Author: Stacey at myjigsawjournal

Untitled In Progress…

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling4 Comments

Untitled Image by Iralu – Cardinal – 150 pieces

Looking for a smaller piece count to work on led me to do something I almost never do – I found the one I wanted to work on and then dumped out all the pieces onto my board – and the only sorting that has been done is to sort the edges from the inside. Shocked? I am!

It’s an untitled puzzle from a multipack of twelve that was purchased several years ago. I know that most multipacks aren’t the best quality, and usually never even look twice at them in the stores or thrift shops. But I saw the images on the box from an artist I’d never heard of and the artwork spoke to me – bad quality or no these were images that I wanted to assemble. I actually purchased them retail. 😲

I’ve assembled a few of the puzzles (think early 2020), but somewhere in time the box got pushed under my puzzle table. Out of sight, out of mind it seems. In my current funk although I want to do some puzzling, committing to 1000 pieces is a bit much for me. So today I went in search of something smaller and happened upon this box with more puzzles left to be completed.

My mood is cranky and impatient at the moment, so messing around with any kind of sorting at all isn’t in the cards and neither is laying pieces out neatly in rows. My OCD will just have to take a backseat to my hella bad attitude – this time.

At only 150 pieces the untitled image shouldn’t take too long, and it’ll be an interesting assembly I’m sure. The quality is less than optimal, but these puzzles are all about the artwork for me, and I’m looking forward to it!

Country Kitchen

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles6 Comments

Country Kitchen by Olga – Buffalo (Country Life Series) – 1000 pieces

This beautiful image was perfect for puzzling, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself! Great colors, just enough dark areas so that it wasn’t too easy, and just a lovely picture all around. I’m wishing I had a piece of that apple pie right about now too. 🥧

Excellent quality all around, as has been the usual for Buffalo puzzles that I’ve been working lately. It had a great fit, nice reproduction, very good cut – it was just pleasant to work with in pretty much every way.

All the images through the window were sharp and beautiful. Each had their own assembly challenges, but it was thoroughly engrossing.

This was one of the last sections I put together, it looks as though momma kitty is trying to get her little one out of the cupboard. I’m not really a cat person, but it’s cute.

I truly enjoyed this puzzle, it went together quickly – partly because it was pretty easy to sort; curtains, window, flowers, etc. It wasn’t overly difficult, but was just difficult enough so that it wasn’t boring.

I had a great time with this one, it was only my second image from this artist. I think she’s a cat person, but I won’t hold it against her. 😉

Brian in Shipping

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles2 Comments

Brian in Shipping – MicroPuzzles – 150 pieces

This adorable puzzle sat in the bathroom for a while, but in the end it was one of those puzzles that had to be brought into the puzzle room so that it could be worked on under good lighting. The darker or more difficult images really need to be assembled with a proper light source, otherwise they become frustrating.

Feeling as though a puzzle is tedious, too difficult, or frustrating is bad for my puzzle mojo – I avoid it if at all possible. All this baby needed was proper lighting and it was finished in no time!

The image online seems so much lighter than the actual puzzle, especially the blue background. The darker blue does make for a better contrast with the picture frames though.

This is two-time MicroPuzzles employee of the month – Brian – he allegedly works in shipping. 😉 He looks like a model employee to me, but I hear that he sometimes gives out discount codes without authorization. My goodness!

Lions & Tigers & Bears OH MY

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles10 Comments

Lions & Tigers & Bears OH MY by Dean MacAdam – Ravensburger – 1000 pieces

FANTASTIC puzzle from beginning to end! The image, the colors, the contrast between bright colors and dark shades – I loved it all. Dean MacAdam, please give us many more images like these, I can’t get enough of them. 💛

Great quality as usual, there were a couple of bent pieces but that happens with every brand once in a while. Great matte finish, excellent fit, and beautiful reproduction. Well done Ravensburger, puzzles like this one are why you have such a stellar reputation for quality puzzles.

I love the silly faces of the munchkins, whatever those things with blue hair are, and that in the trees there are evil bees. So fun!

Scariest flying monkey I’ve seen – much more evil looking than the movie monkeys in my opinion.

It seems that because I’ve never actually read the books I have no idea who these two characters are. The wizard is in the hot air balloon – so who is this guy? And what about the royal rat? Anyone? (I could look these things up online but I’d much rather talk to you guys about it. 😊)

What’s In Progress…

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling10 Comments

I’m working on a wooden puzzle called Fairytale Cottage, and these are some of the whimsies – aren’t they adorable? My puzzle mojo is taking a beating so far this month, so I’m trying to get myself motivated with this beautiful wooden puzzle.

I find myself laying in bed with no inclination to get up and do anything at all. Depression sucks big time. I’ll weave my way through it, I always do, but while you’re in it it doesn’t seem as if it will ever be better; you know in your head that it will not always be this way, but you don’t feel like it will.

Hopefully this funk won’t last long, and I’ll be back at it with vigor very soon.