Bookshelf

On June 25, 2018June 25, 2018 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw PuzzlesLeave a comment

At the end of a day that contained no puzzling I grabbed a micro puzzle to feed my addiction. This beauty was just what I needed!

Wentworth puzzles are beautifully made wooden puzzles produced in Wiltshire, England. They are made from a specially developed wooden board taken from sustainable sources. The pieces have an excellent feel in your hands, and there’s nothing like the satisfying “plunk” when they fall into place. The whimsy pieces are intricate and interesting, and usually match the nature of the image. It’s so enjoyable for me to just open one of their puzzles and look at all the pieces; even if I don’t start working on it right away I still find it satisfying to just handle the pieces and see all the detailed whimsies.

This 40 piece micro puzzle was pretty challenging, but still entertaining to assemble. I love Colin Thompson’s artwork, and I even have this particular image in a larger piece count from a different puzzle company. I haven’t assembled it yet, but I’m looking forward to having a larger image to work with and reading the spines of all the books.

I love jigsaw puzzles of all kinds and sizes, and even a 40 piece puzzle is entertaining and satisfying for me. I’m enjoying more smaller piece count puzzles these days, and it’s the puzzling itself that makes me happy – no matter how many pieces there are.

Penguin Pandemonium

On June 8, 2018 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw PuzzlesLeave a comment

This is the most challenging of the Wentworth micro puzzles that I’ve assembled so far. At only 41 pieces you wouldn’t think it would be that difficult, but I actually put it away the first time I attempted it because I just couldn’t get my brain to work right and none of the pieces wanted to fit together properly.

I adore these micro puzzles, and am so glad that I bought a BUNCH of them last year. They’re perfect when I want to puzzle but just can’t get out of bed or even sit all the way up. I can dump out the pieces on a cookie sheet lined with paper and puzzle lying down. I’ve got 16 of them left that I haven’t assembled yet, and will be doing 8 of them next month for Christmas in July. There are a few “extra difficult” holiday puzzles included in those 8 with an extra difficult cut – repetitive pieces and no whimsies. I’m looking forward to them!

The mostly black and white image made it difficult, as did the cut; you can see the shapes of the pieces below…

Luckily my brain cells were firing properly (for the most part) on my second attempt at this puzzle and I was able to get it done. The perspective helped; with the larger penguins at the bottom of the puzzle at the smaller groups at the top. It was an enjoyable challenge to complete this image and I was pretty proud when I heard that last piece plunk into place. Success!

London, The Thames….

On May 30, 2018 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw PuzzlesLeave a comment

London, The Thames with View of the City and St. Paul’s Cathedral – a giant name for such a small puzzle! This is another in my collection of Wentworth micro puzzles, perfect for when I’m stuck in bed but still want to work on a puzzle.

This is absolutely NOT the type of image that I prefer to assemble, but when there are so few pieces I’ll take on just about any challenge. I appreciate the workmanship of these puzzles, and that they’re easy to take and assemble anywhere – especially when you don’t have much time or space.

I’m always amazed at how difficult a puzzle with so few pieces can be. You would think with only 30-40 pieces it would go together quickly, but they usually don’t. The cut is such that it takes a bit of brain power to complete, but I love that. They’re fun and challenging, the best qualities of a great puzzle!

Meadow Cottage

On May 25, 2018 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw PuzzlesLeave a comment

Wentworth puzzles make me very happy; and since I bought wooden puzzles for both my mother and my daughter (and myself) this year for Mother’s Day I’ve been working with them quite a bit lately.

These micro puzzles are not as easy as they look, and are perfect for when you don’t have a lot of time or space but still want to get your puzzle on. They’re great for me when I’m feeling terrible and spending most of my time in bed; I can lay out and assemble the entire puzzle on a cookie sheet.

I love the artwork of Dominic Davison, his landscapes and cottages are absolutely gorgeous. Because he uses a mouse instead of a paintbrush to create his digital works of art I find them much easier to assemble than puzzles that use images of traditional paintings. His use of color and light in the composition makes for great puzzles that are appealing, charming, and fun to put together.

I’ve still got 16 of these micro puzzles left to assemble (and 3 that are done and waiting to be posted); I’m looking forward to each and every one of them. Even if the image or the cut is difficult I know that I’ll be able to get it done – they’re only about 40 pieces. Even I can do that!

Almond Blossom

On May 18, 2018 By Stacey at myjigsawjournalIn Jigsaw Puzzles2 Comments

I purchased all of these micro puzzles more than 7 months ago, I thought it was about time I got to assembling them all. It doesn’t hurt that they’re so small and easy to work with while in bed. They also give me a chance to work on images that I wouldn’t normally do in a larger piece count. Although Almond Blossom is a beautiful piece of artwork there is NO WAY I’d assemble this image in 500 or 1000 pieces – it would be way too frustrating for me.

I have 7 more everyday image micro puzzles left to assemble, and 8 more Christmas or winter themed ones – not including the 3 I’ve already assembled that are in the queue ready to post. I’m saving the winter ones for Christmas in July on the blog, and have started peppering in the others here and there.

It’s been almost a month since I’ve been able to sit at my puzzle board to work, so almost everything I’ve assembled has been done in my room or in bed. These micro puzzles are perfect for that, I can “get my puzzle on” without causing too much pain or frustration.

I ordered myself a Mother’s Day/Wedding Anniversary present that will be arriving today – a beautiful, colorful, intricate wooden puzzle from Liberty Puzzles. It has enough pieces to offer a challenge (so it won’t be over with too quickly), but it will fit perfectly on the white board so that I can work on it in bed. I can’t wait to open the box and look at all the pieces! It also gives me plenty of motivation to finish the lovely puzzle I’m currently working on so I can start on the gorgeous present I bought myself. 😍