Upstairs, Downstairs In Progress

On October 29, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling8 Comments

Upstairs IP — Upstairs, Downstairs – Ravensburger – 1000 pieces

My apologies for the glare in this picture, sometimes you just have to do the best you can. 🙂

I started this puzzle yesterday and I’m hoping to have it finished today. All the pieces seemed very similar for the most part as I was sorting, but as I’m working it they are all becoming much more familiar. It’s funny how that happens. No matter how many puzzles I’ve put together I’m always a little surprised by it.

The feel of the pieces is lovely, but I must say I’m slightly disappointed in the very evident piece shapes in the completed sections. Ah well. No lives were lost, it’s really not that important, and it doesn’t take anything away from the enjoyment of assembly.

It’s a beautiful image, and I’m so looking forward to seeing it complete!

Skulls In Progress

On October 26, 2019October 26, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling6 Comments

Skulls IP — Eurographics Skulls In Progress

My son got me this puzzle for Christmas last year, but he was adamant that I shouldn’t assemble it until closer to the Day of the Dead. Per his instructions I’ve waited, and will have it put together for the correct holiday. 💀

I haven’t assembled a Eurographics puzzle in a while. I was quite surprised to find that instead of an interesting random cut this puzzle is a grid cut (which I don’t mind at all) with only one piece shape (which I do mind). I don’t know when this change occurred, but I’m pretty disappointed I have to say. I’m sure it’s much cheaper to make a die with only the one shape, but we puzzlers appreciate some variety and craftsmanship. Is everything only about the bottom line? Oh well, it’s not the end of the world, just a small annoyance I felt the need to vent about.

It’s a beautiful image, and an explosion of color – it makes for quite a challenging puzzle! This is day three of working on it, but I’m hoping to finish it today. I’ve got a bee in my bonnet about getting myself some new puzzles, perhaps that will be the push I need to buckle down and get this one finished. The board needs to be cleared for a new puzzle.

Buzz, buzz – someone’s going puzzle shopping! 🐝🐝

My Puzzle Pal

On October 23, 2019October 20, 2021 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling4 Comments

I’m working on a What If? puzzle at the moment, so I can’t show you an in progress picture, it would give too much away. So today instead of the puzzle I’m currently assembling I’m showing off my handsome puzzle pal . At this very moment he’s curled up in his bed taking a nap here in the puzzle room – it’s so darn cute!

Soon, when he’s had enough of being patient he’ll get up and go underneath the table and bump me on my knees with his cold, wet nose; what he’s saying is “That’s enough of being in here for now. Let’s go watch tv in bed or go outside.” He’s very polite about it, just a gentle little nudge to get my attention – he’s such a sweet tempered little guy.

When we go outside sometimes he wants to play, and sometimes he just wants to lay down in the sunlight. It’s very important to him that I go out too. He’s almost like a toddler, always wanting me to be there watching over him so he feels safe. Here he is yesterday taking a break from being in the puzzle room, working on his tan…

Buddy 1

We keep each other company during the day; whether we’re together outside while he plays or lounges around, watching tv, or while I’m working on my latest puzzle – he’s my constant companion wherever I go. I’m pretty darn fortunate to have such a good friend to share my days with. 💗

Who Said That? In Progress

On October 20, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling2 Comments

Who IP

I’m working on a giant of a puzzle, and it’s quite difficult but really a lot of fun! This is a quiz puzzle from Buffalo, there are faces and quotations and you have to match them up. Every face fits every quote, so you have to be careful and also use the slight overlap of the images to help you. The pieces have been sorted by portraits and quotes, now the hard work begins.

Who IP1

I have no idea what Lao-Tzu had said yet, but I know the quote above him because of his lovely hairdo! I’m pretty sure the quote above can be credited to a mountain climber, I just have to find him.

There are 240 people and 240 quotes, a total of 504 pieces including edges. It is by far the largest 500 piece puzzle I’ve ever seen. It’s about the size of the average 2000 piece puzzle at approximately 38 x 24 inches (97 x 61 cm). Have you ever seen such an enormous 500 piece puzzle? I certainly haven’t!

There are a few people and quotes I was able to match while I was sorting to get myself a head start on the matching. You don’t have to know all the people and quotes to get this one done, and you don’t have to sit with a computer or phone and look them all up either; the portraits all have a slight overlap, but you have to pay very close attention. Here are a few that were easy to find, and you can see how the overlap of images helps in the assembly.

Who IP2

This is the kind of puzzle mom and I adored doing together; we did one with word definitions and one with tv shows. She would have loved some of the silly quotes, we would have been reading them to each other while we sorted and laughing our heads off. Puzzling always makes me think of her, but this puzzle does especially, we always had such a good time with these quiz puzzles.

Paris In Progress

On October 17, 2019 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzling6 Comments

Paris in progress

I’ve started this 1000 piece Ceaco puzzle title Paris. I have to say I’m sorely disappointed in the quality. I’ve noticed that their puzzles up to 750 pieces aren’t too terrible, but the 1000 pieces are less than stellar. For me, I highly doubt I’ll be working another Ceaco over 750 pieces again.

The amount of puzzle dust was astounding, and the pieces weren’t all cut completely though. The fit is awful as well, and moving around completed sections is a nightmare. Even just scooting them over a tiny bit results in everything crumbling apart.

I’ll continue on with it, because my daughter got it for me and I try to always assemble puzzles given as gifts. The image is a very pretty one, and I’m hoping once more of the pieces are in place that it will be a bit more stable. I’m not giving up on it, because I want to see the finished image and I’ve got to send my daughter a picture of the completed puzzle!