Beauties Of Chinese 56 Ethnic Groups

Brand: Taiwang

Pieces: 1000
Size:  50cm x 75cm

Product Code: TW-1000-009

It's Lunar New Year, and since I don't have any puzzle images of snakes (of which this is the year), I have decided instead to put up a puzzle that I completed several years ago and which has been sitting in my puzzle photo vault for all that time! I won this puzzle through a Facebook competition back then, and it was such a beautiful image to complete. 

There are a couple of puzzles I have in my collection that would be perfect for this Lunar New Year and I hope to complete them soon so that I can show them to you. In the meantime, take a look at the one above!

I hadn't done this brand before and have never seen it available in Australian stores (or even online for that matter) but the design is beautiful and I remember the quality being exceptional. 

Have you got any puzzles in your collection where you've never tried the brand before but the image drew you in and you're raring to complete them?

The Bookshop Cafe

Brand: Reverie Puzzles

Pieces: 1000
Size: 50cm x 70cm

Product Code: -

Hi all, I'm not sure if I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was going to skip a week of posting. I had to travel interstate for work and was unable to put up any photos on this blog or on Instagram. But I have a couple of weeks free before my next interstate jaunt, so here we are. Today you get the honour of seeing this amazing puzzle from Reverie Puzzles, and who knows what next week will bring!

This puzzle was a pleasure to put together. The design (like all of the ones commissioned for this brand) is gorgeous- I love the illustrations! The colours in this design are vibrant, the pieces fit together snugly, and there's just general good vibes surrounding this puzzle (I don't know how else to explain it). I own most of the puzzles from this brand and look forward to having the chance to complete them all at some point. 

Is there one puzzle brand that you absolutely love and wish to own every design from?

Barbie: Paris Fashion

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 500
Size: 49cm x 36cm

Product Code: 165001

I finally got the chance to watch the Barbie movie last night! Yes, I know, it came out ages ago and I had every intention of seeing it with some of my friends but then I went overseas, and we had people cancel, and time just slipped away from us... 

But that's OK because I can finally say that I've seen it. And I really enjoyed it! It was very tongue-in-cheek, had some great little jokes throughout, but also was quite inspiring. It brought home a lot of truths about the patriarchy and women's often contradictory roles in the world, and I'm glad I finally got the chance to see it.

Anyway, I have decided to put up a Barbie puzzle for just that reason. This puzzle is a lot more muted than some of the other Barbie ones I have done- it's very classic and elegant fashion as opposed to the usual hot pink fashionista Barbie that is usually the norm but I enjoyed doing it. 

I bought this one online from the US and it cost me quite a bit but totally worth it for the rarity (and prettiness) of it. The quality was typical Ravensburger and it was quick to complete when you worked in sections.

Is there a movie you really want to see, that may have an accompanying puzzle to it?

Cleopatra

Brand: Bluebird

Pieces: 1000
Size: 68cm x 48cm

Product Code: -

It's the Queen's Birthday long weekend and I'm so excited for the public holiday! Unfortunately, I only have one puzzle of Queen Elizabeth (which I haven't yet done), so I can't put that up. But in the spirit of Queens, I have decided to instead put up a picture of a puzzle I did featuring the infamous Egyptian queen, Cleopatra!

This puzzle was from Bluebird and is one of several from a series which features famous names in Egyptian history. I loved the quality and design of this puzzle, although I haven't yet gotten around to doing the others that I have. I might have to unearth them from my collection and get them completed soon.

Veil (Forgotten by Cris Ortega)

Brand: Heye Puzzle

Pieces: 1000
Size: 50cm x 70cm

Product Code: Art.-Nr. 29460

Do you have a stack of puzzle mail that has arrived lately? 

I do. 

So so much...

I've mentioned this before and I know I sound like a broken record but my ability to buy puzzles and store them to do later is far outdoing my ability to actually get any puzzles completed! I have sooo many puzzles to do, and more and more keep arriving (my fault I know- I need to stop buying them!)

A few days ago, I won an Instagram competition and my puzzle prize was sent to me, so that's another one again! Granted, it's an amazing design and I think I'm going to start it today, but it's still enabling my problem. 

I decided to put this puzzle up today because I did it such a long time ago and it deserves it's spot in the limelight. The design is beautiful but it was quite challenging to do at the time because of all the like-coloured background pieces. Once completed though... whoah! I love gothic girl designs- they're always so appealing (even though they can sometimes be challenging). The artwork is always amazing, and in the case of this one, I was really happy with the overall puzzle quality. 

Bright, Bold And Beautiful

Brand: Hinkler

Pieces: 300
Size: 61cm x 45.7cm

Product Code:  -

Happy International Puzzle Day!!! Today is the 29th of January, and this special occasion happens to fall on today- for once I have not missed the day of recognition for one of my favourite past-times!

I thought that the day called for a bright and cheerful looking puzzle picture, and what could be more bright and cheerful than this image from Hinkler? The colours pop and the design is mesmerising and bold. As soon as I saw this design at my local Kmart, I decided to purchase it- even if the quality was on the cheaper side, the design more than made up for it!

Have you got plans for International Puzzle Day? What puzzle will you be doing to celebrate the day?

