Mystic Dragons

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 500
Size: 49cm x 36cm

Product Code: 148394

This weekend is Lunar New Year and so I have decided to put up the only dragon puzzle I have completed in a while to commemorate the Year of the Dragon! 

I have a few others in my collection, including a beautiful one from Reverie Puzzles, but I never got the chance to complete it in time. 

This puzzle had it's challenges, despite being only 500 pieces, due to the similar colours and 'textures' in the design, but it was very satisfying to complete. I was lucky enough to win this puzzle in an online competition, with a company that has unfortunately now gone out of business. 

What's on for your weekend? Will you be celebrating Lunar New Year? Or having an early Valentines Day? I'll try and get a 'love-themed' puzzle done in time for next week to celebrate that one...

Game Of Thrones: Fire And Ice

Brand: Buffalo

Pieces: 500
Size: 54cm x 38cm
Product Code:  03350-3358

I'm an avid reader, and have been since I first picked up a book as a young child. 

But one series that I have never read, despite watching the entire show, is The Song Of Fire And Ice (aka Game Of Thrones), written by George R. R. Martin. I really enjoyed the HBO television series but I can't bring myself to actually read the books. 

It's not only because the show deviated from them so early on, but the main reason is that he has never finished them (and doesn't appear to be interested in doing so either). While working at the bookshop, I can't tell you the amount of times that fans would come in, looking for the next book in the series (which keeps getting pushed back again and again). I swear the man has given up and not even begun to start writing. 

Instead, he has released side stories from the series that have links to the characters but don't continue the story arc of the series. This frustrates me so much that I don't want to start the series and have to wait an indefinite amount of time before I can find out what happens next. I've seen how the fans react to waiting this long and just don't want to join that tribe.

I read online yesterday that a new series based on the backstory of the Targaryen's is in the works, which has further fueled the ire of fans, who are again asking why the author can spend so much time on the shows, rather than finishing the series. 

I'm interested to see how it all pans out, but in the meantime, I thought I'd put up a photo of one of the GoT puzzles I have done by Buffalo. This one was good quality and pretty quick to do- I liked the contrast in the design between the ice and fire...

Skate

Brand: Re-Marks
Pieces: 250
Size: 27.9cm x 35.6cm
Product Code:  -

Today is the first day of winter in the Southern Hemisphere and over the last week or so, we have definitely been feeling it!

The day's have been so cold lately, which is why the above design is so fitting. 

While there is rarely snow in the area that I live, it has felt cold enough that I wouldn't have been surprised if we got a little bit of snowfall! In other parts of Victoria however, like Mt Hotham (a popular ski area), they have already experienced a bit of a fall, so that'll keep a lot of the snowbunnies happy.

I love the above design, although I'm not sure who the illustrator is. It's such a pretty drawing, and the puzzle was a pleasure to do. If anyone knows who drew it, I'd love to find out! Some of the other Re-Marks puzzles I have bought are illustrated by the same person- i just love the style!