Songbirds

On January 17, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles2 Comments

Alas, this is the last of the mini shaped puzzles that I had left, and now they’re all done. They’re beautiful and so entertaining for me to assemble, I’m a little sad that there aren’t any more. 😥

The colored backing makes them easy to sort, each mini puzzle has a different color so you can separate them easily. Or if you’re looking for a little more of a challenge you can ignore the backs and assemble them with no pre-sorting. I absolutely adore these little puzzles! You get that wonderful sense of accomplishment with each figure completed, and it revs me up to get going on the next one.

Puzzling is all about enjoyment and relaxation for me, and assembling these puzzles gives me so much pleasure. I love them❣

**Lafayette Puzzle Factory, I hope these were excellent sellers for you and that you might want to make more of this series. I’ll be waiting outside your virtual doorstep for a new release and will scoop up every one you have to offer!

Cupcake Heaven

On January 16, 2019January 16, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles2 Comments

My first completed 1000 piece puzzle of the year. I chose it because it’s the kind of puzzle image that makes me happy – a collage with bright colors – and I wanted the first puzzle of the year to be awesome and entertaining.

Cupcake Heaven had 7 missing pieces and a devious random cut that had me using more brain power than I’d bargained for. If the puzzle was complete and the fit were less spongy it would definitely be one I’d assemble again. It wasn’t always easy to be sure the pieces were in the correct places because the fit was odd.

Even though it had missing pieces and a wonky fit I still enjoyed myself, which was the aim all along. Everything doesn’t always have to be perfect – life certainly never is! It’s what you do with what you’re given that counts in the end.

Cupcakes for everyone! 🙂

Review: Vintage Baker

On January 14, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Puzzle reviews16 Comments

I’ve been wanting this image for a while now, but I’m thinking I should have waited to find it from a company whose quality I was familiar with. Terrible fit, horrible to work with, too shiny causing lots of glare – quite disappointing. 😦

Holdson Puzzles are made in New Zealand, and although I’d heard good things about the quality I found myself pretty let down by this puzzle. The finish was very shiny, the glare was hard to work around and the fit was awful – so loose that you couldn’t even pick up two pieces together. I work on a fabric covered board so it’s a little more difficult for the pieces to slide around, but these pieces managed it well enough somehow. On the positive side the chipboard was a good thickness and the image reproduction was very good.

I love the look of this vanilla bottle; not only is it cool looking, but it also shows the detail in the artwork and the quality of the reproduction.

vintage baker 1

The handwriting in the recipe below looks like my Grama’s, although I know it isn’t. I have noticed that many older people’s writing seems almost identical. Of course schools used to teach things like penmanship and cursive writing. Sigh. I’m old.

vintage baker 2

I try not to make a final decision about new brands until I’ve worked at least 2 or 3 of their puzzles. I’d work another Holdson puzzle if we found it in a thrift store, but I’m not going to go out of my way to buy one retail. If I find one second-hand perhaps it’ll be great quality. Who knows?

Details:

Title: Vintage Baker
Artist: Aimee Stewart
Brand: Holdson Puzzles
Piece count: 1000 pieces
Size: Approx. 19 x 27 in. (49 x 69 cm)
Purchased: New

Quality:

Board: Very good
Cutting: Good
Image: Very good
Box: Average
Fit: Poor
Puzzle Dust: Moderate amount
Piece cut: Grid cut
Piece shapes: Good variety
Finish: Very shiny finish, lays flat

Overall Rating: Fair, not recommended

Harry Potter Book 2

On January 12, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw PuzzlesLeave a comment

This was my very first puzzle of 2019 – I like to do a small puzzle on New Year’s Day so that I can start and finish the whole puzzle to start the year off right. Luckily this year my beautiful daughter gave me this set of seven 100 piece puzzles. They are so much fun!

I appreciate the adult-type difficulty level in a 100 piece puzzle and I love the Harry Potter books, so these puzzles make me doubly happy – and they help me keep up with having enough puzzles to post too. 😉

Mousing Around

On January 10, 2019January 10, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles4 Comments

My very last puzzle of 2018 was this Mickey Mouse puzzle that was great fun even though there were basically only 4 colors to work with. It’s such an interesting look for Mr. Mouse, and it made for excellent puzzling. 🙂

*I’m not feeling very chatty this morning, perhaps it’s my PADS diagnosis*