Veteran’s Day/Remembrance Day – Tower of London Remembrance

On November 11, 2018November 10, 2018 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw PuzzlesLeave a comment

It’s Veteran’s Day here in the US, and Remembrance Day in the UK and the Commonwealth (in other nations as well); a day to remember those who have served and those who gave their lives in service to their country (in many countries, the day specifically honors those who died in the first World War). Today marks the 100th anniversary of the end of hostilities in World War I – “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month”. We honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and those men and women who gave of themselves to give something back to their country. “Thank you for your service” is not nearly enough….

This puzzle shows many of the 888,246 ceramic poppies in the moat at the Tower of London – from an art installation in 2014 that commemorated the 100th anniversary of the day Britain became involved in World War I. Each poppy represented a British fatality in the war. It’s a beautiful image; stunning in its scope, and the reminder of lives lost. 888,246. That number takes my breath away.

I enjoyed this puzzle very much, and was happy that it gave me an incentive to spend some time researching Remembrance Day, Armistice Day, and Veteran’s Day. I even did a bit of research on one of the puzzle pieces! I had to email Wentworth to find out what one of the whimsy pieces represented; being the ignorant Yank that I am, I had no idea that the circular piece below is a sign for the London Tube! (London Underground, subway)

Tower of London Remembrance whimsies

The first 4 whimsies were easy, but I had to rely on the lovely customer service administrator at Wentworth to educate me about the last one. Thanks Amanda!☺

To all those who have served (including my handsome hubby, his brothers, and my son-in-law), thank you. Thank you. ❤

It’s National Jigsaw Day in the UK! The Gardener’s Cupboard

On November 3, 2018November 3, 2018 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles, Jigsaw Puzzling4 Comments

I’m celebrating National Jigsaw Day by posting an awesome puzzle from the UK, The Gardener’s Cupboard from Wentworth. I’ll also be celebrating by working on a puzzle, big surprise, huh?

In the US we have National Puzzle Day on January 29; it isn’t specific to jigsaw puzzles, but includes all types – sudoku, crossword, brain teasers, etc. In the UK this is the 4th annual National Jigsaw Day, especially for us dissectologists! (That’s just a ten dollar word for someone who enjoys assembling jigsaw puzzles – with today’s exchange rate that word is worth about 7.7 pounds sterling 😎) I’m way over here across the pond, but I’m an avid puzzler so I’m down with celebrating any day that celebrates jigsaw puzzling!

Wentworth is celebrating by offering 10% of any regularly priced puzzles, and having a Golden Whimsy Piece Competition. Buy any of their micro puzzles from their Stocking Filler Collection this weekend (Nov. 2-4, 2018) and you may receive a Golden Whimsy piece. If you find one of the 3 special pieces you win a year’s worth of puzzles – the prize is 12 x 250 piece puzzles of your choice. Wow! My puzzles are already ordered, wish me luck. 🍀 Check out their website for all the details, and happy National Jigsaw Day!

Now to this beautiful Colin Thompson puzzle – it was so much fun! The whimsies were perfect for gardening…

I love the spade stuck in the dirt (top right), although it took a few seconds to register exactly what it was. It’s so enjoyable to open a Wentworth and find all the whimsies to see what they are and how they relate to the puzzle image! I need to get out more, right? I’m WAY too excited about these things. 😉

The micro puzzles from Wentworth are a godsend to me, allowing me to puzzle when I’m unable to get out of bed and sit at my puzzle table, or even when I can’t sit up in bed to work with a puzzle on my whiteboard. I can put all the pieces on a cookie sheet lined with paper and complete one of these beauties while laying down. That’s exactly how I worked on The Gardener’s Cupboard.

I think I’d like to work this image in a larger piece count, there’s just so much to see! Colin Thompson’s cupboard puzzles are filled with interesting (and weird) things – and all those adorable little pink people! Even though it might have been better with more pieces, this puzzle was great fun. Two thumbs way up! 👍👍

Sky Roads

On August 12, 2018 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles1 Comment

I needed a quick puzzle fix on a day where I couldn’t get out of bed or even really sit up to work on a puzzle. On these days the puzzles I can assemble entirely on a cookie sheet are a godsend! Thank goodness I still have more micro puzzles to assemble. 💗

At between 30 and 60 pieces, Wentworth’s micro puzzles are easy to do lying down; I can put all the pieces on a small, paper-lined cookie sheet and assemble them without even having to sit up!

This image is full of beautiful colors and made for an excellent immediate dose of puzzle happiness. I’m not sure I understand the theme of the whimsies; this image is primarily about balloons and not really about nature other than as background to the hot air balloons.

Even with interesting choice of whimsy pieces the difference in themes didn’t really detract from my enjoyment of the puzzle. It was still entertaining and took my mind off of other things if only for a little while. That’s one of the reasons why puzzling is so very important to me.

No matter what reason makes puzzling important to you, keep on puzzling my friends!

Winter’s Warmth

On July 31, 2018 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles10 Comments

This image definitely isn’t one I would choose in a larger piece count, but with only 40 pieces I’m willing to try just about anything. I’ve looked at a few of this artist’s other puzzles, and they’re very different than this one – and I liked every one!

Unfortunately this puzzle’s whimsies were another repeat, but it didn’t make the assembly any less entertaining. With so many trees and so much snow it wasn’t the easiest of puzzles, but was I completely absorbed by it.

With this puzzle, Christmas in July is officially finished! Woo hoo! Christmas puzzles aren’t my thing, but I know a lot of people enjoy them very much so I try not to be too derogatory about them. If I’ve offended anyone with my attempts at humor about Christmas puzzles, I beg your forgiveness.

See you tomorrow in August, when I’m back to assembling whatever puzzles I feel like, for whatever dumb reason I choose to apply. 😁

Megatab, Mintaka and the Snowman

On July 30, 2018 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles2 Comments

I like the colors in this image, but again with the cats? I shouldn’t really complain since I’m the one who bought the puzzles, but here I am complaining anyway. I just wish there were more dog puzzles to choose from – either that or I’m just cranky and annoyed today. There’s a good chance that the cranky thing is the reason.

I like the cat whimsies in this puzzle, which sounds really stupid after I just said I’m sick of the cat puzzles, I know. I don’t mind the whimsy cats, I guess I’m just not one for the actual image of them. Sounds ridiculous, I know – but that’s how my weird mind works, and I’m not apologizing for it.

This micro puzzle was more difficult to assemble than I bargained for, but it was still fun and engrossing. That’s all puzzlers really want, to be able to be completely absorbed in the assembly – well, that’s what I’m always looking for anyway. It’s almost meditative, whether there are 40 pieces or 4000 I enjoy being wrapped up in which piece comes next and what shape goes where.

Christmas in July is almost over, one more day and one more micro winter puzzle to go!