Night Dancer

Brand: Okay Lady

Pieces: 400
Size: 52cm x 52cm

Product Code:  -

Happy New Year!

I'm going to keep it short but sweet for today because the new year- 2022- has begun and I have much I want to do, but I hope this is a great puzzling year for you, and if you're doing the World Puzzle Days event, I'll discuss it next week! 

Enjoy the start of a hopefully wonderful year!

Super Mario: Happy Holidays

Brand: The OP Puzzles

Pieces: 1000
Size: 48.9cm x 67.6cm

Product Code:  PZ005-676

Merry Christmas! What better way to celebrate the actual day than to put up a picture of Mario, Luigi and the rest of the crew as they celebrate the festive season! 

This puzzle by The OP Puzzles features everyone's favourite Super Mario characters and is made up of irregularly cut pieces. While this was a little challenging in the plain white areas, it was also a fun puzzle to piece together and I'm glad I was able to find it.

Thanks for following my puzzle blog over the year (or longer if you've gone back through some of the images I've put up!) and I'll see you in the new year.

Stay safe and Merry Christmas!

Enchanted Christmas

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 500
Size: 49cm x 36cm

Product Code:  168620

A case of insomnia has me up and posting this one a bit earlier on a Saturday morning than I would like. But I figured that since I was up, I may as well do it now...

This puzzle design is another by Demelsa Haughton- I absolutely love her work! She has such pretty and whimsical illustrations, and they come across as wonderful puzzle designs. 

This Christmas-themed puzzle is no exception. She puts lots of little details into her work, and sometimes you don't see them until you're piecing the puzzle together. The characters are all very cute and I am excited that I got to do yet another of her gorgeous creations. 

This is the last weekend before Christmas! Crazy how time flies. I'll have another (final) Christmas puzzle up next week and then we'll see what happens next in regards to design posts. What will the new year bring?!

Deck The Halls

Brand: Waddington's Of London (Winning Moves)

Pieces: 1000
Size: 66.5cm x 50cm

Product Code:  WM00507-EN1

The second of this year's Christmas puzzles is by Waddington's Of London, who have released this puzzle in Australia through the brand Winning Moves. Deck The Halls is a wonderful nostalgic scene of a Christmas gathering, with the kids helping mum to decorate the tree and the dog begging for Christmas treats from dad. 

This is such a classic scene that I couldn't help but order it when I saw it. The design is vibrant and features gold foil on the Christmas tree- giving it that extra sparkle (unfortunately it's not terribly visible in the photo). This puzzle also came with a certificate of authenticity and a collectable golden coin for people who have collected the series over the years. 

This was a great and busy puzzle to do and I might look out for more like it in the future.

Weasley Sweaters (Harry Potter)

Brand: The OP Puzzles

Pieces: 550
Size: 45.72cm x 60.96cm

Product Code:  -

It's December! As in previous years, I can't believe it's rolled around so quickly. The end of the year always seems to come around sooner than I anticipate! 

So that means it's time for Christmas-themed puzzles. I haven't really got a lot, but hopefully I've got enough to complete for the month of December's posts. 

I know for a fact that despite all the hundreds of puzzles I have and need to still do, a very very small percentage of them are Christmas-themed. Is that a valid reason to buy more? Speaking of which, how did you go with the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales? I know that I probably should have instigated an internet ban on myself for that weekend but some of the deals were too good to resist. I'm a sucker for a good sale! Especially when there are puzzles involved! Oops- I'll have to exercise more self-control for the next few months (ie years).

Anyway, back to the puzzles...

Today's puzzle features Harry Potter, Christmas and a lovely cross-stitched theme- a puzzle by The OP Puzzles. When I saw this one, I was strangely excited. Ugly sweater excited! This puzzle was different but I enjoyed doing it and is the first of the Christmas puzzles I will be putting up this month. It was the first time I had done a puzzle from this brand too, and I plan on doing others if I come across them

Dan's Ice Cream Van

Brand: Eurographics

Pieces: 1000
Size: 48.89cm x 67.63cm

Product Code:  6000-5519

We're starting to get into the warmer weather now and that means more ice cream! Yay! I'm super excited because an empty shop near our home is getting converted into an ice cream store as we speak and should be trading from next week. It's gonna be dangerous for my wallet and waistband having a shop like that within walking distance but it will also be amazing! 

