Month: January 2024

Down on the Boardwalk

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles4 Comments

Down on the Boardwalk by Charles Fazzino – TCG – 300 pieces

The riotous color in this image was very enjoyable and went quite quickly once it was started. I’ve done a few Charles Fazzino images and they’ve always been interesting and entertaining to put together. Normally artwork with so many things packed tightly together isn’t quite my cup of tea (think Jan van Haasteren), but this one has enough breaks with the ocean and sky that it wasn’t too difficult.

The quality was much better than expected for a TCG puzzle; they are hit and miss in the quality department for me – usually more misses than hits unfortunately. But this puzzle had great reproduction, good cut, and an excellent fit.

Everything was bright and fun with lots of people, places, and things to see. Love the Rainforest Cafe!

The whole puzzle was just all around fun. I’ve never been to Atlantic City, but this boardwalk puzzle makes it look like fun.

Wonderland In Progress…

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling11 Comments

Wonderland by Bill Bell – Wentworth – 140 pieces

This little Wentworth puzzle has been slow going so far, I’ve put away the box so this is being put together without an image for reference. Still, it’s bright and colorful and I’m hoping it’ll be great fun.

The image on the box seems quite small, and it’s a bit difficult to see the detail; so I’m looking forward to seeing the artwork in more detail on the pieces themselves. There have only been a few pieces put together here and there, when I see a piece that goes with another – pretty much like all jigsaw puzzling now that I think about. But there’s so much going on that it isn’t coming together as quickly as it normally does.

Still having a good time with it though, and that’s the part that counts!

I’m having a rough time lately, and don’t seem to be as interested in puzzling as I usually am. Once I get a puzzle going things are ok, but it’s getting one started that’s the problem; I’d rather lay in bed and watch Netflix to be honest. But that isn’t good for me at all. Sigh.

Tiered Treats

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles8 Comments

Tiered Treats by Aimee Stewart – Wentworth – 210 pieces

A shaped wooden puzzle with an image by Aimee Stewart – yes please! This was much more difficult than I thought it would be, but that didn’t matter one bit because I enjoyed this puzzle from the first piece to the last. 💚🧩

Interestingly this puzzle was easiest at the top with the brightly colored macarons; the cupcakes, fruit and mille feuille in the middle tier were a little bit more challenging, but the bottom tier with the sandwiches was not easy at all. Still, it was fun to work from the top down – that isn’t something I usually do.

*Mille feuille are the beautiful layered treats on the right side of the middle layer – it means “thousand sheets” and is made from puff pastry and usually filled with a vanilla pastry cream and topped with vanilla and chocolate icing. I’ve never had one, but I’ve watched enough of The Great British Baking Show to know what they are. They sound amazing!

Aren’t these fabulous tea time whimsies? Bread, sandwiches, cakes, cookies, teapots, fruit – I love them!

This puzzle had excellent quality and stunning image reproduction, I absolutely adored this assembly. There’s another shaped Aimee Stewart from Wentworth on the to-do shelf, and I’m very much looking forward to it. 😍

Flower Deer

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles4 Comments

Flower Deer by Coco de Paris – Milton Bradley – 300 pieces

This image is just beautiful, and adorable at the same time. Loved it! This is the third of these puzzles with images by Coco de Paris that I’ve done, and they’ve all been great fun, but not too easy at the same time. So entertaining!

The quality was pretty good for this thrift store puzzle. A good variety of piece shapes, good fit, nice image reproduction, and a not too shiny finish. Overall, I would say good/very good in the quality department for this one.

If you look at the back of the box there are so many different brand names it was difficult at first to decide which one to credit. Listed on the box were Milton Bradley, Cardinal, Hasbro, and Spin Master. I decided that the name shown on the front as well would be the name I went with, so Milton Bradley is credited here.

Fun little puzzle that didn’t take nearly as long as I thought it might, it was difficult to walk away from once I got into the assembly of the center. The border was assembled first, and then the puzzle sat unloved and alone on the board for more than 24 hours before I actually started working on the inside of the puzzle; but once I started I didn’t want to leave.

Lots of fun!

The Alchemist’s Home In Progress…

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling6 Comments

The Alchemist’s Home by Vasilisa Romanenko – eeBoo – 1000 pieces

I’m loving this puzzle that my beautiful daughter gave me for Christmas and although it’s slow going I’m enjoying every bit of it. It’s been quite a while since I’ve put together an eeBoo puzzle, but the image on this one is fantastic and it’s been very entertaining so far.

Just a side note, the “stamp” on the front of the box says that the company is Woman Owned and Mother Run. LOVE THAT!