Colorful Boats On The Lake

Brand: Puzzlebug
Pieces: 500
Size: 46cm x 28cm
Product Code:   -


How was your Christmas? I hope you had a fabulous day with your family and friends, and were able to fully enjoy the festivities!

Now, if you're a regular reader of this blog, you will know that this is not my usual posting day. I usually post up each Saturday morning (at the moment it's Friday night), but I'm going to be a bit out of the ordinary this week and put up my weekly post now. I'm heading off camping with friends for New Year's and we're leaving bright and early tomorrow morning. Hence, the reason I'm posting now- there's no way I can get up early enough to write something and still be ready in time to leave! And there is likely to be little by way of phone reception or internet access where we're going...

For my last puzzle post of the year, I have decided to put up a picture of Puzzlebug's Colorful Boats On The Lake. I was hoping to get a puzzle I have of fireworks done in time to celebrate the new year, but wasn't able to complete it in time. Maybe next year! 

I decided to put this one up because we're going to be near a lake (while camping) and it still has a summer- type of vibe for our southern-hemisphere new year celebrations.  

I hope you have a safe and happy new year and look forward to the adventures and puzzling that 2018 will bring!! 

Return To Santa: Art By Tom Wood

Brand: SunsOut
Pieces: 750
Size: 68.58cm x 87.63cm
Product Code:   96004

Christmas feels weird this year. 

Maybe it's because it falls on a Monday and the lead up to the day is the weekend. I work in retail so I'm usually working up until Christmas Eve,  but because it's the weekend this year, I don't need to. That's thrown me out quite a bit but at the same time, I'm happy to have the time off to organise myself for Christmas! 

As promised last week, I have put up a Christmas-themed puzzle for today- a cute shaped puzzle that features the artwork of Tom Wood for SunsOut. This puzzle was much bigger than I anticipated- SunsOut usually label their puzzle dimensions in inches, and I have to then convert them to centimetres to work out just how large a puzzle it is! The pieces are also a variety of weird and unusual shapes, as is typical of the brand, so it can take some time to sort them and find the edge pieces. Sometimes pieces that can be found in the middle of the design have such straight edges, they could be mistaken for being part of the border! 

For this one, I worked in colours and textures blocks to work out what went where. The design is both cute and bright, so no problems there...I'm starting to become a bit of a fan of the randomness of SunsOut designs, although if I have one fault with the brand, it's that their boxes aren't very sturdy. I think every box I have of theirs is torn or ripped in some way because the cardboard box is so thin that it doesn't wear well if you stack a few boxes on top of one another. Nevertheless, the puzzles inside them are still good, and the designs are pretty so I'll probably continue buying and putting them together...

Have a safe and happy Christmas and I hope you get everything on your Christmas wishlist!

xo

Tin Robots

Brand: Ravensburger
Pieces: 1000
Size: 70cm x 50cm
Product Code:   81346

There's only 9 days left till Christmas, and while I'm tempted to put up a Christmas-themed puzzle, I think I might wait and leave it till next week.

Instead, I have decided to put up a picture of a puzzle called Tin Robots, by Ravensburger. I'm not sure why this puzzle image appealed so much to me, but when I saw it, I knew that I liked the old-school style of it, and I had to do it! 

I haven't really got much more to add to this post- as usual, the quality of the puzzle was as wonderful as expected for this brand. 

Now I'm going to sort out what Christmas shopping I have left to do... and work out which Christmas-themed puzzle to put up next week! 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Droids

Brand: Crown
Pieces: 1000
Size: 45.7cm x 60.9cm
Product Code:   017262

I have to admit that I can be a bit of a geek/nerd sometimes, and, over recent years, I have really grown to love the Star Wars franchise. In particular, I love The Force Awakens, the latest one in the saga (I don't really include Rogue One as part of the series, despite where it fits in, because it doesn't feel as though it's part of the saga, even though it is!) With The Force Awakens, we were introduced to BB-8, another lovable droid who works alongside C-3PO and R2-D2, and this puzzle is a wonderful tribute to the three of them.

