Jingle Bell Teddy & Friends

On December 29, 2019December 29, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles2 Comments

And so it is that we have come to the last of the holiday puzzles for this year – Hooray! I actually really liked this image, and found it quite entertaining to assemble. So farewell Santa, we’ll be seeing you here on My Jigsaw Journal around December of 2020!

This is another puzzle that was purchased much earlier in the year by mom at the thrift store, and I’ve kept it around to assemble closer to the holidays. Sometimes I get a little bored with the Wysocki images, to me they can all seem a little similar; but this one is quite different and that’s one of the reasons I enjoy it so much.

This puzzle shows Santa Claus in some of his many other incarnations: Father Christmas, St. Nick, Pere Noel, etc. They were fun to assemble, and I liked the look of all of them except for one, there’s an ornament, and the look of it seems a little creepy to me…

Teddy 1

I know, I’m used to the sugary sweet Coca-Cola American version and many other countries and cultures have a much different image of Santa. He’s not always a jolly old elf, in some places he’s rather stern looking. Still, there’s something about this ornament that seems odd in some way – it wasn’t my favorite for sure.

Teddy 2

The lovely looking Santa with a green suit in a boat, he makes me smile. I’m not sure if this is a version of Santa from another country or if he only lives in the mind of Charles Wysocki, but I think he’s completely adorable!

This thrift store puzzle was complete, and I told mom when she brought it over that I would be assembling it this Christmas. And so I have kept my word. It was a lovely puzzle to assemble at 2 am when I couldn’t sleep and the house was quiet.

It kept this old lady off the streets and out of trouble. 😉

The North Pole

On December 28, 2019December 28, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles2 Comments

I love the look of this image, it reminds me of an Americana puzzle. It’s very different than the typical Christmas puzzle images that you normally see, and that’s what I love about it. If you look at the middle of the puzzle you’ll see that there’s a nativity scene – that’s something new, especially with this being the North Pole and Santa flying away to do his Christmas Eve work.

North Pole 1

The detail makes all the difference, I love the way they’ve cut that Santa whimsy! Wentworth whimsies make me happy, and one of the best parts of their puzzles is opening it up and searching through the pieces to see what shapes they’ve chosen and looking at the detail – at least it is for me.

I don’t get out much, and I have PADS, so my emotions are definitely linked to puzzles. 😉

Keepsake Memories

On December 27, 2019December 27, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles2 Comments

What? Another Christmas puzzle? I know, but I had three of them already assembled and waiting in my queue before I purchased the Terrible, Rotten, No Good, Very Bad Advent Calendar. So you’ll just have to put up with this and two more holiday puzzles before they are all done for the year.

Although the image is fun and interesting, the fit of this puzzle was not at all to my liking. It has the super tight fit that some Springbok puzzles have, where you have to use some upper body strength to press the pieces into place. It also makes for a puzzle that doesn’t always lay completely flat, because it’s so tight that it curls up in places. I know that some people prefer this very tight fit, but it’s just not for me.

Gnarly fit aside, the assembly was still engrossing and relaxing. Each of the fabrics/textures in the background were easy to pick out and assemble, and at the end it was just a matter of filling in each ornament. Calming, absorbing, entertaining, and all together lovely.

Keepsake 1

This was my favorite of the sections; Santa after work with his honeydew list of chores. I was able to read some of them, and he certainly has his work cut out for him! Fix the landing beacon, tune the glockenspiel, insulate the attic, and several other things that I wasn’t able to read. That ought to keep him busy and out of Mrs. Claus’ hair for a little while. 🔨🎅

How adorable are these two? Mom has chocolate dipped strawberries for feet, and dad has a licorice scarf and a peanut butter cup hat! Too cute!

Even though the fit was too tight for me, this puzzle still made me happy and provided me with several hours of alone time early in the mornings – peaceful quiet and puzzling. Lovely.

