Tag: Big Ben Puzzles

Embroidery Table

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

Embroidery Table by Andrew Farley – Milton Bradley (Big Ben) – 1000 pieces

This gorgeous image made for a great time puzzling, and had me thinking of my momma whenever I worked on it. Is this not just a beautiful all-around puzzle? Stunning!

This section was one of the last to be completed, but one of the parts of the image that means the most to me. Mom taught me to cross-stitch at a young age, and I continued on doing that particular kind of embroidery until well into my marriage. The small skeins of floss (yes, that’s what they’re called) really brought back memories for me. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve done any cross-stich at all, but I remember vividly going to the craft store with my list of the numbers of each color that the pattern called for and picking them all out. My old eyes are failing me, but even though this particular hobby is no longer available to me, there are always puzzles with embroidery and cross-stitch to bring back memories. 💖🧵

Buttons, buttons, who’s got the buttons? The short answer is, my mom had the buttons! In tins, in jars, in whatever container she could find, she had SOOOOO many buttons. Any time I see a collection of buttons in an image the first thought that pops into my head is mom. Always.

And lastly, scissors. They were always a point of contention when I was growing up, for some reason mom could never find her “good scissors”. One of us girls had taken them to make something, or destroy something, or whatever reason we came up with – and the poor woman could never find a good pair of scissors in the house! I know how she feels now, I have my own “good scissors” and misery, woe, and pestilence to anyone who uses them or takes them without permission!

I adored this puzzle, and all the memories it brought back. And I also loved how much it made me think of her. I honestly didn’t plan it, but for me to be working on this puzzle on the anniversary of her passing – she was just letting me know she’s always with me. 💙

Embroidery Table In Progress…

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling, Thrift Store Puzzles8 Comments

Embroidery Table by Andrew Farley – Milton Bradley (Big Ben) – 1000 pieces

I’m currently working on this gorgeous tableau of embroidery supplies, and all I can think about is how much mom would have loved this puzzle. I didn’t consciously plan it, but this is the puzzle I’m working on today – the seventh anniversary of her passing. How can it seem as if I just lost her yesterday and also that she’s been gone for way too long?

I found this beauty at the thrift store a month or so ago, and I’m hoping it’s complete because it really reminds me of my awesome momma; it was bagged inside the box, so there’s reason to think it may have all the pieces. The quality is fair, about the usual for a Milton Bradley puzzle, but the image reproduction is fabulous. The colors are bright and crisp, and everything looks as it should. Mom would have loved to have glued and framed this one for her craft room, of that I am sure.

It’s going really well, and I found myself getting out of bed last night when I couldn’t sleep just to sit in front of it and put a few pieces in – one of the clues that tells you how much fun the image is. There are only three trays of pieces left and I’ve gotten used to every single one. I know where things should go and I’m familiar with every shape and color so why can’t I just be left alone so I can sit in the puzzle room till it’s finished? I’m tired of taking breaks!

Most certainly this one will be finished today, I’m just not sure what to do with it once it’s finished. I could box it up and re-donate it to the local Goodwill. But I’m thinking I might want to host a giveaway with it in honor of my crafty momma who loved making things, assembling puzzles, and finding bargains at thrift stores – but I don’t even know if all the pieces are present and accounted for.

If it’s complete would anyone be interested in winning this gently used thrift store puzzle? It’s a gorgeous image and so far has been extremely entertaining to assemble.

We all miss you mom, more than words can express. 💔

Cardinal Glass

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store PuzzlesLeave a comment

Cardinal Glass by Cynthie Fisher – Big Ben (Luxe) – 500 pieces

This puzzle had an extremely loose fit which made this frustrating and difficult to work with. I liked the image, but all that green was a b*tch to deal with as well as the crappy fit.

Big Ben puzzles have been hit and miss in the quality department for me; sometimes I’m amazed at the good quality and sometimes I want to stomp on the pieces while screaming and throwing a tantrum like a two year old. Hit or miss.

For me, puzzle brands whose quality isn’t something you can be sure of are brands that I no longer buy new. I refuse to pay retail for a puzzle with quality that may contribute to my regression to an angry toddler. Big Ben is one of those brands I usually only get second hand at the thrift store.

If the price is only a few dollars it doesn’t frustrate me as much because I know going in that the pieces may not be all there or it may not be the best quality. That’s my twisted logic anyway.

Teal Lake

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Thrift Store Puzzles11 Comments

Teal Lake by Andy Russell – Milton Bradley (Big Ben) – 500 pieces

I love the image of this puzzle, and I liked that even though it was only 500 pieces it was still a bit challenging. It made for some fun puzzling!

This is a thrift store puzzle, and other than quite a loose fit it was pretty good quality. The image reproduction is lovely, there are a good variety of shapes and the chipboard was a nice thickness. The finish is matte and feels soft to the touch; the loose fitting pieces made for some frustrating moments trying to move pieces around, but otherwise I was happy with it.

Cardinal Glass In Progress

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling4 Comments

Cardinal Glass by Cynthie Fisher – Big Ben (Luxe) – 500 pieces

I’m farther along in this puzzle than the picture shows, but I took this to send to my daughter while she was at work and it was too sweet not to share with you all.

My parent’s furbaby, shown above, has been coming to my house every day along with my daughter’s little pupper – I’ve recently become doggy day care for the family. This little guy usually likes to sit behind me in my puzzling chair, but I was really hurting that day and needed my whole chair. He looked so sad though and I’m a big ol’ softie; and since he’s so small I just plopped him up on the puzzle table so he could be close to me without messing with my hip and back. Ain’t he a cutie pie? 🐶🐾

The puzzle I’m working on isn’t great quality, and it’s been frustrating me a bit so I’ve put up the poster to help me out and perhaps get me to the finish line faster. I don’t want to give up on it, but I also want to get it over with. You’ve been there before, right?