I have decided to put this one up because the next installment of the Star Wars saga (The Last Jedi) will be released in cinemas this Thursday (December 14, 2017) and I can't wait! My husband and I have already booked tickets to see it at Village Cinemas Gold Class next Sunday- should be good! 

This puzzle took me a little longer to do than anticipated- mostly due to the similar shades of the background. There were so many browns, greys and blacks blended together that it was sometimes difficult to work out where each went, and the fact that the picture on the (collector's) tin was lighter in colour didn't really help matters! But I got there in the end (with the help of a lot of natural light) and the actual design turned out to be quite good. The quality of the pieces was alright too, which helped. 

I've done a few Star Wars puzzles now, all distributed by different companies, and I'm sure with the release of the next film, there will be plenty more designs to add to the collection...

Variety Of Colorful Ice Cream

Brand: Colorluxe
Pieces: 1500
Size: 58cm x 84cm
Product Code:   -

As I have mentioned previously in my posts, I live in the state of Victoria in Australia.

Over the last few days, we have experienced extremely hot weather (moving from spring into summer) with about 3-4 days in a row of of temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius. 
A few days ago, the Bureau of Meteorology issued an extreme weather warning for Melbourne and most of Victoria, saying that we were going to be hit with a storm that would deliver major floods and damage- the worst we've seen in over 20 years apparently! 
At time of writing, we are yet to see much evidence of it, but we've been told it's on its way, and if the scattered showers and radar images on the internet are to be believed, it's not too far off. 
Many events in the area have been cancelled already (Geelong's Carols by the Bay and the 2017 Food Truck Festival, sadly), so that's put a 'dampener' on the start of summer (see, what I did there? 'Dampener'? That's pun-tastic!)

Because I don't have any puzzles of storms or rainy scenes (wouldn't a lightning strike puzzle look incredible?), I have decided to post an image instead of a puzzle that was relevant a few days ago, when it was stinking hot. Who doesn't love a variety of ice cream flavours? The above puzzle celebrates all things ice cream, with many different flavours and colours in cups and cones. 
This puzzle took me longer to do than I expected. I thought it would be easy to work by colours for each ice cream flavour but there were actually a lot of similar colours, which made this task a bit more difficult. The backs of these puzzle pieces are coloured to make sorting easier, and I actually had to refer to this a few times to work out what went where! 
Besides that, the pieces fit well together and the image was quite pleasant to create. 

Four Seasons

Brand: Ravensburger
Pieces: 500 (Panoramic)
Size: 70cm x 25cm
Product Code:  147069

Even though it's only spring here in Australia, we've had a little bit of a heat wave of late. During the last week, Melbourne (as well as my hometown of Geelong, which is about an hour's drive away) has experienced temperatures of up to 30 degrees celcius and higher, giving us a taste of the hot summer to come. 

Because of this, I have decided to put up a picture of this Ravensburger panoramic puzzle Four Seasons. The seasons are clearly defined in this pretty little puzzle, with the changes signified by the changing tree and its surroundings. This puzzle was quite quick to do once the pieces were sorted into season sections, and the vibrant colours made it a treat to put together. 

This puzzle is available from Fishpond by clicking the link below:


Ravensburger Four Seasons Panorama Jigsaw Puzzle (500 Piece)

DC Comics Superman Collage

Brand: Aquarius
Pieces: 100
Size: 16cm x 20cm
Product Code:  61-107

I love watching superhero movies, so of course, I've seen most of the Marvel and DC films that have been released so far. Over the last few weeks there have been a few new ones- Thor: Ragnarok (which I have not yet seen but by all accounts is quite brilliant) and, only the Thursday just past, Justice League. 

I'm looking forward to seeing both at some stage soon but in the meantime, I have posted up a picture of a small pocket puzzle I did- DC Comics Superman Collage. 

