Puzzler’s Desk

On February 8, 2024February 6, 2024 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles6 Comments

Puzzler’s Desk by Steve Read – Hua Cao Shu Mu – 300 pieces

Ugh. This puzzle sucked. I would enjoy doing this image put onto a quality puzzle, but on this crap-tastic thing wasn’t any fun at all.

I have a bad attitude about it, admittedly. But it is what it is, this is my blog and I’m expressing my feelings. Here they are – if you see puzzles that are so friggin’ cheap that you can hardly believe it, there’s a reason and you should run away. I didn’t purchase this new, it was bought second-hand at a thrift store, so at least this company didn’t get any of my hard-earned money, but it still ticks me off.

Also, I know for a fact that these companies steal these images and the artists get no compensation at all, which makes me even more upset. It shouldn’t be easy to get away with theft like this, but unfortunately it is. It’s depressing.

This puzzle sucked. End of story.

Garden Shed* In Progress…

On February 4, 2024February 3, 2024 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling, Thrift Store Puzzles2 Comments

Garden Shed* – Hua Cao Shu Mu – 300 pieces

Can you believe it? The third of the three puzzles in one box from a company that makes crappy puzzles – yep, I went there.

Like I explained a few days ago, these things are stinking up my puzzle room with the stench of low quality puzzles that feature stolen artwork and I want them gone as soon as possible.

I can say with some certainty that this will be finished today. Then perhaps we’ll hold a small funeral ceremony in the backyard with a cremation immediately following the service so as not to inflict these puzzles on anyone else.

*They’ll most likely end up in the recycle bin, but it has put a HUGE smile on my face thinking about lighting these pieces of trash on fire while I dance around the flames making rude gestures. 😈

Puzzler’s Desk In Progress

On February 1, 2024February 1, 2024 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling, Thrift Store Puzzles6 Comments

Puzzler’s Desk by Steve Read – Hua Cao Shu Mu – 300 pieces

Although I chose which puzzle to do next, I find myself extremely annoyed with this puzzle. Not because of it’s quality (though that does needs an extra big straw for how much it sucks), but perhaps due to the fact that I’m old and cranky and don’t feel well.

This was a thrift store purchase of three puzzles in a box; no brand name I could be confident in, no titles of the artwork, no artist credit, no nothing. The quality is crap; thin pieces of chipboard that you can almost peel apart, extremely shiny finish, sharp backing, blurry reproduction, etc. It seems to be one of those companies that popped up during the pandemic to make a quick buck on the run on jigsaw puzzles, which again, annoys me.

In a world where the most banal, trivial information is readily available everywhere and where a company knows what ads to target me with based on which tissue I sneezed into yesterday – how is it that no one seems to be able to have the right information to stop companies and people from stealing artwork and bootlegging up some really crappy puzzles and selling them all over the world? (See? Old and cranky)

I’m finishing these puzzles to get them out of my house, which is the only reason I picked this one to assemble next. They’re taking up precious shelf space and they suck so loud I can hear them over my music when I’m working on a good quality puzzle. I want them gone.

My name is Stacey, I am old and cranky and I don’t feel well today – and this puzzle is annoying.

Ice Cream Social

On January 20, 2024January 15, 2024 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles5 Comments

Ice Cream Social by Lars Stewart – Milton Bradley – 300 pieces

Such a fun and colorful image, I really had a good time putting this one together! This was a thrift store puzzle, and although it was pre-loved and had a few bent tabs it was good quality and all the pieces were there – what more could a PADS sufferer ask for?

The quality of this puzzle was better than anticipated. There were the bent tabs, but otherwise I was more than happy with every other category. There were a very good variety of piece shapes, the cut was nice, the fit was exceptional, the finish was matte and it had a nice hand feel.

Exceptional fit, you say? Hmmm. Is she gonna take another stupid standing up puzzle picture? Of course she is!

These pictures and standing up a puzzle really do make me happy. I have no explanation and I make no excuses. 😎

Down on the Boardwalk

On January 11, 2024January 3, 2024 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles4 Comments

Down on the Boardwalk by Charles Fazzino – TCG – 300 pieces

The riotous color in this image was very enjoyable and went quite quickly once it was started. I’ve done a few Charles Fazzino images and they’ve always been interesting and entertaining to put together. Normally artwork with so many things packed tightly together isn’t quite my cup of tea (think Jan van Haasteren), but this one has enough breaks with the ocean and sky that it wasn’t too difficult.

The quality was much better than expected for a TCG puzzle; they are hit and miss in the quality department for me – usually more misses than hits unfortunately. But this puzzle had great reproduction, good cut, and an excellent fit.