I should have pushed the pieces together to take a better picture. Still, even with the less than perfect picture this puzzle is beautiful with a stunning image by Haruyo Morita – so pretty!
My daughter helped me assemble this puzzle, it seemed to be a popular pastime when visiting me. I’m a little cranky and not fun to be around when I don’t feel well so perhaps it was easier to deal with me when I was working on a puzzle? 👼
I can’t figure out why the whimsies in this puzzle are holiday themed, it doesn’t seem to lend itself to the image. It was still a fun assembly, but the incongruency of the whimsy pieces took me out of picture a bit. All in all it was a beautiful puzzle that was fun to put together, I’m really glad I have so many small puzzles that can be done almost anywhere; they’re the best!
This was not an easy 100 piece puzzle – excellent timing, difficult is good when you’ve got lots of time to kill. New company that I’ve never heard of before, and it was in an interesting box as well with a handle and a flip up top. Very cool. 🙂
Mom went to the thrift store specifically to find smaller puzzles that would work for me on the small bedside table and she found a couple of really good ones. We always love trying out new companies, and there are so many out there!
I assembled this puzzle with mom’s help while she was visiting and we had to focus a little more than normal. The wood grain both made it difficult and also helped in the assembly. It’s really a pretty puzzle, and would look good framed even though it’s small. I’m not someone who frames many puzzles, sometimes I purchase them specifically for framing but normally they get taken apart. Some get sent to mom’s for her to assemble, some are donated to the school my daughter works for, and the others are donated to the local senior center.
The quality of this puzzle was good. They were a good thickness, perhaps only slightly thinner than normal and they fit together very well. The image reproduction was very nice, and the interesting box was an added bonus. A quick search online didn’t come up with many Red Farm Studio puzzles, perhaps they’re not still being produced – I’m not sure, and I’m not sure how to find out either. (My caffeine intake has been limited, so my poor gray cells are struggling to keep up!)
It’s always fun to try new brands and find puzzles with interesting images. Luckily, living in what seems like the thrift store capital of the world makes it relatively easy to find puzzles of all shapes and sizes. We still haven’t started the brand new, unopened 6000 piece Schmidt puzzle she found – for $1.99!
We Are All in this Together by Sandy Miller – Springbok (Thingies) – 60 pieces
I really loved this little puzzle, it was challenging enough to not be boring, small enough to fit the small bedside table I’ve been working with, and very nice quality.
Mom brought me a few puzzles that I can do here in the hospital so I won’t be bored out of my mind staring at the tv, this one was so interesting we assembled it right away, together. I know, a person doesn’t need assistance with a puzzle this small, but we like doing puzzles together and she came to help keep me entertained. It worked!
I’ve never heard of these Springbok Thingies, what a neat concept! Small, round puzzles in small, round boxes that you can take and assemble anywhere. From what I could find online the Thingies were produced in the late 60’s, all with the designs of Sandy Miller, and were quite popular for several years. The one we purchased has a copyright date of 2013, so it seems they have been reissued, I would love to find more of these! They’re rather like the micro puzzles from Wentworth – excellent quality, small piece count puzzles that you can take with you and assemble almost anywhere.
I love that although they are only 60 pieces and they aren’t childish images, they’re actually a bit more challenging and take a little bit of focus. Mom and I had a great time assembling this one. The finish on the pieces didn’t feel the same as larger piece count Springbok puzzles we’ve assembled, it was almost soft and feels really nice in your hand.
I’m hoping mom finds many more of these, we enjoyed this one very much! 🙂
Details:
Title: We Are All in this Together
Artist: Sandy Miller
Brand: Springbok
Piece count: 60 pieces
Size: Approx. 7′” in diameter (18 cm)
Purchased: Used, thrift store
Quality:
Board: Excellent
Cutting: Excellent
Image: Very good
Box: Small, round, heavy cardboard, very portable
Fit: Very good
Puzzle Dust: Very small amount
Piece cut: Random
Piece shapes: Very good variety
Finish: Matte finish, lays flat
Overall Rating: Very good to excellent, highly recommended
Spectacular Peacock by Aimee Stewart – Wentworth Wooden Puzzles – 240 pieces
This puzzle fit very nicely on the beside table in my hospital room, I need my puzzles! This stunningly beautiful puzzle was 240 pieces of boredom therapy; I loved taking my mind off of everything else going on, and being able to do something other than stare at the television. Is it too much to ask for the hospitals to have Netflix? LOL
I know now the reason that I went a little insane last year and purchased 30-some micro puzzles from Wentworth, along with a few of their “midsize” puzzles. I was going to need them in January for my hospital stay! Mom brought me a bunch of micro puzzles and 2 of the larger ones to keep my puzzle brain happy and engaged while I was laid up. Thanks Wentworth – I love them so much❣
This puzzle and the next 8 posts coming up are all from my week in the hospital. Two of them are larger (over 200 pieces), one is a 100 piece, and the remaining five are micro puzzles from 40-60 pieces. My apologies for having so many very small puzzles in a row, but I’ve almost completely used up my “bank” of puzzle posts, and will have to work to build it back up once I’ve completely recovered and am able to sit and puzzle again.