Only 100 pieces, this was a quick and easy little puzzle to do, but it looks completely awesome! Made up of vintage comic covers, the design is vibrant, busy and of course, all things Superman! 

I'm pretty sure I've seen a similar version with more pieces, but if you're looking for a quick puzzle for your fix, you can't go past this one...

Summer Flower Bouquet

Brand: Cardinal
Pieces: 500
Size: 27.9cm x 35.5cm
Product Code:  -

Well, today is Remembrance Day (11 November)- the day when most countries commemorate the end of the First World War and pay tribute to their fallen soldiers. 

While the day is usually symbolised with red poppies, I found that I don't actually have any puzzles in my collection that feature this theme, so I have instead decided to go with the above puzzle for my blog post today. While there are no poppies in the above bouquet, it's still a pretty bunch of flowers!

The above puzzle was quite quick to do, with the usual tiny pieces of your typical Cardinal puzzle making the dimensions small enough to do on a little piece of cardboard. I love it when you can do a puzzle on one of these because it makes the process so much easier than having to set up a big board! 

The colours were vibrant (although the photo doesn't quite do this justice) and the design was pretty.

A lovely addition to the puzzle collection :)

Paris by Anthony Kleem

Brand: Puzzle Collector Art (Lafayette Puzzle Factory)
Pieces: 1000
Size: 51cm x 68cm
Product Code:  -

Well, as promised, I have put up a puzzle from a different brand this time round. And unlike my normal routine where I link the design image to something that is relevant to my life or the world around me, this one today is completely random!

When I first saw the design of this puzzle I was drawn towards the busy illustration of Paris that Anthony Kleem has produced. It features all of the important landmarks of the city- as well as the people- in a charming and patriotic way. The colours are vivid and the city is represented in a less metropolitan way than is the norm- looking almost like an idealic little village rather than a bustling city centre. 

This puzzle took only a few days to do but it was definitely a treat.

Pinball Machine

Brand: Puzzlebug
Pieces: 500
Size: 46cm x 28cm
Product Code:  -

It's my husband's 30th birthday today so I thought I'd put up a puzzle to represent one of the things he enjoys doing occasionally- gaming! And what better than a retro arcade game like a pinball machine?! 

We have spent many a time playing pinball machines at various places, and he even considered making his own at one stage (which still may happen). Funnily enough, the best places to go to play these sorts of things are places that hold children's birthday parties. We've gotten many a free game this way, when kids don't understand that they get three balls, lose the first game and then wander off! Don't want to waste those other two balls! Haha! 

While doing this puzzle didn't emit any loud beeps, clangs or high scores, I did enjoy putting it together. It was relatively simple and quick to do. I realise that this is the second Puzzlebug puzzle that I've put up in a row so I'll make sure to shake it up a bit next week with a different brand!

Candy Factory

Brand: Puzzlebug
Pieces: 500
Size: 46cm x 28cm
Product Code:  -

I live in a regional town in Australia, and at the moment, it's show time! Every year, the Royal Geelong Show descends upon the Geelong Showgrounds and people are treated to carnival rides, sideshow games, showbags, animal and homecraft competitions, fireworks, and all sorts of entertainment. 

I try to go every year (particularly because I enter different crafts into the competitions) and this year was no exception. I wanted to put up a puzzle today to represent the show, but the above image was the closest I was able to find. Although it's not really show-related, the bright colours and the carnival-type foods that are represented on the sign seem to relate to the show better than any other puzzle I have done to date. 

This puzzle was relatively easy to do when working in colour blocks, and, while the quality is quite cheap, the image still appeals. 

Jenny Sanders: Red Monaro

Brand: Blue Opal
Pieces: 1000
Size: 70cm x 50cm
Product Code:  BL01904

Today is the birthday of one of my brothers, so I was trying to find a puzzle that would be symbolic of the things that he likes, to put up today- easier said than done!

Although he is a cyclist and big Pokemon Go fan, I had trouble finding puzzles along these themes that I could do, besides the ones that I have already posted! 

