Turtle

Brand: Critters Within Wooden Puzzle

Pieces: 191
Size:  30.5cm x 28.5cm

Product Code: -

Today (May 23) is World Turtle Day and for once I have a puzzle that's relevant to the theme!

I purchased this wooden puzzle from Kmart, along with the three others in the set (dog, cat and owl). While they were all only small piece counts - with the largest still under 300 pieces- they were somewhat challenging to do with the whimsy pieces, colourful patterns and shaped designs. 

I quite enjoyed doing this one, and the thick, interlocking pieces made the quality feel much more than I expected from a Kmart-branded item. 

I've already sold my copies of this puzzle and its counterparts but if you ever get the chance to do them, you should check them out!

House Plant Heaven

Brand: House Of Puzzles

Pieces: 500
Size:  69cm x 48cm

Product Code: HPO784

I really love illustrated designs (which I'm sure you may have noticed when perusing my puzzle gallery) and the above design was no exception. Illustrated by Tracy Hall, this puzzle was full of detail, from the decorative plates lining the edges of the roof and the luscious plants surrounding the room. Made into a large-piece format, this puzzle had random cut pieces and was the first I have ever completed from this brand - it did not disappoint. 

You may have noticed that this post is a day later than usual. I had an early start yesterday (travelling) and therefore I had to delay posting this until today, but I made sure not to miss a week regardless!

Hopefully I'll be able to post on Saturday again next week, without too many interruptions. Until then...

Cheese Cake

Brand: Typo

Pieces: 200
Size:  30cm x 30cm

Product Code: -

My birthday has always been around the Mother's Day weekend. Last year it was actually on the day (which was verrrryyy busy) but today it is the day after, so it won't be quite as full on. Because of this, I have decided to put up the only 'cake' puzzle I could find in my photo collection.

This puzzle was part of a set released from Typo (from the Cotton On brand) that featured a play on words for a few different things - including the above 'cheese cake'. The quality wasn't really the best, as expected from this brand - a lot of false fits - but the imagery was still cool and appealing so I couldn't help but buy and complete them. 

Luckily my birthday usually yields much better options when it comes to jigsaw puzzles - if my people buy me some, that is!

Disney 100

Brand: Arrow Puzzles

Pieces: 1000
Size:  69cm x 50cm

Product Code: 19914

In a few days it will be 'Star Wars Day' (aka May the 4th) so I thought I'd put up a puzzle featuring characters from the popular franchise. Although this one also shows characters from Disney and Marvel, I thought it would be relevant to the day. I have done quite a few Star Wars-themed puzzles throughout the years but this was the only photo I had currently that I could use for the upcoming day. 

The quality of this puzzle was quite good and the image was appealing as it represented a mix of characters in celebration of Disney's 100th celebrations. I'm pretty sure I have more Star Wars puzzles in my collection- I just have to get around to finding and doing them! 

The Coffee Shoppe

Brand: Sunsout

Pieces: 500
Size:  45.72cm x 60.96cm

Product Code: 41638

Today is Anzac Day and while I couldn't find any relevant puzzles in my collection, I was able to find this one of a coffee van (something that many people who attend the Dawn Service will most likely be utilising afterwards). 

This design by artist Janet Kruskamp features a quaint little coffee van in muted colours, and I thought the whole image was very charming - a little bit different from my usual styles but pretty all the same. 

Typical to the Sunsout brand, the pieces in this puzzle were random cut and that added a certain challenge to the puzzle but it was enjoyable to do all the same. 

I only wish that I had found a puzzle with poppies or something to do with the Anzac theme, but that's OK, I'll just have to search for one in time for next year. 

Banned Books

Brand: Chronicle Books

Pieces: 500
Size:  61cm x 39.5cm

Product Code: -

Another weekend, another puzzle offering!

This week, I haven't done as much puzzling as I would have liked, despite having a fair bit of time in the evenings to dedicate to it. Instead, I have been catching up on some of my reading, because I had some library books due and thought I should tackle them first. 

So on that note, I thought I'd put up a book-themed puzzle that I have completed. I have read some of the books featured in this puzzle design and honestly could not tell you the reasons why they were banned. This puzzle was a fun one to do but I had to leave the border till last because it was somewhat challenging. I found this puzzle at the Dymocks bookstore in Collins St, Melbourne, amongst a huge range of other puzzles. I love that puzzles are so readily accessible in a variety of stores.. although it's also something of a trap!

What's the most unusual place you've found a puzzle to purchase? 

Our Solar System

Brand: Arrow Puzzles

Pieces: 500
Size:  61cm x 45.5cm

Product Code: 18884

One of the biggest news stories over the last week has been the journey undertaken by the Artemis space mission, where a small group of astronauts have travelled to the far side of the moon and have sent back unbelievable images of Earth. This inspired me to dig out a puzzle that features space - one that I completed many years ago and had yet to put up. 

This puzzle was part of a small Space & Science collection (I think there were three puzzles in it by memory) and was an educational change from my usual puzzling images. The pieces fit together ok, despite being thin, and while the quality wasn't great, it wasn't terrible either - it was mostly standard for this brand's earlier puzzles. 

That said, the design is very educational and I found it quite appealing.

I have a few other space puzzles in my collection that I haven't gotten to yet but will eventually. Have you got any puzzles of a particular theme that you'd like to attempt at some stage?