To celebrate, I've put up this puzzle that I did which was designed by Paul Normand. 

The artwork is so detailed, the colours really pop and the quality was wonderful (as expected from Eurographics). I really enjoyed piecing together this image, bringing on all the nostalgic feels. We actually have a van similar to this on the waterfront, and they have the same sort of vibe (including the same colours on their van-with a splash of yellow!)

Next week if I remember, I'll talk about all the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales- let's just focus on the sweet ice cream treats this week! 

World Of Travel

Brand: Willow Creek

Pieces: 1000
Size: 68.6cm x 50.8cm

Product Code:  -

Yesterday was a momentous day for many Victorians, with the easing of covid restrictions! We can now go to most places without having to wear a mask, can hit the dancefloor, and capping restrictions have ended so we can go to places and not be restricted on how many people can be there! I'm not sure how long this will last for, and I really hope that lockdowns are a thing of the past, but we'll have to see what happens. This is all because we've reached a benchmark in vaccination rates. Yay! 

This easing also means that travel is now becoming more of an option, which is why I have posted the above puzzle, designed by Lewis T. Johnson. The design drew my attention with all it's cool 'stickers' of travel destinations around the world. This was the first puzzle I had done by Willow Creek and it was different to put together odd-shaped pieces, after doing so many puzzles recently that have uniform shapes. But I still enjoyed the challenge. Some of the pieces were a bit scratched up though, which I was disappointed about considering I bought it new. Oh well, nothing can be done about that!

I'm really looking forward to travelling again, even if it's just around Australia. Have you got a travel destination in mind for the coming months?

Lego Minifigure Puzzle

Brand: Chronicle Books

Pieces: 1000
Size: 63.5cm x 50.8cm
Product Code:  -

I am a huge fan of Lego. 

I love the different things that you can make with it and all the detail involved to make realistic creations. My husband also enjoys building with the blocks, and has made a Lamborghini and space station, among other kits. 

We even went to a Brickworld exhibition (pre-covid times) to see all the amazing displays!

That's why, when I saw that you could get puzzles of Lego, I jumped at the chance. 

I did this puzzle ages ago but am only posting it up now. I was collecting the minifigures for a while, and recognise some of these guys from my collection. This puzzle was fun to do, and the quality was alright for a company that usually deals in books rather than puzzles. 

If you know any Lego fans, this would be a great gift for them, besides buying them the actual bricks. There are also a few other Lego puzzles available that feature the coloured bricks (Paint Pot etc), if minifigures aren't their thing.

Speakeasy

Brand: Anatolian

Pieces: 1000
Size: 48cm x 66cm
Product Code:  1058

I'm a bit late off the mark posting today, but I got there in the end! 

Today's puzzle is one that stood out to me as soon as I saw the design- I was captivated by the colours, cool illustration and the general appeal of the image. How interesting is this design?!

I thought I'd put this one up today as a celebration of all things music- so many artists have announced shows that are coming to Australia, and so many tickets have been released- I can't wait for live music to start back up again!

The above puzzle was wonderful quality and I really enjoyed putting it together- I have yet to find an Anatolian puzzle I dislike :)

Bon Voyage

Brand: Educa

Pieces: 1000
Size: 48cm x 68cm
Product Code:  17103

As of last night, Melbourne was officially able to re-join the rest of Victoria with the end of Covid lockdown restrictions. This has come as a relief to so many, who will now be able to visit family and friends, get back to their businesses (although there are still restrictions surrounding this) and help to ease the strain on the tourism and hospitality sectors. It was even better timing considering that many people will be celebrating the Melbourne Cup long weekend, so they'll be able to travel to regional Victoria and get away from home for a few days.