This Aimee Stewart puzzle is absolutely gorgeous, everyone who saw it exclaimed over it and how beautiful and unusual it was. Of course it’s beautiful, it’s an Aimee Stewart! The irregular edge and amazingly detailed image made this a bit of a challenge, but that was exactly what was needed to stave off the boredom that comes with being bed-ridden. Luckily puzzles can be done almost anywhere you can find a flat surface. 🙂
The whimsies included in this puzzle are as wonderfully detailed and beautiful as the puzzle itself. There are several peacocks, flowers, butterflies, and more. Gorgeous! Assembling the edge took a bit of time, but I loved every moment. Holding a wooden puzzle piece while contemplating it’s placement is almost as satisfying as the plunk when it falls into place. The entire assembly was a joy, and exactly what I needed. Aimee Stewart and Wentworth Puzzles to the rescue!
I know wooden puzzles aren’t for everyone, and the added price is a bit much for some. But I encourage every puzzler to treat themselves at least once to a wooden puzzle. There are some reasonably priced companies out there (check out my post on wooden puzzle companies and their products here), and maybe you could request a smaller, reasonably priced wooden puzzle for your birthday this year. Artifact has the best prices and a wonderful catalog to choose from starting at only $18, Liberty’s extra small puzzles are intricate and amazing (around 100 pieces) and start at $39, and Wentworth micro puzzles are deceptively simple looking but a fun challenge and start at only $12. They are puzzles you will want to do again and again, and end up being absolutely worth the additional price. You’re worth it – treat yourself! I’m planning on requesting some small Liberty puzzles for Mother’s Day this year. 😎
Vegetable Garden by Cheryl Bartley – MasterPieces – 300 pieces
I really love the artwork in this puzzle, and as a bonus there are quilts – nice! I’ve been doing 300 piece puzzles a lot these past few weeks, and enjoying them greatly. 🙂
MasterPieces large piece puzzles are excellent quality with extra-thick pieces that fit together very well. I appreciate the quality of these EZ Grip pieces, and love that it makes it easier for both the older and the younger to puzzle. While I’m recovering from my illness I’m finding it quite difficult to sit and puzzle for even a few minutes. 300 piece puzzles can be done on my white board while in bed, and are giving me that injection in the puzzle vein so I don’t go through withdrawal. 💉
A friend of my mother has given us about 10-12 300 piece puzzles to do and then donate – the timing could not have been more perfect! They’re all I seem to be able to do at the moment, and if I didn’t have any puzzles to do I would be even crankier than I already am (I’m kinda whiny and bitchy when I don’t feel well, if you add not being able to puzzle – YIKES). That’s just the truth of it. I make no excuses, I am who I am; those who love me have accepted it already. 🙂
If you’re one of those people who say “I only do 1000 piece puzzles, or more” I get it. I used to say the exact same thing. But in my humble opinion there is enjoyment to be had in puzzles of many sizes. I even enjoy kids puzzles down to 24 pieces; a puzzle is a puzzle. They may go quickly and be over too soon, but if you think about it you may realize that it’s the assembly that makes you happy, and you can enjoy assembling the little ones too. Well, I do anyway.
Maybe if you’re thrift store shopping and find a really interesting looking 300 piece puzzle – give it a try. They’re great when you don’t have a lot of time, when you’re having someone younger or older help you, or just when you want to relax a little more and finish your puzzle more quickly. Give it a shot, you may surprise yourself! 😉
My Jigsaw Journal 