So I decided to put up this Blue Opal puzzle of a red Monaro. It's only a little bit relevant, but it'll do! When we were younger, we sometimes attended the Motor Shows that were held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, where car companies showcased their newest models to the public. While they didn't often show older models (unless they were revamped), I will always remember admiring the new (in the 90s!) version of the Holden Monaro, and fighting with my brother about who got to keep the free poster we were given of it! (We eventually got a few free posters, so that solved the arguments!).

This puzzle is a reproduction of an artwork by Australian artist Jenny Sanders, who specialises in painting older models of well-loved classic cars. The puzzle pieces are of a high quality and the images bring on a sense of nostalgia for an Australia of old. 

The are plenty of other old cars featured in Jenny Sanders'  Blue Opal collection- I have previously put up Yellow Sandman- and I will continue to do these puzzles as I come across them. The images are wonderful and the quality is outstanding!

Disney Collage

Brand: Crown
Pieces: 1000
Size: 45.7cm x 61cm
Product Code:  20088551

I've been doing quite a few Disney-themed jigsaw puzzles of late, so I thought it might be a good idea to put  them up gradually and not have a whole stack of them posted up at the same time!

The above puzzle was a cheap buy from Target but the quality was quite good, with a bright and cheerful design and a majority of the characters represented in the piece. I really like that it included some of the characters that tend to get neglected in Disney-themed montage or collage puzzles, such as Lilo & Stitch and Marie from the Aristocats. The quality of the pieces was good (except for one piece which was cut so closely that one of the round bits threatened to tear off every time I picked it up!), with adequate interlocking. 

As I mentioned above, this design was bright, cheerful and very inclusive of many characters which made it immediately stand out as one of the more interesting Disney puzzles available on the market today. It was also smaller than average in terms of finished puzzle size, which is always a win in my book! 

Tiger Family

Brand: Ravensburger
Pieces: 1000
Size: 50cm x 70cm
Product Code:  191178

If you follow Australian Rules (AFL) football, you will know that today is Grand Final Day, 

Contending for the cup are the Adelaide Crows and Richmond Tigers, and, while I don't support either of these teams normally, I'm jumping on the bandwagon for the Tigers. It has been 37 years since Richmond last won a premiership, and it's safe to say that their fans are excited about the game coming up today. I hope that they can do it for Victoria and take home the premiership cup.

Because it's quite difficult to find footy-themed puzzles, I decided to put up this Tiger Family puzzle from Ravensburger to commemorate the team. 

This puzzle took a little while to do, considering all of the similar colours in the tiger's fur. I had to try and differentiate between each of the three tigers, and piece them together accordingly. I found it was easier to complete the plant-life on the sides of the puzzle first, then work my way into the centre.

A little bit challenging, this puzzle was nonetheless a pleasure to do and the end result is striking.

World Map

Brand: Hinkler Puzzlebilities
Pieces: 500
Size: 91.4cm x 60.9cm
Product Code:  HB22-FEB16-08

With all the turmoil going on around the world at the moment, I thought I might put up a puzzle of the world map today, just to remind people that no matter what's happening thousands of kilometres away, we're all still living on the same planet. 

The last few weeks have seen so many unfortunate events- there have been natural disasters like the devastating earthquakes in Mexico, Hurricane Irma in Texas, and the imminent eruption of a volcano in Bali. There were also a few earthquakes in New Zealand but I don't think there were any casualties this time round. 

There has also been a lot of political unrest around the world, with the murder of hundreds of Muslims in Burma (which has sadly been under-reported in the media) and, of course, the tensions between North Korea and the rest of the world. In Australia, the government has posted out a ballot, asking people to vote on whether same-sex marriage should be legalised- there are staunch supporters for both sides, but hopefully commonsense will prevail, discrimination (in this case at least) will be stamped out and everyone will have the opportunity to marry the person that they love, regardless of their gender. 

Now, I've gotten through my little rant so I can talk about the above puzzle! 

