Ford Mustang- Evolution

Brand: Eurographics

Pieces: 1000
Size: 48.89cm x 67.63cm

Product Code: 6000-0684

If I had to pick a favourite classic car, I would have to go for the Ford Mustang. The old designs are just so timeless, and the newer versions look just as good! One of my friends has an old one that he has done up and it looks absolutely amazing- worth a small fortune now too, but I don't think he'd ever willingly sell it!

The closest I'll ever get to these babies are puzzles, and that's why I thoroughly enjoyed putting this one together. The quality was exceptional, and as usual, I learnt a little bit about the car's history, thanks to the Eurographics educational theme. 

Vintage Barbie

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 1000
Size: 70cm x 50cm

Product Code: 150212

Last week was Easter and sadly, I realised that although there was plenty of chocolate eggs in the house, I had no Easter-themed puzzles to put up. I didn't even have any of a rabbit in my collection! How sad. It got me to wondering, are there really that many puzzles around with an Easter theme? I am only aware of a few- they are nowhere near as prolific or popular as Christmas-themed puzzles... 

On Monday is ANZAC day, and I don't even have any puzzles to commemorate that! No poppies, no soldiers, nothing. I don't know if there is even any that exist! Oh well...

Today I have decided to put up a pretty Barbie puzzle- just because.

This one was from Ravensburger and I had to purchase it online from America because it's not available here in Australia. It was such a nostalgic and pretty puzzle that I had to have it! I also purchased a couple of other Barbie ones at the time- it was a Barbie order- but I haven't had the chance to complete them yet. 

I used to love Barbie when I was younger (being the only girl in the house, I had quite a few). I still love her, and love how she's now inclusive of all skin colours. I even saw one with more realistic proportions a few days ago- love them bigger thighs! Its great how they're trying to cater to more different looks nowadays. And about bloody time too! 

 

Jenny Sanders: Green Clubsport At Huskisson Hotel

Brand: Blue Opal
Pieces: 1000
Size: 70cm x 50cm
Product Code:  BL02034

I was trying to decide which puzzle to put up today and thought 'Hmm.... it's been a while since I put up a car one' so here we are!

I guess it's sort of relevant- my husband has recently become interested in classic cars and would like to some day purchase one to do up. Luckily he has a few friends who love that sort of thing- including one who is absolutely obsessed and owns about 10 cars that he has bought and fixed up over the years. His collection, and his enthusiasm, make him the perfect person to help in the car hunt. I think he's more excited about the whole thing than hubby! 

While the car in this puzzle can't really be considered a classic, it is still a quite iconic Australian car, as most of Jenny Sanders' illustrated cars are. This was a beautiful quality puzzle as always and just one more from the vast collection I have of her work. Maybe the next car one I do can be a classic one, just for the boys :)

Jenny Sanders: Picnic At Lake Tabourie

Brand: Blue Opal
Pieces: 1000
Size: 70cm x 50cm
Product Code:  BL01908

I may have mentioned before that I love the Blue Opal releases of Jenny Sanders' iconic classic car artwork. 

Here is another one from my collection that I thought I'd post up today. 

While I love the colours of this car, it took me a while to realise what was wrong with the image... Can you work it out?!

Yes, the car is disproportionately too big compared to the size of the people! This has nothing to do with the depth of the image because they are not that far in front of the rest of the scene- the image of the car is just absolutely too big compared to everything else! I'm not sure what happened here but the artist has definitely made sure that the car is the main focus! 😂

Other than that slight, I loved this puzzle for the usual reasons- the colours were vibrant, the pieces fit well together and despite the slight sizing mishap, the illustration was spot on.

Oh well, can't win 'em all! 

Jenny Sanders: Running On Empty

Brand: Blue Opal
Pieces: 1000
Size: 70cm x 50cm
Product Code: BL01905

I'm not sure why, but I really like these collections of puzzles by Blue Opal that feature the artworks of Australian artist Jenny Sanders. I have already posted up quite a few of them and have plenty more in my collection to do. Not only is the quality of the pieces great, but the designs are just perfect representations of classic Australian cars in 'their natural environment' (whatever that means, haha). 

I have always admired old, done-up cars, although there is no way I would be able to maintain or drive them myself. While a few of my friends have restored some in real life, the closest I think I'll be getting to them (besides being a passenger in one) is to do these puzzles!

This one features a lovely old green Holden (I don't know what kind of make it is but I'm sure someone could tell me!) in front of an old-school cafe (seemingly in the middle of nowhere). The colours are vibrant and the design layout made it pretty easy to piece together- the only challenge really came in the colours of the sky but even the gradual shading in the colours made it less difficult than it could have been.  

There will be more of these Jenny Sanders car puzzles on the way in this blog so if you're not a fan of them (as I am) then you'll probably be a bit disappointed! C'est la vie!

Lockey's Oyster Shed

Brand: Blue Opal Deluxe
Pieces: 1000
Size: 69cm x 49cm
Product Code:   BL01707

This weekend is the Portarlington Mussel Festival, which is held in Portarlington (obviously), a suburb on the Bellarine Peninsula not too far from my own. Tourists and locals alike- who have a taste for these edible molluscs- flock to take part in this celebration and enjoy the local produce. I for one have never really been a fan of mussels, but good on them for enjoying something different. 

In saying that, I have decided to put up a puzzle featuring Jenny Sanders' artwork Lockey's Oyster Shed. I know mussels and oysters are entirely different, but it was the closest comparison I could find! Renowned for her paintings of classic Australian cars, there aren't actually any oysters featured in this picture (just the location name), but I thought the summery vibes given out by the image were more than adequate. 

As with all of the puzzles featuring her work, this was a pleasure to do. The colours are vibrant and the quality of the pieces wonderful. I'm determined to work my way through all of the designs in this series, and any others that pop up over time...

Jenny Sanders: 'Yellow Sandman'

Brand: Blue Opal Deluxe
Pieces: 1000
Size: 69cm x 49cm
Product Code:  BL01865

After a two week 'experiment', the results are in! Licenced and popular franchise puzzle versus generic animal design. I have to say, I am quite surprised. I'm not sure if it's because of the designs I chose, or because of the audience I have on Instagram but I wasn't really expecting the results that came in.

After one week on Instagram, my Wonderous Safari  puzzle had 58 likes, and I had 2 people start following me (this may have been a higher number earlier but some people may have unsubscribed before I took down my figures). 

After one week on Instagram, my Justice League Of America puzzle had 55 likes, and I had 4 people start following me. Again, the numbers may have changed as some people unsubscribed but this is where it stands at time of writing. 

So it's a pretty close call. The first puzzle definitely had momentum at the beginning but the DC one had a gradual growth in numbers over the week...

Very interesting.

Well, now that that's over, onto today's puzzle!

I have decided to put up a photo of something a little different today- a Blue Opal Deluxe design by Australian artist Jenny Sanders, called 'Yellow Sandman'. This iconic old Australian car is part of a series Sanders has done that features artworks of classic cars (mostly Holdens). 

The pieces fit well together and the colours are quite bright (obviously depending on the design). I particularly like the beach scene behind the image of the car, as it brings back fond memories of warmer days!

This was a great puzzle to do, and something that many classic car fans will appreciate.