To commemorate this moment, I have put up a photo of a puzzle I completed called Bon Voyage, featuring a kombi and bits of travel/ beach paraphernalia. This puzzle was fun to do and of fantastic quality. It was the first Educa one I had done in a while, so that made it even more of a joy to complete.

I would have loved to put up a puzzle celebrating all things spooky for Halloween but surprisingly, I had nothing in my collection! Might have to look into that for next year!

Are you getting out of lockdown this weekend? What are your plans?

Running Horse Buddies

Brand: Puzzlebug

Pieces: 100
Size: 22cm x 28cm
Product Code:  -

During the week it was the Geelong Cup Public Holiday. As a casual worker, I got the day off work but besides that, it just felt like any ordinary day. Usually I would see photos online of friends that had attended the races, or see people's sweepstakes for the event, but there wasn't anything this year because the Geelong Cup wasn't open to the public. I didn't even realise the race had run till that evening- there was hardly any fanfare around it this year!

But I have decided to put up a picture of a puzzle I did of running horses, just to give it a look in (especially since I got a day off for it). The above puzzle was only 100 pieces, and was through the Puzzlebug brand (which are very hard to find nowadays since they are no longer readily available at Kmart). The quality was cheap as you'd expect but the image quality was good. 

I have a few more of these smaller piece counts to do and then I'll be done with my collection unless something else pops up!

Banksia Bloom

Brand: Okay Lady

Pieces: 400
Size: 52cm x 52cm
Product Code:  -

I haven't had as much time as I would like to puzzle lately. This is despite having bought even more puzzles in the last few weeks! 

A combo of starting a new job and caring for my little one when I have been home has meant that I've put jigsaw puzzling assembly on the backburner. But since it's the weekend, I'm going to try and get at least one or two done. 

The above puzzle is the first one I have ever done from small Australian business Okay Lady. They have a range of pretty, colourful designs that I absolutely adore. The above design was not as challenging as I expected, and was quite quick to do, being only 400 pieces. I enjoyed the quality and have a few more to do in my collection. If you get the chance, you ought to check them out!

The Fantasy Bookshop

 

Brand: Ravensburger
Pieces: 1000
Size: 70cm x 50cm
Product Code:  197996

I've always been a booklover and so when I first saw this puzzle design by Aimee Stewart, I knew I had to do it. It appealed so much- I wish I had access to a place like the one above! Or that I owned a place like the one above! 

But as I don't, I've had to settle for a puzzle image of it instead. 

This one was by Ravensburger and is full of little details that you don't really see until you're putting the pieces together, like the little mouse hiding on the shelf. 

I really enjoyed this busy little shop design and will continue to look out for more book-themed puzzles.

Nickelodeon Cast

 

Brand: Aquarius
Pieces: 1000
Size: 51cm x 71cm
Product Code:  65-317

During the week, I started a new job as a warehouse packer for an awesome store. 

They ship thousands of items a day to people all over the world, and specialise in anything to do with popculture. One of the things I packed yesterday was a cool-as Loungefly backpack that featured all the great 90's cartoons of Nickelodeon, and so I was inspired to put up this puzzle today because of it. 

I did this puzzle a little while ago, and I love that I can name a majority of the characters. I used to love some of these shows when I was a kid, especially Rugrats, Aah! Real Monsters, Catdog, Rocko's Modern Life and Hey Arnold (but especially Rugrats!)

This puzzle was a great nostalgia hit! 

Hey Sup

Brand: Cra-Z-Art
Pieces: 100
Size: 33cm x 25cm
Product Code:  -

Hey Sup? 

Haha wanna know the reason for today's puzzle? It's AFL Grand Final day and the contesting teams are the Bulldogs (as above) and Melbourne. I haven't followed the footy in years but I thought I should put up something of relevance today and this was the only puzzle that really fit the bill. I honestly don't care who wins. Football is just one of those things that I've turned away from over time...

The above puzzle was part of a series (I think I've posted at least one other from it in the past) that was photographed by Keith Kimberlin. He has done many other dog and cat portraits, which were released as a 100 piece per puzzle collection- 6 in all. They're cute and good for something different. Quality was cheap as expected for the price and brand, but you get some cute stickers with the pack too!