The pieces in this puzzle were quite large (although that is mentioned on the box) and made from a thin, relatively low-quality cardboard. If you have a good grasp of geography, then the bright design will be simple to complete.

This would make a good educational resource for someone learning about world maps, as it provides an adequate amount of basic information. 

Reef Adventure

Brand: Puzzlebug
Pieces: 500
Size: 46cm x 28cm
Product Code:  -

It's hard to believe that around this time last year, rather than being in cold, rainy weather, I was travelling around Fiji and Vanuatu for my wedding and honeymoon. 

The weather there was absolutely beautiful, the places we visited were amazing and the people we met were lovely. I had my first experience learning to Scuba Dive (granted, it was only in a hotel swimming pool, but at least I was able to learn the basics) and we got to snorkel some beautiful reefs, particularly near the amazing 'floating bar' Cloud 9, which was an experience in itself. 

To reminisce, I thought I would post up this photo of a puzzle I did recently. Although we weren't lucky enough to see any sea turtles, we did get to see some incredibly bright and beautiful tropical fish in their natural environment. This puzzle brought back memories of warm water, pretty coral and the aforementioned brightly-coloured fish. It was pretty quick to do, when working in colour blocks, and the design was (and is) fun and busy.

Perfect for brightening up a dull-weathered day and bringing back lovely memories, I reckon!

Sound Of Soul Strings

Brand: SunsOut
Pieces: 500
Size: 45.72cm x 60.96cm
Product Code:  39366

I have a wide taste in music, which ranges in scope from Disney songs and Broadway show tunes to punk rock and heavy metal tracks. 

I'm willing to listen to anything, and appreciate most music. 

If you have a listen to my iPod, in fact, you would find such an eclectic variation, you wouldn't believe that all the music on it belongs to just one person. You might hear Muse playing at first, then Slipknot, then the Captain Planet theme song, then Celine Dion! Who knows what will play after you press 'shuffle'!

Because of this diverse appreciation for music, it means that I have seen many fantastic bands/artists and have many more that I wish to see throughout the coming years (provided they come to tour Australia). 
As it is, I have just bought tickets to see Robbie Williams when he comes to Australia next year, will be seeing Muse in December, and hope to buy tickets to see The Foo Fighters and Pink when they are released. A couple of weeks ago I saw Stone Sour- an awesome show- and I'd love to see Metallica again if they plan another tour soon. 

The puzzle I have posted today is musically-themed, although, once again, it is a different kind of genre to all of the popular music-type artists I have mentioned above. Focusing more on a classical aspect, this puzzle by SunsOut features a string instrument (I'm unable to decide whether it's a cello or a violin) and a keyboard on a vibrant background. Musical notes float around the almost tribal design, making the images stand out. The pieces in this puzzle are made from a thick recycled cardboard (of high quality), and come in a variety of strange and unusual shapes, as is the norm for this brand. 

This was a relatively easy puzzle to do, when working in sections of colour and pattern, and is perfect for any lover of music. 

Digging Up Roses

Brand: Kodacolor Puzzles
Pieces: 100
Size: 29cm x 41cm
Product Code:  20100

Well, I'm back! And I'm happy to say that I'm feeling much better this week than I was at the same time last Saturday! I appeared to have a very short but brutal case of the cold- with very flu-like symptoms- but luckily that's mostly gone now.

Last week- on August 26 to be exact- it was National Dog Day in Australia. If I had realised last Saturday (the actual day), I would have put this puzzle picture up then. As it was, I didn't, and so I am putting it up now.

This was a puzzle from my childhood that I dug out when my parents made me do a cleanup of some of our old things stored in the garage. I highly doubt that you'd be able to find it in stores now. In fact, I don't know whether the brand even exists anymore! The pieces in this puzzle were large, made of thin cardboard (not the greatest quality) and obviously aimed at children. But oh well, nostalgia!

I decided to put this one up in a late commemoration of National Dog Day- we'll see what next week brings...