Author: Stacey at myjigsawjournal

…Banned Books In Progress…

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling2 Comments

I Read Banned Books by Laura Korzon – Mudpuppy – 500 pieces

If you are a regular reader you know how I feel about banned books. 🤬 A regular reader and member of my puzzle posse (and charter member of the PADS posse) who knows how I feel about both collages and banned books sent me this puzzle for an early birthday present. Of course it had to be next on my board – I love it!

It got sorted yesterday, but I wasn’t feeling well and spent much of the day in bed resting. Perhaps I got a bit too much rest during the day because about 1:30 this morning I was up and at the puzzle board getting this one started. 😴

As you can see I sorted them by section and started with the bottom row, but didn’t get all the pieces sorted correctly. It isn’t too surprising, I almost never get things sorted perfectly on the first try. That’s ok, nobody’s perfect – besides, it makes it more fun when I find the piece that’s missing.

It’s going really quickly, and I almost wish it had more pieces; it’s going to be over too soon! I’ve never done a Mudpuppy puzzle larger than 500 pieces, though I do know they make 1000 piecers. Has anyone ever done one of their larger piece count puzzles? If so, I’d love to hear what you think about the quality.

I’m not a fan of the sharp white backing that they use and I wish there was more than one piece shape, but the fit is excellent as is the image reproduction. The image is so entertaining to put together, of course I’m loving it!

Thanks again Penny, you chose a great puzzle! 💙

Imagine!

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles4 Comments

Imagine! by Lana Kissinger – Liberty – 284 pieces

This is not your typical jigsaw puzzle image, and that’s why I love it! Plus, part of the proceeds from this puzzle go to a program called Imagine! that assists and benefits those with intellectual and developmental disabilities – you know I can’t resist that either. 😊

It was the most difficult puzzle we assembled on our trip, but the challenge was part of the fun. And everyone who helped thought it looked too difficult, but everyone was able to find pieces that fit together. That gave them more confidence, and they kept at it. (I’m working on converting my entire family into jigsaw puzzling loving freaks just like me.)

Such fun whimsies, the couple having a picnic was one of my favorites, and the woman painting at the easel. (Hubby wasn’t thrilled with the bee whimsies, he was attacked by an in-ground nest of yellow jackets that he disturbed by accident and ended up needing medical attention – not the most fun vacation for him) I tactlessly pointed the bees out to him when he was helping me with the puzzle, and for some reason he didn’t think I was very funny. 😉

I love the little tableaus playing out, a couple on a hike, the children playing with the dog, nature everywhere. Liberty puzzles and the design effort they put into their pieces is absolutely fantastic, it’s part of the reason they’re my favorite current wooden puzzle company.

My beautiful niece came to hang out with me one day, and although she really isn’t a puzzle person she did help me find a few pieces that connected. Sit Long and Talk Much is the motto of Liberty Puzzles, and that’s exactly what we did. We sat, visited, talked about family, friends, life, marriage – pretty much whatever came to mind. It was a fantastic day and I’m so happy we got to spend that time together.💛

This was our last vacation puzzle. We didn’t do as many puzzles this time, but worked on more difficult ones. It was a great trip and every person who helped with the puzzles has become a beloved member of my puzzle posse.

Vacations and puzzles go together for me now, why didn’t I think of this earlier?

All the Books

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles6 Comments

All the Books by Jenny Zemanek – Wentworth – 140 pieces

Wonderful little puzzle. This was maybe a two coffee puzzle, it took a little bit longer and was more difficult than expected. I loved the colors and all the interesting patterns on the spines of the books, such a great image.

We couldn’t figure out one of the whimsies, perhaps one or more of you can help us out. The piece in the bottom righthand corner, what in the world is that? A book of some sort? Whatever it is, I don’t seem to be able to recognize it.

Sugar Overload In Progress…

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw PuzzlesLeave a comment

Sugar Overload – Cobble Hill – 1000 pieces

I’ve only just gotten started with this one, but it’s been quite a challenge already. I’m confident that it’s going to continue to be enjoyable though, and that’s what matters most.

The first hurdle I had to get over was my indecision. I love the image, but as soon as the sorting started it became apparent that even just the sorting would be a bit difficult. I even started to put it away because I thought it would be too hard for me right now. But the stubbornness kicked in. And here we are.

The quality is excellent, and the fit is even better. I’m loving working with a Cobble Hill puzzle again, it’s been a while. And I can’t stop running my hands over the completed pieces to feel that linen finish! When I’ve got a piece in my hands and I’m deciding where it fits my thumb just absentmindedly moves back and forth across the top, they feel so good in my hands. 💚

There wasn’t much time spent puzzling yesterday, most of the day was spent doing lots of nothing. But while hubby made dinner I sat down and put together the border and started on a few bowls of candy; I’m actually quite pleased with how much I got done. This is going to be a fun one!

Adoration of the Magi

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles4 Comments

Adoration of the Magi by Fra Angelico and Filippo Lippi – Artifact – 208 pieces

This was the very first wooden puzzle I sent to my sister-in-law and her family, and after having assembled it – yikes. It was quite difficult! I had no idea, apparently I need to pay more attention and make sure the puzzles I gift them aren’t too challenging, I wouldn’t want them to get frustrated and give up.

This Christmas image has all the requisite holiday whimsy pieces; angels, the star, all the characters for the nativity – even the words “Gloria In Excelsis Deo” on a banner.

The pieces make up the nativity scene that you can see from the back as well. What wonderfully creative puzzle designers they have at Artifact!

There were three holes built into the puzzle to hold up the three pieces with no coloring at all (the three wise men and their transportation) – if there’s an industry term for the stand-up pieces I don’t know what it is. Other than very cool and amazing looking!

Hubby, his sister and her husband were all working on it with me so I had to take a picture. I don’t know when we all got so old looking, but we sure don’t act old – that’s for sure. 😉