Sometimes you just need to do a smaller piece puzzle for a quick fix...

All Good Things Are Wild & Free

Brand: Flow Workman

Pieces: 1000

Size: 67cm x 48cm
Product Code:  -

I wasn't sure which puzzle to put up this morning but then I was inspired by a fellow puzzling instagrammer who put up a photo of this design. Not long after, an outdoor-loving friend posted on Facebook that they had just bought a property which they will use as a retreat to get away from their busy lives. The pics of their new place look very similar to the above picture, so I considered that a sign!

And so we have the above picture.

This puzzle was great to do and had lots of little details (like the bugs on the flowers). It actually took me a bit longer to do than I expected too. The pieces fit together perfectly- my only complaint was that there was a dusty sort of residue on some of the pieces that was difficult to remove. It was obviously due to something in the manufacturing process but it was still disappointing. Nevertheless, I was overall quite pleased with the puzzle, and have to say that I enjoyed putting it together. 

I have done a couple from this brand now- they have wonderful illustrations and you should try them out if you get the chance.

Pokemon: Character Panels

Brand: Impact Merch

Pieces: 1000

Size: 50cm x 70cm
Product Code:  IMPZ0118

During the week, McDonalds Australia was meant to release a Pokemon-themed Happy Meal. 

One of my brothers, who is a huge fan, enlisted me to go and buy some so that he could try and collect all the trading cards which come with the food. Unfortunately, none of our local stores had them in stock yet so I still haven't been able to get any. This is despite Ebay going crazy with them. I'm guessing a lot of the ones for sale (at ridiculously inflated prices I might add) are being sold by McDonalds employees who managed to get their hands on them early.

Anyway, because I wasn't able to get any, I thought I'd put up a Pokemon puzzle instead. The above puzzle was quite easy to do if you worked in colour blocks but was still moderately challenging. I love the above 'original' characters so it was a pleasure to do this design.

Impact Merch has come through with quite a few cool popculture designs, and I can't wait to see what else is in store!

The Secret Garden

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 1000

Size: 70cm x 50cm
Product Code:  168064

Have you ever had a puzzle that you've wanted desperately to do but you just cannot find it anywhere? 

The above puzzle is my unicorn puzzle and I'm excited to say that I was actually able to get hold of it to complete it!

It's only a fairly new release by Ravensburger, but the above design- illustrated by Demelsa Haughton- has been on my wishlist ever since I first saw it. I suppose a lot of people have been after it, because it has been sold out absolutely everywhere and been extremely difficult to find.

I was lucky enough however to get the chance to complete it- even if I wasn't able to own it. 

There's a wonderful new little business based in Tasmania called Thinkercise, where you are able to rent from a selection of puzzles. You can rent the puzzles of your choosing from their growing list, it is sent to you with a return label and after you've completed it, you send it back. You have 2 months to complete the puzzle from the date it is received. The owner of this business, Hannah, is absolutely lovely. 

I was so happy to discover that The Secret Garden was available to rent and jumped on the chance straight away. And what an amazing puzzle it is! The illustration is lovely and there are so many details to find. It actually took me a bit longer to complete than I anticipated- the leaves/branches on the sides and the white/grey around the birds was a bit more challenging than I realised but this just made it more interesting to do. 

Of course, being Ravensburger, the quality was excellent. 

If you're in Australia and would like to do some puzzles without forking out a fortune (and without having to onsell or store them somewhere afterwards) then renting from Thinkercise might be a good option for you.

Dog Lover's

Brand: Ridley's Jigsaw Puzzles

Pieces: 1000
Size: 55cm x 70cm
Product Code:  JIG033

During the week it was International Dog Day (August 26) so I thought I'd put up this illustrated guide to dog breeds. Produced by Ridley's Jigsaw Puzzles, it shows a variety of breeds and explains about their origins/temperaments in a beautifully illustrated design. There is also a cat version, which I may put up one day (maybe if there's a day dedicated to cats?)

