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

Cat Lover's

Brand: Ridley's Jigsaw Puzzles

Pieces: 1000
Size: 55cm x 70cm

Product Code: JIG034

Today's post is quite late- I usually post first thing on Saturday morning but today it's closer to 4.30pm. That's because we stayed overnight with some friends for the extra long weekend and we only got home a short while ago. 

Extra long weekend, you ask? Well, being in Victoria, we were due to have a long weekend anyway (with Friday off for the AFL Grand Final public holiday), but then Australian's were also given the Thursday off as a National Day of Mourning on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. That meant that we had two days off, in addition to the weekend (therefore an EXTRA long weekend). 

This year the AFL Grand Final was between our hometown team of the Geelong Cats versus the Sydney Swans. So, since I don't have any football-related puzzles, I figured the next best thing would be to put up a puzzle of cats (especially since at the time of writing, the Cats are very convincingly winning!)

The above puzzle shows a selection of cat breeds and was quite good to do, although some of the pieces had the backing peeling off them (as a manufacturing issue, because the puzzle was brand new). Other than that, I quite enjoyed it. There are also other puzzles in this series, including one that features dogs. 

Next week my posting should be back to normal, time-wise, so we'll see what we have in store...

Dog Lover's

Brand: Ridley's Jigsaw Puzzles

Pieces: 1000
Size: 55cm x 70cm
Product Code:  JIG033

During the week it was International Dog Day (August 26) so I thought I'd put up this illustrated guide to dog breeds. Produced by Ridley's Jigsaw Puzzles, it shows a variety of breeds and explains about their origins/temperaments in a beautifully illustrated design. There is also a cat version, which I may put up one day (maybe if there's a day dedicated to cats?)

This puzzle was fun to do but I wasn't terribly impressed with the quality. This brand, from my experience, always seems to have the design peel back from the pieces, which can be quite frustrating and detracts from the overall quality and enjoyment of the puzzle. This puzzle also comes in tubed packaging, rather than your standard box and has a reference poster to help you put it together. 

Other than that, the puzzle is not too bad (at least the design is good) and it hasn't stopped me from purchasing other designs by them. I'm hoping someday I'll get a good quality one!

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?

Gin Lover's

Brand: Ridley's Jigsaw Puzzles

Pieces: 500

Size: 35cm x 50cm
Product Code: JIG040

You know how sometimes you don't miss something until it's gone? That's me at the moment- with alcohol. 

Since becoming pregnant, I have obviously had to stop drinking alcohol, and while I never drank a whole lot anyway, it was nice to be able to have a drink when I felt like it. 

Gin was my alcohol of choice just before I fell pregnant and this puzzle reminds me of what I'm missing out on. My husband has been very sweet to me, buying sparking apple and grape juices and serving them to me in a wine glass when he's been having a whisky or some other drink, but it's just not the same. 

Oh, well, nothing to be done about it till after the baby's here. In the meantime, I will have to settle for doing puzzles of alcohol, like the one above.  

Although the design of the above puzzle is very cool, I was disappointed with the quality of the pieces. Many were peeling, with the design coming away from the cardboard backing. I have seen this with several puzzles from this brand unfortunately. Besides that, the puzzle was quite pretty (as well as informative). It came in cylinder packaging, with a reference poster. I know there are a few puzzles similar (whisky, etc) and despite the quality, I think I'd still like to try them..