Vintage Dress Making

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 1000
Size:  70cm x 50cm

Product Code: 169283

If you've been following this account over the years, you would know that besides jigsaw puzzling, I'm an avid crafter and usually enter my cross stitch and embroidery into the town's local annual show. Because of this, I also enjoy doing puzzles that feature elements of my different passions, and so the above one was no exception.

While I have not attempted dressmaking (as yet) I loved the design of the above Ravensburger puzzle. 

The vibrant colours, busy design and pretty little details made the above puzzle a joy to do. 

Do you have other hobbies besides doing jigsaw puzzles? Do you try and find puzzles that feature cross-over designs with this hobby?

The Burbs

Brand: One But Many

Pieces: 1000
Size:  70cm x 50cm

Product Code: -

When I was preparing for a puzzle sale a few weeks ago, I started sorting through some of my older puzzles that I knew I wanted to get done in time to add to my sell list. 

This was one of those puzzles.

I bought it from One But Many just as they were closing down their puzzle business, because I loved the illustrated design by Alice Achoo. It's such a vibrant and detailed representation of life in the suburbs, and while I didn't sell it this time around, I'm sure it won't be long before someone snaps it up.

In the meantime, I'm going to continue to look for unique and interesting puzzle designs that follow this same style of illustration. Have you seen any of interest like the puzzle above?

Freya

Brand: Deico Games

Pieces: 1000
Size:  68cm x 47cm

Product Code: 77448

Good morning all! 

I'm not sure if there's a story behind this illustrated design by Groos Zselyke, but the wintery scene above certainly seemed appropriate for the cold days we've been experiencing lately. 

I've had this puzzle in my collection since about 2021 and only recently got it out to complete it. I decided to go through some of the older puzzles I had, with the intention of doing them and getting them ready to sell at the upcoming Laverton Bowling Club puzzle sale. 

Although the image is beautiful, the pieces were quite a loose fit. I've only done a couple of puzzles from this brand, seeing as it's difficult to get in Australia (I had to import it from the UK), but the artwork was too pretty to pass up!

Have you ever imported a puzzle simply because it was unavailable in your country and you really loved the design?

Celebration

Brand: Yarn

Pieces: 1000
Size:  75cm x 50cm

Product Code: -

Well as promised from last week, here is my Aboriginal art puzzle that I have recently completed for NAIDOC (National Aboriginal And Islanders Day Observance Committee) Week. 

This design, created by Alkina Edwards, stood out to me with its vibrant colours, cool patterns and overall prettiness. While it wasn't released specifically for NAIDOC Week like some designs from the Yarn website were, it is still a pretty representation of art created by an Indigenous artist.

These puzzles were made of nice, thick quality cardboard that had a glossy finish, and also featured letters on the back for those who prefer a little hint to piece placement. I tend to just try and ignore that and do the puzzle as normal but I thought I'd mention it in case it's a little off-putting for some people and they're not aware of it- I certainly wasn't! 

Yarn has a few puzzles available on their website, all created by Indigenous artists, so if you're interested in this style of art, you should check it out.

Birthday Party Cakes

Brand: Eurographics

Pieces: 1000
Size:  48.89cm x 67.63cm

Product Code: 6000-5700

I had originally planned on putting up a puzzle that featured Aboriginal art this weekend, considering tomorrow is the beginning of NAIDOC Week (National Aboriginal And Islanders Day Observance Committee) but I realised that although I have completed the puzzle I wanted to post, I have not yet taken a photo of it!

I hope to remedy that soon and maybe have it done in time for next week, but that means that I had to find an alternative puzzle to post. 

Which brings me to the above puzzle - birthday cakes!

June is a busy month for birthdays in my family and so this is the perfect puzzle to represent that. It feels like we're eating some form of birthday cake every week throughout June and the start of July, in order to celebrate everyone's birthdays. 

The above puzzle was a fun one to do- very colourful and busy, with some beautiful and delicious-looking cake designs...

Which month is a busy birthday month in your life?

Donut Lover's Jigsaw Puzzle

Brand: Ridley's Jigsaw Puzzles

Pieces: 1000
Size:  55cm x 70cm

Product Code: JIG043

Yesterday was National Donut Day, so what better design to put up than one that celebrates all things donuts?!

The above design features a variety of our favourite baked and decorated treats, with an illustration, name and description of each one for good measure.  

This puzzle was a lot easier to do than it looked, especially when you sorted out the pieces by colour and text, but I'm a little disappointed that the vibrancy of the colours didn't come through as well in my photos compared to in real life. Regardless, it was still a treat to do, and just one more in Ridley's collection of 'lovers' puzzle designs that I have now completed. 

Did you celebrate yesterday with a donut or two? I unfortunately didn't, but I'll be heading to the shops soon so who knows what may fall into my shopping basket? Haha

Inseparable Cat And Kitten

Brand: Enjoy Puzzles

Pieces: 1000
Size:  68cm x 48cm

Product Code: 2122

Tomorrow is Mother's Day and it's also my birthday, so what better puzzle to put up than a cute cat and her kitten! 

