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!