Review: The Bookshop

On March 24, 2020March 24, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles6 Comments

This gorgeous puzzle is an Aimee Stewart – I had no idea! I don’t really check who the artist is most of the time before I start working a puzzle; I just knew the image spoke to me, and thought it would be fun, if a bit challenging to assemble. Well, of course it was – it’s an Aimee Stewart! I put together the entire puzzle and didn’t know until I started writing up this post that it was by my favorite artist.

The quality was fantastic, as per usual for a Ravensburger. Just feeling the weight and finish of the pieces makes me smile; I think I could tell a Ravensburger piece from all others at 20 paces. (Well, maybe 2 paces, these eyes are getting older every day). Holding a piece while contemplating it’s placement and rubbing my thumb across the top of it gives me a quiet kind of happiness, it’s like meditation.

This was a little more challenging than your average Aimee Stewart puzzle; the colors are much more muted, and the scene itself was more difficult. The flowers below the sign and the ivy around the edges were the hardest for me. The books everywhere were less difficult than I’d assumed, even though there are so many of them!

The Bookshop 1

This little girl in her pretty purple frock is so sweet, and it’s such a pretty color.

The Bookshop 2

All those books in the window? You can read the titles, and look at the detail! I should have known who the artist was. I can’t believe I didn’t. I’m hanging my head in shame.

I’d seen this image several times before I finally took the plunge and got it for myself, and am I ever glad I did. Have you been thinking of buying this? Go for it, this puzzle is highly recommended. 👍👍

Details:

Title: The Bookshop
Artist: Aimee Stewart
Brand: Ravensburger
Piece count: 1000 pieces
Size: Approx. 27 x 20 in. (69 x 51cm)
Purchased: New

Quality:

Board: Excellent
Cutting: Excellent
Image: Excellent
Box: Average
Fit: Very good
Puzzle Dust: Small amount
Piece cut: Grid cut
Piece shapes: Very good variety
Finish: Slightly shiny finish, lays flat

Overall Rating: Excellent, highly recommended

Vintage Cake Shop

On February 9, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles2 Comments

I don’t assemble many 1000 piece Buffalo puzzles, it has something to do with the pieces; they all look exactly the same and sometimes I just don’t want to deal with it. I know, it doesn’t make much sense, but I never said that I was rational or that my brain was sensible – you just have to roll with it sometimes. 🤪

That being said, I loved this puzzle much more than I thought I would. It was more pastel than I’m used to seeing in Aimee Stewart’s work, but it made for a beautiful image and a great assembly. It was a little more challenging than I’d assumed, but entertaining and absolutely lovely.

Buffalo puzzles have excellent quality, with thick pieces that fit together well and very nice image reproduction. They also have a large catalog, including many exclusive images from Star Wars, Josephine Wall, Charles Wysocki, and Aimee Stewart. I’m not sure why I have a thing against them for having boxy pieces that all look the same, but I do. It doesn’t bother me with their smaller piece count puzzles, but with 1000 pieces or larger I just don’t care for it. Once I start working with the pieces though, it doesn’t bother me as much and I end up having a great time, like with this puzzle.

Cake Shop 1

This is much more pale than I’m used to seeing when assembling an Aimee Stewart puzzle image, but it was still captivating and difficult to walk away from.

Cake Shop 2

The display case of cakes was the most difficult section, and ended up being assembled last. All those cakes! It looks like a nice little shop to visit for some coffee and cake though, doesn’t it?

I’ve got a 2000 piece Cake Shed puzzle from Buffalo in the to do pile, and after assembling this puzzle I’m looking forward to seeing how the pieces are and how it fits together. I may try to get that one done sometime this month. More cake for everyone! 🍰

Vintage Cake Shop In Progress

On January 21, 2020January 21, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling6 Comments

Cake Shop IP — Vintage Cake Shop by Aimee Stewart – Buffalo – 1000 pieces

I’ve been up since 1:30 this morning, it’s amazing how much puzzling you can get done in the wee hours when you can’t sleep. Hubby is sick, and goodness knows I love him, but men are such babies when they’re sick – at least mine is! The coughing has to be overly loud and drawn out and it ends with pathetic moaning – and it woke me up about 1:30 am. I tried to go back to sleep but the whiny man next to me in bed kept me awake.