I did this puzzle a little while ago and it was the first time I had done a puzzle from the Enjoy brand. It was such a pleasure to do and I've done one or two since. The quality is amazing and the colours are always so vibrant.

I don't really have a lot of time to write much more cos I have to get ready to go to Melbourne, but I hope you enjoy the image I have put up and I'll get back to you next week with something new!

Vintage Knitting & Crochet

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 1000
Size:  70cm x 50cm

Product Code: 176205

Autumn is here and the days are starting to get a little cooler, which is why I have decided to post the above puzzle image- colourful wool and knits seemed like the perfect choice.

I loved the bright and vibrant colours in this design, as well as the throwbacks to vintage knitting patterns and retro photography. Even though knitting and crocheting are crafts I have yet to master, I am still fascinated by the process and would love to one day sit down and teach myself properly. I have attempted both a few times but other projects have always come along and I've set the learning aside to do those instead. One day! 

Is there a particular craft or hobby you enjoy doing besides jigsaw puzzles? Have you found a cross-over where you can do a jigsaw puzzle based on that craft or hobby? Let me know!

Squishmallows Squish Squad

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 1000
Size:  70cm x 50cm

Product Code: 175536

Have you ever looked at a particular puzzle design, and thought, 'boy that's cute', but then put it back because you thought it might be too difficult to do? 

I have to admit, I had my reservations about the above puzzle, thinking exactly that when I saw it. But I'm glad I persevered and purchased it in the end, because once I got into it, this puzzle was quite enjoyable.

I love Squishmallows, and my daughter has quite a few of them at home, so I thought the above puzzle would be a fun one to do. Even though it is full of repetition (similar to the style of those 'impossible' puzzles), I thought I'd give it a shot. It was quite easy to flow through when you sorted the colours and made up each of the characters. Then it was simply a case of piecing together each of the completed Squishmallows to complete the puzzle in it's entirety. 

Have you ever done a puzzle like the one above?

House Of Colors

Brand: Enjoy 

Pieces: 1000
Size:  68cm x 48cm

Product Code: 2153

Isn't it such a good feeling when you see the release of a particular design you've been wanting for ages, and then it becomes available for purchase? That was the way I felt when I saw the above image. As soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to complete it, and luckily enough, I was able to purchase a copy before it completely sold out everywhere! 

Since then, I have seen numerous people searching for it online and asking in Facebook groups if anyone has it available to buy. I have just finished mine and plan on bringing it to the Melton Puzzle Sale that is happening tomorrow in Melton, Victoria (April 13, 2025). I will try and reach out to some of those people on Facebook, in the unlikely event that I don't sell it there, but I'm not liking their chances. I'd much prefer to sell it in person and not have to deal with shipping and the hassle of going to the post office. I'm pretty sure this will be one of the first puzzles snapped up, and with good reason too.

The quality was amazing and the colours are so beautiful. The image just pops and is such a pleasure to do. It was a little more challenging than I first anticipated but once I got into the flow of it and was able to sort it by colours, it was very enjoyable to do. 

Will you be attending the Melton Puzzle Sale tomorrow at The Golden Fleece? If so, I'll see you there!

Barbie: Fashion Icon!

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 1000
Size:  70cm x 50cm

Product Code: 175185

I thought I'd put up this beauty today - a workspace devoted to Barbie and her various fashions. 

It features blueprints and photos of Barbie and her clothing throughout history, and was really enjoyable to do. 

I had to purchase this one from a UK-based website, as good Barbie puzzles for adults are unfortunately really hard to come by in Australia. There is such a market for them though! I sold it straight away when I attended a puzzle sale day.

I'm hoping to find some more over time, but for now I'll have to curb my puzzle spending and complete some of the ones I have in anticipation of the next puzzle sale (next month, to be held in Melton). 

At The Bookshop

Brand: Thames & Hudson

Pieces: 1000
Size:  48.6cm x 68cm

Product Code: -

I have to admit that I love book-themed puzzles. I've grown up with books, and have always loved them. I was introduced to the library from a young age and even worked at a bookstore for over 10 years. My great childhood dream was to become an author and illustrator (that obviously never happened but I studied and majored in literature at university (as well as journalism) so I got partway there I suppose). 

Anyway, this love has extended to puzzles with literary themes, which is probably why I love Reverie Puzzles so much (they have a new design drop today in case you were wondering and I've already spent way too much on more of their beautiful designs). 

Of course, other brands release puzzles that follow the theme and they also end up on my radar- like the above puzzle illustrated by Kim Siew. This puzzle references so many literary motifs and if you're an avid reader, you're sure to recognise a lot of them. I loved the sneaky references to book titles within the illustration, and if you're not as sure about some of them, they are listed on the box so you can look them up. 

This was a fun one to do, with lots of things to look out for, and which I fittingly found at a book store when I was searching for a particular novel- best add-on sale ever!