Grandpa’s Potting Shed (National Jigsaw Day in the UK!)

On November 3, 2019November 3, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles8 Comments

Grandpa's Shed — Grandpa’s Potting Shed by Steve Read – Wentworth – 40 pieces

It’s National Jigsaw Day in the UK, and as usual I’ll be celebrating by working on a jigsaw puzzle. You’re shocked I’m sure; it’s a complete surprise, right? 😉

The United States has National Puzzle Day in January, but it isn’t specific to jigsaw puzzles – it includes all types (jigsaw, crossword, logic, sudoku, etc.). Wisely, the UK has a day just for our beloved jigsaw puzzles and in honor of that today’s post is a puzzle manufactured in England; a Wentworth wooden jigsaw puzzle.

I absolutely loved putting this image together, and to be honest I didn’t think I would like it at all. I’m not sure why, but I put off assembling this puzzle for quite a while; the image just didn’t excite. Luckily I was completely wrong and it was much more entertaining to assemble than expected. I’d love to come across this image in a larger piece count; the artwork by Steve Read was great fun in 40 pieces and hopefully would be in a larger puzzle as well.

Why there is a bat shape in the whimsies I’m not sure, perhaps the shed might be home to a small family of bats? Maybe they’re grandpa’s friends and keep him company while he’s out there. 🦇

Grandpa's Shed whimsies

Happy National Puzzle Day to all my fellow PADS sufferers! We may not all be in the United Kingdom, but we can absolutely celebrate with our fellow puzzlers across the pond. I hope you can find a few moments to spend with a jigsaw puzzle, or perhaps if you’re out and about you can treat yourself to a beautiful jigsaw puzzle to enjoy later.

I’m not enabling, it’s unconditional love and support, that’s all. 😁💖

Traditional Mexican Skulls

On November 1, 2019October 31, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles4 Comments

This beautiful puzzle was a Christmas gift last year from one of my beautiful sons. Although my oldest gave this to me, my youngest was adamant that I not assemble it until closer to the Day of the Dead. Being the awesome mom that I am, I waited months and months to assemble it; it was difficult to wait though, I absolutely love decorated skulls and the Day of the Dead (which is why they picked this one out for me, for sure).

I was a bit disappointed by the lack of variety in piece shapes – most Eurographics I’ve ever done have been a random cut. It didn’t have to be a random cut though, a grid cut with variety in the shapes would have been just as welcome. The quality was otherwise very good though, and I’m thankful for my gift no matter what. (Shout out to my fantastic sons and my amazing daughter who helped them shop for Christmas presents. I love you guys so much! 💗)

I truly love this holiday – especially this year. It’s a two day Mexican holiday for remembering and praying for friends and family members who have died. I’m not of Mexican heritage, but I’ve always loved the meaning of the holiday and especially the traditional decorative skulls. This year though, with the loss of mom so new, and the fact that my birthday is the same week and I’m struggling with celebrating without her – the Day of the Dead very much seems like the perfect holiday for me.

I miss you mom, and today I’m remembering you with all my love and praying that you’re at peace and maybe even enjoying a fun little heavenly puzzle with grama. We always spent the day after Halloween together, going from store to store buying all our favorite candy at bargain prices and having a ball. It won’t be the same without you, and I’ll be thinking of you all day. 👼

Happy Meow-O-Ween

On October 31, 2019October 31, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles2 Comments

How cute is this puzzle? It’s too adorable! You can’t really tell in the picture, but that isn’t candy beside the cat, it’s a mouse wearing a sweater that makes him look like a piece of candy corn – that seems a little risky to be dressed like a treat!

Hopefully it doesn’t get too repetitive me telling you how much I enjoy wooden jigsaw puzzles. They are a completely different experience than assembling a cardboard jigsaw puzzle and I highly recommend splurging on yourself and getting a wooden puzzle. There are many reasonably priced wooden puzzles from many different companies, and you are absolutely worth it! Happy Meow whimsies

The bat is my favorite of these whimsy pieces, the others are all sort of generic fall items. Still, they’re all pretty awesome to have in a puzzle, and the pieces that surround them have very interesting shapes too in order to fit next to them. The first thing I do when opening up a wooden puzzle is look for the whimsies, they’re so fun and I’m fascinated by how intricate the shapes can be. Wentworth goes the extra mile and makes the extra cuts to define what each piece is, they’re so lovely.

Happy Halloween everyone! I love this holiday, and I am also really looking forward to tomorrow, all the Halloween candy is 50% off! 🎃🍬🍭🍡🍫

Trick or Treat 2

On October 30, 2019October 30, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles4 Comments

I found this puzzle at mom’s, it’s a thrift store find and I really like the image! The box was pretty beat up, and I was worried that it would be missing pieces, but luckily they were all present and accounted for. I love how colorful it is, and it was a lot more fun to assemble than I expected.

The random cut was pretty fun to work with, but the fit was mushy. You could put two pieces together and they felt and looked as though they fit, but they absolutely did not. With this kind of fit you can’t rely on feel, you have to pay close attention and sometimes I even had to turn the pieces over to be certain. That’s what I call a mushy fit, and I am most definitely NOT a fan.

Mushy fit aside though, it was still pretty entertaining for my first holiday puzzle of the month.

Tomorrow is the big day – I love Halloween!

👻Boo!👻

Penguins

On October 28, 2019October 27, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store PuzzlesLeave a comment

Unfortunately for me this is the last puzzle from the box of 20 that mom and I found at a local thrift store. I’ve had such a great time putting these together that I’m a little sad that they’re all done.

I consider myself educated and intelligent, but I have to tell you I was surprised to learn from this puzzle that there are penguins native to Africa. I may have heard that before, but I obviously didn’t process or retain it. To me the continent of Africa brings to mind deserts, jungles, safaris, and heat. Penguins in Africa? How awesome!

Penguins 1

I have to get myself to the thrift stores to see what other treasures I can find. My black belt thrift store shopping puzzle dealer isn’t around anymore to keep me swimming in interesting and beautiful puzzles – it’s time I started supplying myself. It’s worth a little pain to get myself out of the house and searching for some fun and unique puzzles.