If he refuses to go to the doctor I have little sympathy. My man in particular won’t even take over the counter medications unless I put them in his hand and make him take them. If you want to feel better, and you’re so sick that you can’t work or reach across your bedside table to get the tissue without assistance then you need to see a doctor! Sigh. Marriage. Sometimes he’s the sweetest man there is, and sometimes he’s so frustrating that I pass the time mentally spending the life insurance money. 💰🤔💰

Anyway, to the puzzle. I started sorting soon after I got out of bed, and this is the progress I’ve made so far. It’s going pretty well, though I must admit seeing all the very pale, pastel colors on the pieces made me hesitate when I opened the box. After I put a few pieces on the tray though I knew it would be alright; it’s an Aimee Stewart after all, and even though everything looks pale an indistinct right now it will all come together and make a beautiful picture in the end. It’s going to be a busy day, but hopefully I’ll be able to get a little sleep later on in the day, and get some more time at the puzzle table too. I’m enjoying this puzzle very much!

*My Buddy is having surgery this morning, so he’s off to the vet early and I’ll be picking him up this afternoon once he’s awake and the anesthesia has worn off. Think good thoughts for both Buddy and hubby, and if any of you have some extra patience anywhere, I could really use some – the men in my life are definitely wearing mine thin!

Heroes & Heroines

On January 14, 2020January 13, 2020 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles2 Comments

This was my last puzzle of 2019, I’m glad I made it a good one – it’s an Aimee Stewart. I don’t have a lot to say about it other than it was a beautiful image and an excellent quality Ravensburger with exceptional fit and great hand feel.

It wasn’t an easy assembly, but that’s part of what made it fun – the challenge is both engrossing and entertaining.

These were my favorite couples to assemble, Marguerite and Armand (from the 19th century novel La Dame aux Camelias by Alexandre Dumas), and Christine and Erik (from Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux). I haven’t read either of them, but they were fun to put together.

After reading the insert, I must admit that I didn’t know who some of the heroes & heroines were; I haven’t read many love stories and not a lot of the usual literary works either. And yes, that means I haven’t read Wuthering Heights, The Great Gatsby and many other works of literature that most people have read. Oh well, I have no inclination to read them now either – I’d rather spend my time with my family or a jigsaw puzzle to be honest.

Heroes & Heroines In Progress

On December 30, 2019December 30, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling4 Comments

Heroes IP — Heroes & Heroines by Aimee Stewart – 1000 pieces

This is technically two days worth of work but most of the day yesterday was spent away from home, and therefore away from my puzzle board. I did slip away to the board last night (insomnia, yay) and worked on it for a little while; it’s a bit of a challenge, and I find I’m enjoying the slow coming together of the image.

The pieces and I are getting to know each other, and every time I go through my trays looking for something specific we get more and more acquainted. Once I start seeing them over and over, and seeing the assembled bits and what might attach to them I get more familiar with the pieces and the overall image. What looked like a bunch of pieces that were very much alike are now becoming old friends, and when I get ready to assemble that curtain or a specific book I know which pieces I’m looking for and what tiny little blob of color on a certain piece will fit perfectly.

Sometimes I like a quick fix, a little puzzle with few pieces that goes together quickly, especially after working a larger or difficult puzzle. But sometimes I truly enjoy the challenge of a puzzle that takes a bit more brain power and goes together more slowly. This is one of those puzzles.

Aimee Stewart’s images are my happy place, and I’ve assembled many of them. The colors she uses and the way she blends them together makes for not only a beautiful image, but for puzzles that are pleasing to look at and even more pleasing to build. This one is going together more slowly than usual for a 1000 piece puzzle, but I’m enjoying the placement of every piece. 😍