sturdy, there are a good variety of piece shapes, the image reproduction was beautiful, and the fit is exceptional. I was impressed! It also comes with a large poster that you can use to help with the assembly; even the poster was impressive as the paper used was thick with a beautiful reproduction of the image. The one drawback for me is that it has that “sharp” white backing that I’m not overly fond of, but it wasn’t too bad to work with. I haven’t found too many puzzles “made in China” that were of such good quality, so this was a pleasant surprise. I try not to make quick judgements until I have at least assembled two or three puzzles by any brand, but so far this brand has done very well. I’ll let you know how I feel after I’ve put together the second puzzle Penny choose for me.

*Also, the legal-ish stuff included on the box was too funny! This puzzle is…zero carb, gluten free, dairy free, tobacco free, not tested on animals, gateway to knitting, and may cause extreme frustration. 😎

Ok, that’s enough yammering for now; if you’re interested in seeing my VERY naughty puzzle then all you have to do is scroll down…

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Get Your Stitch Together – What The Puzzles – 1000 pieces

There’s something about these very naughty sayings cross-stitched and embroidered into little samplers that I find absolutely hilarious. I’m not ashamed to tell you that I can have quite the potty mouth when I get upset, although I have never ever told anyone to deep throat a cactus.

Yet. 😈

I love this little section – just for us puzzle junkies!

The fit was so good that I got to take my favorite kind of picture – this 1000 piece puzzle stood up with no problems at all! I can usually only get this type of picture with smaller piece counts, it’s very rare that a 1000 piece puzzle is able to stand up. Impressive.

Overall I was very happy the quality of this puzzle, and even though it wasn’t an easy assembly I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Thanks again Penny, I loved this $%^&* !@#$ of a *+>@&% puzzle! 😇

Seattle In Progress…

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling, Miscellaneous17 Comments

Seattle by Eric Dowdle – Dowdle Puzzles (Mini Wooden Puzzle) – 250 pieces

This gorgeous little beauty has been sitting partially assembled on my board for several days. I received a care package from The Puzzle Fairy (aka Penny) on Saturday, and immediately wanted to try out this mini wooden puzzle. The pieces are so small – about the size of a dime! I started it on a tray in the bedroom, but this little guy needed better lighting so I had to transfer it to the puzzle room. Sorry about the wonky picture, didn’t realize that I cut off one of the corners until just now and I’m too tired to retake it.

Unfortunately that evening around dinner time my dad called and asked me to take him to the hospital, and that’s basically where I’ve been every day since. He was admitted on Saturday night, and we’re still there. There hasn’t been much puzzling going on, but there has been plenty of sitting around on uncomfortable hospital seating. I’m hoping that today I can maybe do a MicroPuzzle or perhaps one of my Wentworth minis.

If I hadn’t started this puzzle before we got the call I might have taken it to the hospital the first morning he had his own room, but actually I’m glad I didn’t. The fit is so loose that it needs constant readjustment whenever anything gets moved. Honestly, it’s one of the loosest fitting wooden puzzles I’ve ever done, and without my fabric covered board to help keep the pieces from moving too much it would be a giant pain in the butt!

Even with the loose fit I’m still really enjoying this – even if I only find one or two pieces at a time. The artwork is beautiful, and though I find Eric Dowdle’s images challenging to puzzle it remains an entertaining little assembly. At first I thought I was going to use the little poster that comes with it, but I found that I’d rather take my time and enjoy finding each piece on my own rather than know exactly what I was looking for and where it went. Sometimes I use a poster, but lately I’m just enjoying the puzzles however it makes sense for me on that particular day. It’s been fun!

It struck me as odd after typing up the previous paragraph that my last White Mountain puzzle had me complaining about the loose fit, and here I am saying that although this puzzle has an extremely loose fit that I’m enjoying the assembly. I have no excuses or explanations – all I can tell you is that it’s the truth.

It’s been nice to have this puzzle sitting on my board so that when I come home after spending all day at the hospital I can sit down, even if it’s only for a few moments and find a piece or two to add. Last night, I sat down, found one piece, and that was it. At least I can say I did a teeny tiny bit of puzzling yesterday; even just finding that one piece made me happy, and isn’t that what it’s all about?

*If you have a spare few moments today, send a good thought for my dad that he continues to improve and that we’ll be able to get him home from the hospital without needing any surgery. Thank you my friends. 💕

Vintage Fairy Tales

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles11 Comments

Vintage Fairy Tales by Lois B. Sutton – White Mountain – 1000 pieces

Long time readers of the blog may be surprised to hear this, but I didn’t enjoy this collage as much as I’d hoped to. The fit was NOT good, and the loose, floppy manner in which the pieces fit together was a pain to deal with. A bit of a bummer, as this was one of the new purchases that I was very excited to assemble. Sigh.

White Mountain puzzles have never been a premium quality brand in my opinion, but I always know that going in when I purchase them and deal with their issues because of my adoration and love for collage images. White Mountain and Re-marks both have excellent catalogs of collages, and when necessary I deal with less than premium quality because those kind of puzzle images make me extremely happy.

Perhaps I just wasn’t in the mood to deal with it this time, cause it kinda p*ssed me off. (Part of it could have been that I received two gifted puzzles yesterday from Penny my puzzle posse pal and as soon as they arrived I REALLY wanted to get started on one of them. Who knows?)

Honestly, this puzzle annoyed me because I was so looking forward to it and it let me down in the quality department. I didn’t even want to take any close up pictures this time or talk about any of the books.

Annoyed. Disappointed. A little sad too.

Minnie Mouse

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles8 Comments

Minnie Mouse – Mega Puzzles (Multipack) – 150 pieces

This is another thrift store purchase that I got the other day, ain’t she cute? I thought so too. The quality was pretty awful, but I knew going in that it most likely would be, so it wasn’t a surprise. Puzzles from a multipack usually aren’t premium quality, but 8 Disney puzzles for $4.99 with adorable images was just too good a bargain for me to pass up.

I documented my progress with this one, as I knew it would go together quickly. It didn’t start the way most of my puzzles do, there was no sorting at all. All the pieces were laid out on my board and the edges were separated…

Once the edge was assembled I smushed all the pieces a little closer together so I wouldn’t have to lean or reach for any of the pieces…

Then the assembly really began. I started with the words in the yellow bubble in the corner, and as many pieces of the faces of Minnie that I could find. She’s coming together and looking adorable isn’t she?

At only 150 pieces this one was started and finished quickly, but it doesn’t mean it wasn’t enjoyable. Even with the questionable quality it was fun and entertaining and has me looking forward to working with the other cute images in this box of 8 puzzles.

I am most definitely a puzzle snob who prefers a premium puzzle like Ravensburger, Pomegranate, or Jumbo to name a few, but I also don’t limit myself to only the very best of puzzles. I enjoy expensive puzzles and cheap ones alike; there’s nothing like finding an amazing deal at the thrift store. I still have hopes of finding a Stave puzzle at a thrift store, although I doubt it will ever happen!

Thoughts of mom had me going out of my way to get to a thrift store that has always had a very good jigsaw puzzle selection this week after I went in for a mammogram. (Ain’t it great being a lady? *sigh* It definitely isn’t much fun, but it is necessary – take care of your ta-tas ladies!)

I’m glad I took the time. I feel the teeniest bit closer to mom when I’m working a puzzle from the thrift store, and now I have quite a few of them here to choose from.