This puzzle was fun to do but I wasn't terribly impressed with the quality. This brand, from my experience, always seems to have the design peel back from the pieces, which can be quite frustrating and detracts from the overall quality and enjoyment of the puzzle. This puzzle also comes in tubed packaging, rather than your standard box and has a reference poster to help you put it together. 

Other than that, the puzzle is not too bad (at least the design is good) and it hasn't stopped me from purchasing other designs by them. I'm hoping someday I'll get a good quality one!

Periodic Table Of The Elements

Brand: Arrow Puzzles

Pieces: 500
Size: 61cm x 45.5cm
Product Code:  -

In Australia, from August 16-20 this year, it was National Science Week, so I thought I'd try and find a puzzle that fit in with the theme. 

From Arrow Puzzles' Space & Science series, the above puzzle covers the periodic table in a bright and clear design. How many of these do you remember from school? I did Chemistry at school (even in Year 12- how insane is that?! haha it was not one of my strengths!) and I remember the first 30 elements or so...

Even though it was not my best subject, I still hold a fascination with the table above. I have also done other puzzle brands (Eurographics for example) that feature the periodic table- I'm just drawn to it for some reason!

This one was quick and easy to do and I will likely do the other two in this series (human body and space) soon. 

Are you interested in educational-themed puzzles like the one above? Or do you prefer images where no learning is required?

Where The Wild Things Are

Brand: Aquarius

Pieces: 500
Size: 35cm x 48cm
Product Code:  62-168

I've decided to get nostalgic again today- since I've been looking through all my old books- and thought I'd put up this photo of a puzzle I did last year. I used to enjoy reading this book, and I'm hoping to introduce it to my daughter soon (I think she's a little young at the moment). 

This puzzle was good fun to do- the colour border makes it a bit more interesting- especially since the actual illustration is not that colourful. But it is an iconic illustration so they're forgiven!

Quality was wonderful and it made a nice trip down memory lane :)

Home Sweet Home

Brand: Flow Workman

Pieces: 1000
Size: 67cm x 48cm
Product Code:  -

OK, the above house in the puzzle picture doesn't represent the way my home looks AT ALL, but as we in Victoria live through Lockdown 6.0, I thought that it might be appropriate (well at least the reference to home anyway).

Yes, you read that correctly. Lockdown 6.0.

I know that this one has hit more people harder than most- maybe because we only recently came out of 5.0 and things were seeming peachy. I'm not even really sure why this lockdown began. I didn't think there were any new major cases happening this time round but who knows? I just feel sorry for all the small businesses that are suffering because of it. 

Anyway I digress.... the above puzzle was quite interesting to do- I don't think I had done a Flow Workman puzzle before this one and I was pleasantly surprised at the velvety texture of the pieces and the tight fit. The colours were nice too. My only complaint was that some of the pieces had a sort of dusty residue on them, which was difficult to remove. This problem obviously comes from the manufacturing level, and hopefully it isn't the same across the board for all their puzzles. I quite like the range of unique designs that they have in stock and will likely get more as time goes on.

With all the lockdowns that have happened, I'm sure I'll have the time to tackle more!

Needles And Such

Brand: MB Puzzle 

Pieces: 1000
Size: 50.8cm x 68.58cm
Product Code:  -

Yesterday (Friday 30 July) was World Embroidery Day so I thought it would be fitting to put up the above puzzle which features needles, thread and other embroidery materials! I have done a lot of embroidery over the years (mostly cross stitch though) and I love the fact that there is a day dedicated to commemorating such a fun and beautiful craft.

The above puzzle (with artwork by Angela Anderson) was a bit more challenging to do than I previously expected, probably because of the repeating motifs throughout the design, but I really enjoyed it regardless. The colours were vibrant and the design was busy (but not too busy if you know what I mean). The quality of the pieces was good for a cheaper brand puzzle. 

What hobbies do you do that have been commemorated by a special day? Have you seen puzzles around that are representative of your hobby?