Tropical Paradise

 

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 500

Size: 36cm x 49cm
Product Code:  141876

This is an oldie but a goodie, and one that I had to dig out of my childhood puzzle collection. I have done this puzzle countless times over the years and it always guarantees a nostalgia hit. I put this one up today because I needed to remind myself of better times, when we were able to travel to places just like this one and enjoy beautiful sunshine and tropical climates. 

I don't really have much more to say than.

I hope you enjoy looking at this puzzle as much I enjoyed putting it together.

Sisters Of Sun

Brand: Anatolian
Pieces: 1000
Size: 48cm x 66cm
Product Code: 3065

Tomorrow is International Women's Day, so I thought it would be fitting to put up this beautiful puzzle of three strong women. 

When I first saw this design, I thought it was so striking, but it was difficult to find. Anatolian is not as easy to purchase in Australia as some of the other puzzle companies, and there are only a few businesses I have been able to find that stock the brand. 

Luckily, one of the ones I do purchase from had this particular design in stock so I was able to get it. The colours are so rich and the design is so pretty. I've only done a few Anatolian puzzles but, like the others, the quality on this one was wonderful.

Dancing With Colors

Brand: Anatolian
Pieces: 500
Size: 33cm x 48cm
Product Code: 3554

When I first saw this Anatolian puzzle, I fell in love with the image. I haven't done many puzzles from this brand before because they are a little harder to get in Australia- there are only a few stockists that I have been able to find so if I really like a design, I'll get it from them. 

The collage-style artwork really stands out for me, and the colours are amazing- a bit hard to capture in a photograph! This puzzle was surprising- some parts came together really quickly while I spent a bit more time on others. But I love the overall image :)

Beautiful City Architecture And Colors In Summer Season, Oslo, Norway

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

The Puzzlebug brand, while cheap, always has interesting designs, and this one is no exception. 

I like how they find images to represent various towns and cities, that you may not normally see in a jigsaw puzzle design. 

This one, featuring the Norwegian city of Oslo, is charming and picturesque- making you want to just pack your bags and visit!

The only fault I have with these puzzles (besides the fact that they sometimes don't join that well) is that they have such long and convoluted titles! Sure, that's not a terrible thing, but they do seem a bit too long-winded sometimes! Oh well, what can you do? 

Otherwise, they're not too bad for the price and at least there's plenty of variety in designs to choose from...

The Twelve Apostles, Vic

Brand: Ken Duncan Images Of Australia (Crown & Andrews) -The World's Most Beautiful Jigsaw Puzzles
Pieces: 504
Size: 64cm x 24cm
Product Code: -

I'm lucky enough to live near one of Australia's popular natural tourist attractions- The Twelve Apostles. Located along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, this natural formation along the coast is slowly eroding away but still draws thousands of tourists every year who stop along the roadside to view the picturesque sight.

I have decided to put this puzzle up today in association with an event that is running at the moment- although admittedly there's a little bit of a stretch. As you head towards the Great Ocean Road, in Bellbrae, there is an amazing place called The Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery. 

Now, I've never been there but I have many friends and family members who vouch for the place and insist on me going there at some point. I absolutely want to but I need to find the time! Anyway, at the moment, they're holding a Hot Chocolate Festival and it sounds amazing. If you end up going along the Great Ocean Road to visit the Twelve Apostles and other landmarks, then you should definitely make a stop at the chocolaterie on the way!

Sooo, plug over- back to the puzzle! This puzzle is of a panoramic image taken by Ken Duncan- a renowned Australian photographer. The colours and quality of this puzzle were outstanding, and the image is a truly beautiful representation of Australia's natural wonders. 

I have a few other puzzles from this collection which I hope to do soon- the images are just so vibrant- making these into perfect reminders of travel memories, or enticing additions to a travel bucket list. 

Popeye Village, Malta

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

When it's bleak and cold in your home country (winter!) you sometimes need a little sunny-side-pick-me-up. Besides going on a holiday, one way to do this is to do a puzzle with a lovely sunny image that immediately transports you to a warmer climate- hence my puzzle this week of Popeye Village in Malta.

While it doesn't appear to be a tropical location, the beautiful colours of the water and the bright red tiles of the buildings certainly make a difference when considering the dismal weather and overall greyness of life where I live at the moment! 

This puzzle was a little bit challenging to do when it came to working the background mountains and some parts of the ocean, but that only made it more interesting. There were plenty of colour shades to keep the design fresh and prevent boredom. 

I'd never heard of Popeye Village before, but apparently it's where they filmed the musical production of Popeye, and due to its popularity, they changed the village's former name to reflect that. 

I definitely wouldn't mind visiting it!

African Sunset

Brand: Ravensburger
Pieces: 1500
Size: 60cm x 80cm
Product Code: 162987

Time for another animal scene I reckon...

I did this puzzle for the Global Jigsaw Puzzle Jubilee from the stash of puzzles that I had in my cupboard. I can't remember exactly when I bought this one- it's quite old- and I haven't seen it available for sale in a long time (although I'm actually selling mine now on eBay if anyone's interested?!)

This puzzle took me a lot longer to do than I anticipated- it may have something to do with all the oranges, reds and yellows in the Saharan landscape! That said, it was also a pleasure to do, with its beautiful design and exceptional Ravensburger quality. Once I had the trees and solid background done, the zebras and giraffes became a little easier to manage. 

This is a beautiful puzzle and a worthy addition to any collection.