House Of Astrology

Brand: Galison

Pieces: 500
Size: 50.8cm x 50.8cm

Product Code: -

Anyone who has followed this blog or my Instagram page will know that I am often drawn to particular designs. I love Disney and popculture images, as well as illustrated designs that use bold and bright colours. Sure, I like many other styles too, but these are my predominant go-tos. 

The above puzzle, by Galison, ticks the boxes for illustrated puzzles, as well as my fascination with horoscopes and astrology. I'm the first to tell you that I'm a practical person, and don't believe in the 'properties, spirituality, etc' associated with horoscopes, starsigns, crystals and all that jazz, but I still find it all fascinating. The above puzzle was equally fascinating, and a pleasure to do. It even featured gold foil on the pieces which added an extra sparkle to the design. The pieces fit together well too, which is always a bonus. 

Have you done any of the gold foiled puzzle before? They seem to becoming more readily available and I find them so pretty...Let me know your thoughts.. Until next time...

Seasons Greetings From The Avengers

Brand: Buffalo

Pieces: 500
Size: 38cm x 54cm

Product Code: 3210

For my next Christmas puzzle, I have decided to put up this brightly drawn and illustrated design featuring Marvel's The Avengers. Most of the characters we know and love are depicted in this one, complete with a snowy background and jaunty 'Season's Greetings' banner (the only real Christmas-sy thing about the design if I'm being honest!)

This puzzle was a fun, quick one to do, with that wonderful Buffalo quality behind it. 

Next week when I post it will be Christmas Eve and I have a beautiful design ready to upload that I completed during the week. I look forward to putting it up for you then! 

Hey Sup

Brand: Cra-Z-Art
Pieces: 100
Size: 33cm x 25cm
Product Code:  -

Hey Sup? 

Haha wanna know the reason for today's puzzle? It's AFL Grand Final day and the contesting teams are the Bulldogs (as above) and Melbourne. I haven't followed the footy in years but I thought I should put up something of relevance today and this was the only puzzle that really fit the bill. I honestly don't care who wins. Football is just one of those things that I've turned away from over time...

The above puzzle was part of a series (I think I've posted at least one other from it in the past) that was photographed by Keith Kimberlin. He has done many other dog and cat portraits, which were released as a 100 piece per puzzle collection- 6 in all. They're cute and good for something different. Quality was cheap as expected for the price and brand, but you get some cute stickers with the pack too!

Sometimes you just need to do a smaller piece puzzle for a quick fix...

Coffee Lover's

Brand: Ridley's Jigsaw Puzzles

Pieces: 500

Size: 35cm x 50cm
Product Code:  JIG-039

This post is going up a lot earlier than any I've put up in recent times! Baby was very unsettled during the night and decided that 5.55am was the perfect time for a feed this morning! It wouldn't be so bad except I've gotten used to getting up between 7am and 7.30am for her usual feed and the early start has messed with me... 

Which is why I thought it would be fitting to put up the above puzzle about a beverage I've come to rely on! 

I've always liked the taste of coffee and enjoyed drinking it, but never thought that the caffeine had much of an effect on me. I could drink it (except later at night) and not worry that it would keep me up. In fact, I used to scoff at the people who said they couldn't function without their coffee in the morning! 

All of that has now changed. I was obviously just not tired enough for the coffee to not have an effect on me. Now I know what tiredness is, caffeine comes as a welcome relief- I look forward to it now, not just for the taste, but for the boost it gives me in the mornings. Who would have thought? 

This puzzle from Ridley's Jigsaw Puzzles was fun to do. It was interesting to see just how many coffees they could list, and read what was in it and how they 'look'. The box it comes in is even in the shape of a coffee bean bag! Very original.

It seems the humble coffee bean has a lot of variations when brewed! The puzzle quality was OK- there were a few pieces where the image had peeled off the backing a bit- but it fit together well. I've had this problem with other Ridley's puzzles so it seems to be the norm.

Despite this little manufacturing glitch, I'm sure that any coffee lover will adore this puzzle. It might even provide some inspiration for their next coffee fix. How many on this list have you tried?

The Australia Edition

Brand: Journey Of Something

Pieces: 1000
Size: 70cm x 50cm
Product Code:  -

Since Covid-19 took over the world, there has been a huge influx of puzzle brands coming onto the market so people can while away their 'stay at home' time with activities such as puzzle assembly. So many companies sold out of their designs with this unprecedented demand, and a whole new audience grew. 

