The Junk Journaler’s Desk In Progress…

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw PuzzlingLeave a comment

The Junk Journaler’s Desk by Aimee Stewart – Buffalo – 1000 pieces

There’s just something about an Aimee Stewart image that makes me unbelievably happy. It isn’t just the colors, it’s how they work together, and how so many seemingly disparate things come together to form such a cohesive and pleasing image. Not only is it pleasing to the eye, they’re almost always extremely fun to assemble.

When I was working on this yesterday I was thinking to myself how you couldn’t really tell what’s what on most of the pieces; and then after going through them only once to pull out some pieces I began to recognize colors and textures and have more of an idea where they might go and which pieces would fit together with them. Every time I went through them I got more and more familiar with them and where they belonged.

It’s one of those images where you could use the poster or box image, but I also find it entertaining to just let the pieces take me where they may and eventually it all fits together.

I’m having such a good time that I overdid the puzzling yesterday and am already feeling it this morning. Here’s hoping my pain meds and a few cups of coffee get me back to the board and this gorgeous puzzle quickly!

Greetings From the Upside Down

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles2 Comments

Greetings From the Upside Down – Buffalo – 300 pieces

Loving both jigsaw puzzles and the series Stranger Things means that buying this puzzle was a no brainer when I found it at the thrift store on my last visit. The colors, the weirdness, it being basically only words – how could I not love this one?

Buffalo puzzles have such good quality, I never hesitate to get any puzzle if it’s one of theirs. Even secondhand this one was still in excellent condition even though it seems to have been assembled many times. Still an excellent fit, no splitting of the chipboard, etc. There was one small spot on the edge of one piece where it seemed slightly bent upwards, but it looks to me as if it may have happened when it was disassembled, perhaps a little too roughly.

Most of this was built at night, after everyone in the house was asleep. Sometimes it feels as though there is never any actual quiet around here unless I’m the only one awake. There’s always someone walking, talking, asking, breathing, eating – in general just making lots of noise so that I can’t fully relax and enjoy my puzzling. Perhaps that just the moody menopausal momma that I turn into sometimes, but today (and last night while putting this puzzle together) that’s exactly how I feel.

Taking pictures of puzzles this way started out as a joke between mom and myself; it’s a silly way to show how well a puzzle fits together. My mom and I could be our silliest, weirdest selves with each other and we loved making each other laugh. Pictures like this were one way to make her smile, so whenever possible I sent her standing up puzzle pictures over text. She loved them. Now every time I’m able, I take these pictures.

To make both of us smile. 😇😁

Rice Krispies

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw PuzzlesLeave a comment

Rice Krispies – Rose Art – 50 pieces

This was a very quick 50 piece puzzle that my son wanted me to do, so I did. 😎

I found this one at Ollie’s (discount store in the US) for a very reasonable price, and I just can’t resist a small puzzle! The pieces of this were quite large though, it was surprising how large the completed puzzle was – 7 x 9 in. (18 x 23 cm). For only 50 pieces! I could assemble two 150 piece MicroPuzzles and lay them on top of this one and still have space left over and lots of image peeking through. Wowza!

Love the reproduction on this one, it’s very crisp. And in the end it made me hungry for/want to make Rice Krispies treats, which I plan on doing this morning before it gets too late in the day for me to function. Mmmmm, love Rice Krispies treats. 😍

BTW, have you ever noticed that Snap, Crackle, and Pop have red, blond, and brown hair respectively? I can honestly say I’ve never paid attention to it before now; I don’t know why or if it matters, but I did notice.

Anna’s Ice Cream Parlor In Progress…

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling2 Comments

Anna’s Ice Cream Parlor by Eduard – MasterPieces – 750 pieces

I’m absolutely loving this one, especially the colors – they’re bright and fun and make for excellent puzzle building. It’s going together a little haphazardly, but I don’t care, I’m having a great time.

Hope you’re working on something just as fun today – happy puzzling my friends!

Delicious Donuts

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles2 Comments

Delicious Donuts – Think2Master – 500 pieces

Although I absolutely love this image the puzzle itself wasn’t too enjoyable for me. I’d like to tell you that I can be unbiased about puzzles and speak from a purely neutral place – but we all know that’s bullsh*t. I bring with me the sum total of all my puzzling experiences, good and bad, and they all color my impressions, good and bad.

When I opened this box that I received in a puzzle swap and saw that this puzzle had letters on the back I was so disappointed. The collage image of wonderfully decorated donuts looks like such fun, but now I know that it’s a made-in-China-type-quality puzzle, and try as I might it can’t now be unseen or unknown. Sigh.

There are bad feelings from me toward the puzzle companies that popped up during the pandemic and continue to do so. They steal images from artists and use them to make low-quality puzzles that are sad imitations of the premium puzzles that we know and love. They’re everywhere now and truly I doubt we’ll ever get rid of them. There will always be someone willing to buy their puzzles because they’re cheaper, so of course they aren’t going anywhere. Letters on the back of the puzzle (to use for sorting or assembling) signify to me a cheaply made puzzle, so the moment I see them I immediately assume I will not be enjoying the puzzle.

It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.

So, sadly, that’s what I’m telling you. I have an attitude about these companies, therefore I didn’t really enjoy this puzzle no matter how adorable the image is.

Anyway, wanna see the donut I like best?

I think this donut is beautiful, though I’m not sure I would want to eat it.