Work In Progress

Work In Progress by Ken Zylla – SunsOut – 300 pieces

A thrift store puzzle! The first one I’ve worked since I came back, and it went together quickly. I don’t have many smaller piece puzzles here; combine that with me re-reading through my blog and seeing all the amazing puzzles mom used to find for us to do from the thrift stores – and I got a bee in my bonnet about going to find some “new” puzzles to do.

I was pleased to find some great deals, although if you ask me the price of some of the puzzles at the thrift store was ridiculous. $4.99 for a 100 piece kid’s puzzle? I don’t think so! So I was happy to find a couple of Ravensburger 1000 pieces for $2.99 each, a box of 8 Disney puzzles (Mega Puzzles brand) for $4.99 and a few other interesting images and brands I hadn’t heard of. Mom would be proud of me! 💖

Anyway, to the puzzle. The image jumped out at me for some reason I’m unable to articulate properly, which is why I bought it. SunsOut isn’t a brand I usually buy – and it’s one we (the puzzle posse) never purchase new. If it’s a great image and a good price at a thrift store then I’ll get it; luckily that’s what this one was. I enjoyed this one immensely and it went together quite quickly as it was only 300 pieces and an easy one to sort.

The quality wasn’t great, the fit was VERY loose. Two pieces put together couldn’t be picked up and moved without them coming apart. Annoying. But once I realized that I changed where I was putting pieces together – the trick is to only assemble pieces as close to where they belong as possible, that way I won’t have to pick them up to move them. I find that pretty darn annoying, but it doesn’t preclude me from actually assembling a puzzle that is otherwise entertaining.

I’m missing and remembering my beautiful momma a lot these days, and somehow this puzzle made me feel a little closer to her today. She loved a bargain, she loved jigsaw puzzles and finding puzzle treasures for the both of us to assemble; she loved stopping at my house on the way home from her puzzle hunting to show me what she found and maybe helping me out for a little bit on whatever puzzle was on my board. She loved me so much, we were truly best friends and talked to each other every single day, we loved spending time together and I loved her to puzzle pieces!

I miss you momma. So much. 😥💔

Birthday Party Doug

Birthday Party Doug – Buffalo – 300 pieces

What I’ve remembered now that I’m back at my puzzle table and blogging again is that when I finish a puzzle and take pictures I need to be prepared to type up my post immediately. Old lady brain sets in and even though I put in a few descriptors about the assembly and the puzzle itself when I start the draft – it isn’t enough. It needs to be done while everything is fresh in my mind.

I was in such a hurry to get going on my next puzzle that all I did was put a few comments into the draft along with the pictures. Now it’s only a few days later and here I sit thinking “What the hell do I write about this?” Old age ain’t for sissies, that’s all I’m sayin’!

On to the puzzle… it’s an adorable image on top of a great quality jigsaw puzzle, what could be better? I’ve done a few Doug the Pug puzzles and have thoroughly enjoyed every single one. Sometimes they can be a little challenging, but that’s a good time for me in it’s own way as well. Buffalo makes excellent puzzles, and their choice of images seems to have something for everyone.

How cute is that pupper sitting up? So cute!

Flower Jungle II

Flower Jungle II by Krovblit – Buffalo – 300 pieces

Loved this one even though it was difficult for a 300 piece. There’s something about the colors and the way it’s put together that is so beautiful to me.

I had never done a puzzle with an image by Krovblit before, and enjoyed it very much. His color choices remind me of Ciro Marchetti and Aimee Stewart. No wonder I love it!

Another Buffalo puzzle with a great fit; another picture of a puzzle standing up. Stacey is a happy lady!

Flower…In Progress…

Flower Jungle II by Krovblit – Buffalo – 300 pieces

Got started on this puzzle yesterday, but didn’t work for very long at all and spent most of the remaining day in bed. Sigh.

The Buffalo quality is very good, and the colors and image are amazing. Even though there is still plenty left to go I’m enjoying it very much. I haven’t come across this artist before, Krovblit. Apparently he is an artist who works primarily with collages, but combines that with digitally altering some images before he cuts and pastes them by hand.

I hope there are more puzzles of his to find!

Garden Shed*

Garden Shed* – Hua Cao Shu Mu – 300 pieces

Sorry to do this to you two days in a row, but I’ve got no puzzles left in my queue, and I did these two puzzles one right after the other. Wanna guess about the quality? Did you guess that it needed a very big straw? You are correct!

  • Image reproduction – horrible and blurry.
  • Fit – loose, pieces sometimes fit where they don’t belong
  • Piece shape – only one shape – BORING
  • Chipboard – thin with a tendency to peel apart
  • Backing – sharp white backing with letters on it to assist in assembly

I did not enjoy the assembly, it was just one I wanted to get it done to get this box of puzzles out of my sight.

If you see a puzzle box with the name Hua Cao Shu Mu on it, set it down and walk away. It isn’t worth the frustration.