This puzzle is part of a batch of puzzles I’ve brought over from mom’s house. She loved this type of puzzle, especially with the Hallmark ornaments, and grama loved them too. Collages are my favorite type of puzzle, and these Springbok collages with the fabric backgrounds are so fun to assemble – that makes three generations of women who loved to puzzle, and loved this type of puzzle as well – and I assembled it this year in loving memory of the two women whom I deeply loved and learned my love of puzzling from. 💖

New Puzzles!

On December 26, 2019December 26, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling6 Comments

Just thought I’d do a little bragging, I got a bunch of puzzles this year for Christmas! My beautiful daughter went a little overboard, but I understand the reason and love her even more for it. 💝

She wanted to make sure I had enough smaller piece count puzzles to choose from; I have MANY, MANY 1000 piece puzzles or larger here at the house. When we go puzzle shopping together I’m usually looking for puzzles under 1000 pieces to fill in the gaps, so she stocked me up for a month or so. 😉

There are three puzzles at 550 pieces, three that are 500 pieces, and two 300 pieces – what a great selection! I’m certainly glad the Jan van Haasteren puzzle is only 550 pieces, it’s so busy and it’s been years since I assembled one of his images. The Aimee Stewart Skate Night puzzle is GORGEOUS and it just might be saved until last, and there are three adorable dog puzzles that are so sweet!

She did a beautiful job selecting puzzles, and I can’t wait to get going on them. I’m starting today with Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the image makes me very happy and I think it’s going to be a great assembly. All those colors in the background should be a lot of fun. 😎

I also got these beauties from my dear friend Penny at Puzzlemomma.com. The cottages are for when I can’t sit at my puzzle table and am resting in bed, the Elf puzzle is because we were just talking about funny movies (and it’s adorable), and the 2000 piece Pixar puzzle is because she’s always cheering me on to overcome my anxiety and do some larger puzzles again (and because it’s a collage and she knows how much I love them).

She did an excellent job of selecting puzzles as well, and I’ve got a great new pile of puzzles in my stash to choose from. I’m almost looking forward to having to be in bed so I can get to assembling those cottages! 😉

Both my puzzle benefactors this year picked out some wonderful puzzles for me and as I’m putting them together I will be reminded of the thoughtfulness and kindness of these two fantastic women. Every piece of every puzzle is thoroughly appreciated, and I’m looking forward to each assembly and to sharing these puzzles with my readers.

My PADS is flaring up today and I find that my mood this morning is a puzzle induced euphoria – so many sensational new puzzles to choose from! 😍

12 Days of Christmas Puzzles Day 12 Merry Christmas!

On December 25, 2019December 25, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles2 Comments

Yes, the comedy of errors continues, another missing piece. I find that I can’t even work up any anger about this one, it’s just been too much. Four puzzles with a piece missing, and one puzzle missing entirely and substituted with another. Sigh. And it doesn’t end there….

12 Days - 12 -1

We also have two extra pieces today in addition to the missing one. So potentially another consumer could have my missing piece, and I could have someone else’s edge pieces. It’s all just too ridiculous for words. A set of 12 puzzles that has so many problems, and that it would end up in the hands of a jigsaw puzzle blogger is just insanity.

The lack of quality control for this batch of puzzles is beyond horrid. I’ve always found that special editions made by Ceaco are much better quality than their “regular” puzzles, but this set is definitely NOT one of those. Missing pieces, missing puzzles, extra pieces – it’s all just been completely outrageous.

Back to the drawing board Ceaco, you blew it on this one. Do Better! We puzzlers deserve the best quality you can give us, and if this is your best then I am done with your brand and I will encourage others to be done with your brand as well.

I just don’t have the energy to rant and rave about this any more. Perhaps if I ever hear from Ceaco, or if there are problems returning it I might talk about this some more, but not today. It’s Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all my readers who celebrate the holiday, and to all those who don’t let me take the time today to express my thanks and appreciation to everyone who reads my silly little puzzle blog. I appreciate every view, every like, and every comment; and I want to express my gratitude to each and every reader for stopping by. I wish you all holiday blessings, and peaceful happy puzzling. 💖🧩