Tag: Happy Halloween

Horror

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles15 Comments

Horror – Re-marks – 1000 pieces

This collage of horror book covers was so much more entertaining to assemble than the Stephen King covers puzzle that I posted last week. The quality was much better, which made for a more satisfying experience – loved this one!

I usually tell you how many books of those shown that I’ve read; and you’ll be able to tell that horror isn’t exactly my genre when I let you know that I’ve only read 4 out of the 55 books shown. Yikes, it make me seem like an illiterate troglodyte, doesn’t it?

Whatever. Even if I am, my mom said I was adorable and my family loves me – so there! 😜

Typical Re-marks quality; random cut with a variety of piece shapes, good image reproduction, very good fit, and a slightly shiny finish. Pretty good, all around – and it made for a great assembly that went quite quickly.

I haven’t read this book, but I loved the cover – doesn’t it seem perfect for Halloween? Spooky!

Haven’t read any H.P. Lovecraft either, but I know he’s quite popular in the horror/sci-fi genre; and I’ve even seen an episode of Supernatural about him. Plus, look at that creature – yikes! I think it’s called Cthulhu. Do you think Mr. Lovecraft just banged his face onto the keyboard to come up with that name?

Now this one I HAVE read, it’s by my favorite author; it’s one of my favorites of his too – though I wouldn’t classify it as a horror novel. Suspense, sure. Thriller, yep. But not really horror in my opinion. Still, it’s a great book.

I enjoyed this puzzle from the first piece to the last, and highly recommend it if you can find it. When I purchased it the cashier told me this particular puzzle was selling out very quickly. No wonder, it was such fun!

The World of Frankenstein

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles16 Comments

The World of Frankenstein by Adam Simpson – Laurence King – 1000 pieces

Though at times difficult, I very much enjoyed this puzzle. The quality of the puzzle itself, and the interesting collage-like image made for fun puzzling. If it looks like something you’re interested in, I definitely recommend this one (as long as the puzzle is manufactured in the Netherlands).

As I’ve discussed before, Laurence King puzzles have a conditional recommendation from me; I would only purchase them if you can be certain where they were made. Some are made in China, and they are not the same quality as the ones made in the Netherlands; only those made in the latter are ones I recommend.

So let’s get into this particular puzzle. Have you read the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley? I haven’t, but the poster for this puzzle (and my youngest son) has given me plenty of information about not only the book itself, but the author and the origins of this story. I did know the origin story – funnily enough I saw an episode of Drunk History about it – but have never read the book. If you’ve only ever seen Frankenstein movies, you wouldn’t know that in the book he isn’t the murderous rampaging monster Boris Karloff portrayed; he is “an agonized soul made monstrous by lack of human sympathy”.

The image on this puzzle shows important scenes from the story in the book, with a legend on the back of the poster showing the scenes and their relation to the narrative.

This is where most people think the story begins, with the monster being brought to life during an electrical storm. I won’t go through the entire book here, it would take much too long and require many pictures; but it made for interesting and VERY entertaining puzzling!

When the monster sees his own reflection he begins to understand how much of an outsider he is. This particular image seems so very sad to me.

The center of the image, with the monster and Victor Frankenstein on an iceberg in the Arctic, is basically where the story begins and ends. The iceberg itself was challenging to assemble, but every piece added was a little victory, and I enjoyed it very much.

It was interesting to read the synopsis of the story, and see the artist’s interpretations of those pivotal scenes; and it made for a great puzzle. I absolutely loved it!

Vintage Halloween

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles6 Comments

Vintage Halloween by Finchley Paper Arts – Bits and Pieces – 500 pieces

My apologies for the cockeyed picture, I have no idea what was wrong with me today when I took it. I normally check to be sure I’ve got a good picture before I disassemble the puzzle, but it seems I was in a hurry and took it apart before making sure. Please forgive the wonky image.

Good quality puzzle, though very shiny. I didn’t care for the triangular piece shapes; my thought was that I’d get used to it as the puzzle went on, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. I was forever being stumped and confused by the way everything connected. I’ve worked puzzles with a wide variety of different and unusual shapes and have enjoyed them all – until this puzzle with it’s oddly shaped triangular pieces. These shapes just aren’t my pile of pieces.

My first Halloween puzzle of the season, and honestly I’m surprised I remembered to get it going to have it ready in the queue. Yay me and my aging, menopausal brain!

These are a few of my favorite sections, although the artwork in each one was beautiful in it’s own way. The time and attention that went into making these images still impresses me. If these are actually vintage (and they look as if they are) there weren’t computers or AI to make these for the artist, they were each painstakingly drawn/painted. *If they’re not actually old and just made to look like it – forget what I just said.

Do I sound like an old person, pining for the ways of yesteryear? Well, it seems I am an old person now, things seemed much simpler even just ten years ago. Sigh.

Happy Halloween season everyone! 🦇👻

Happy Meow-o-ween!

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles2 Comments

Happy Meow-o-ween by Michele Ridgeway – Wentworth – 40 pieces

This is a repeat of this puzzle, it was posted two years ago on this day. But there weren’t any Halloween puzzles here for me to do in time for the holiday, so you’re all getting a repeat. On the positive side, the picture is much better this time, there’s a lot less glare. It’s also much easier to see that the candy corn is actually a mouse in a costume. 🐭

Showing the whimsies is something I always do with any puzzle that contains them; love the bat in this one, it’s my favorite.

Happy Halloween everyone! I’m so looking forward to the half price candy sales tomorrow, as I’m a little too old (and broken) for trick or treating. 🍭

Happy Meow-O-Ween

On By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles2 Comments

Happy Meow
Happy Meow-O-Ween by Michele Ridgway – Wentworth – 40 pieces

How cute is this puzzle? It’s too adorable! You can’t really tell in the picture, but that isn’t candy beside the cat, it’s a mouse wearing a sweater that makes him look like a piece of candy corn – that seems a little risky to be dressed like a treat!

Hopefully it doesn’t get too repetitive me telling you how much I enjoy wooden jigsaw puzzles. They are a completely different experience than assembling a cardboard jigsaw puzzle and I highly recommend splurging on yourself and getting a wooden puzzle. There are many reasonably priced wooden puzzles from many different companies, and you are absolutely worth it! Happy Meow whimsies

The bat is my favorite of these whimsy pieces, the others are all sort of generic fall items. Still, they’re all pretty awesome to have in a puzzle, and the pieces that surround them have very interesting shapes too in order to fit next to them. The first thing I do when opening up a wooden puzzle is look for the whimsies, they’re so fun and I’m fascinated by how intricate the shapes can be. Wentworth goes the extra mile and makes the extra cuts to define what each piece is, they’re so lovely.

Happy Halloween everyone! I love this holiday, and I am also really looking forward to tomorrow, all the Halloween candy is 50% off! 🎃🍬🍭🍡🍫