Because of this, a lot of regular puzzlers had trouble locating designs from their favourite brands, and it meant having to either do ones already in their collection which had been put off for others (I'm guilty of this) and also trying new brands (also guilty). 

One of the new brands I decided to try was not necessarily new- Journey Of Something has been around for quite a few years already- but it was new to me (in that, I hadn't purchased from them before. I had always admired their artist-based designs but couldn't justify the cost. Even though they are only a small business, their prices seemed way too expensive compared to the usual $30 or so I usually spend as maximum. For your reference, their puzzles cost over $50 each for a 1000 piece puzzle. But when they had a sale, I decided to take the plunge and just buy some. Their Australian-owned and I thought I'd do my bit to support local.

I'm glad I did.

The designs are expensive (as I said) but that said, I know they have to cover the costs of manufacture, copyright for artists, shipping, promotion, etc, and still make some money at the end of it. All of the designs are carefully curated and beautiful. The pieces come in a fabric bag inside the box, whose lid lifts up and is held with ribbon. Presentation is perfect. 

I chose the above puzzle and two others, and thought I'd put up this one first because Australia Day (a public holiday which has become very controversial over the last few years- 'aka Invasion Day') is this Tuesday and I needed something Australian themed to display. 

Extremely good quality and very pretty. I loved the landmarks, illustrations, and overall design of this Australian map. If you get the chance, check out their website and see what goodies catch your eye. 

Tree-Dwelling Slowpokes

Brand: Mudpuppy

Pieces: 500

Size: 46cm x 36cm
Product Code:  -

I have been feeling so lethargic lately that no other puzzle fit as well as the one that I have chosen to display today. 

The above puzzle was quite quick to do, besides the similar colours, and perfectly represents the laziness I have been emulating over my last few days off. 

You know when you feel so tired that you just can't work up the energy or motivation to do anything? That has been me- I have done the bare minimum lately and I hate it. But sometimes you just can't get out of little funks like these. I woke up earlier today and with a bit more energy so hopefully that's the end of it and I'll be able to be a bit more productive from now. But we'll see how I go...

In the meantime, enjoy this cute Mudpuppy puzzle- they're always good quality and have a nice selection of designs to choose from. 

Winnie The Pooh 2

Brand: Ceaco 

Pieces: 500

Size: 46cm x 36cm
Product Code:  -

Part of Kinkade Disney 4-in-1 (S2)

I never thought I'd compare myself to a fat yellow bear, but this is exactly how I'm feeling at the moment! Floating away on the end of a balloon and needing someone to tether me to the ground to avoid disappearing up into the clouds. 

The last few weeks have been full on here in Victoria, Australia, with the craziness of Covid-19.

We've had a spike in cases and deaths, and this has led to Melbourne going into stage 4 restrictions, while the rest of us in regional Victoria have reverted back to stage 3 restrictions (like those we experienced last May/ June). 

Who knows when it will end? 

Luckily, I was able to book in some annual leave (which just happens to be now during the beginning of Lockdown 2.0) so I can stay home and take care of personal appointments during this time. Luckily I also have plenty of puzzles to keep me occupied :)

The above puzzle is one of four in a box, illustrated by Thomas Kinkade. This one features Winnie the Pooh and friends. The pieces in these are unusually shaped but fit well together and the overall dimensions of the puzzle are quite small, which I like.

I have plenty more of these series so I plan to get them all done eventually. They're so cute!

La Virgen

Brand: Ravensburger
Pieces: 1000
Size: 50cm x 70cm
Product Code:  198535

We're in December now, so I feel like it's time to unleash some of the Christmas puzzles I have done. I work in retail and for me, the Christmas season began long ago. In fact, we haven't even put up our tree at home yet cos I've already become Christmas-ed out at work and I'm trying to avoid it!! 

But puzzles are a different story, so I will be putting some up in the lead-up to the big day!

So the first one I'm posting isn't technically to do with Christmas, but at the same time it kind of is (?!)  I loved the bright and bold colours of this one, and the 'stained glass' look. It was actually a little bit more challenging than I anticipated too, which can occasionally be a good thing.

There are two more Saturdays before Christmas day so I will try to make those themed as well. Also, next week's post might be either a little bit early (Friday) or a little bit late (Sunday) cos I'm going to be interstate again. We'll see how I go!