Taurus

Brand: Cobble Hill

Pieces: 500
Size:  67.6cm x 48.9cm

Product Code: 45012

Well I've finally gotten around to the Zodiac series again, and only a few days past the dates for Taurus. I hope to be more up to date for the next one! I'm a Taurus and I believe the characteristics for the star-sign are quite accurate - you won't find anyone as stubborn as me! haha! I've enjoyed doing this series and look forward to posting the rest of the designs as they come up throughout the year.

In the meantime, there's been a bit of puzzling news - the Australian Jigsaw Puzzle Association (AJPA) yesterday released presale tickets for the Victorian State Competition to be held at Malvern Town Hall on August 9. Did you get your ticket? I bought mine pretty much as soon as they went on sale, and apparently over 60% of the solo competition tickets were sold in the first 2 hours! Crazy! But good! I'm really looking forward to it - the event has been so fun over the last few years...

In other news, Reverie Puzzles just had another launch this morning with more beautiful designs released. Make sure you check it out! 

Until next week...

The Travel Series: Pisa

Brand: Hinkler Elevate

Pieces: 500
Size: 59.4cm x 42cm

Product Code: -

How chilly have these mornings been? How lovely would it be to go travelling at this time of year? 

At the moment, I know so many people that are travelling overseas, including two of my brothers (although they are nearing the end of their trip now). The last photo they sent to us was a picture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, hence my puzzle choice for today's post. I was inspired!

This puzzle was one of a set of four travel-themed designs from Hinkler Elevate. Even though it is of a cheaper quality, the puzzle pieces were still quite good, and the colour gradient of the background made it easy to complete. I have already done the other three puzzles in this set and hope to put them up soon. 

In the meantime, I will be attending a speed puzzle competition with my husband tomorrow in Melbourne and am so looking forward to it! Hopefully I'll be able to complete it in the time allocated! Wish me luck :)

Krypt Gradient

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 631
Size: 70cm x 50cm

Product Code: 168859

A few days ago it was International Color Day and so I thought it would be fitting to put up a photo of a gradient puzzle I completed a while ago. 

This is one of the Ravensburger Krypt puzzles- there are quite a few colours in the series but this is the only one I have purchased or attempted to do. 

I like the idea of the challenge for solid colours but I think I would get much too frustrated trying to do one. I prefer images to complete rather than that sort of thing. But I was happy to give the gradient one a go, simply because of the colours and the fact that it's probably one of the easiest to do from the collection!

Unfortunately, my photo doesn't do the colours of the puzzle any justice- they're much more vibrant and pretty in real life! 

Have you done any of the Krypt puzzles? What did you enjoy about them?

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...

Vintage Nancy Drew

Brand: Cobble Hill
Pieces: 1000
Size: 67.6cm x 48.9cm
Product Code:  80051

You have no idea how excited I am to tell you this- during the week, libraries opened up again! 
My heart is full :)

Because I work during the week and they are only operating for limited hours, I haven't had the chance to go in yet but I plan on making my first visit back today. I'm so excited! (Trust me, I know how nerdy that sounds lol).

To celebrate, I have decided to put up a puzzle that I did a little while ago of the Nancy Drew book series by Carolyn Keene. When I was a kid, I used to devour her adventure/detective stories. They were the best! And when I saw that Cobble Hill had produced a puzzle featuring some of the vintage book covers, I knew I definitely had to do it! It brought back so many fond memories.

This puzzle was quite quick to do- I worked mainly by each cover, piecing them together as I went. The only issue I really came across was when I was photographing it (so you can blame me rather than the puzzle) I couldn't get a nice clear photo of all the covers! Sometimes the text would be too light-coloured to read clearly. But the above was the best I could do so I'll just have to settle for it. It brings nice memories back anyway. 

Nancy Drew was just one of my many favourite book series. Which ones did you love?

Goosebumps Classic Book Covers

Brand: Outset Media Corp. 
Pieces: 275
Size: 61cm x 46cm
Product Code: PRC-300923-052015

Hands up if you used to read the children's book series Goosebumps when you were a kid?

Insanely popular in the 1990s, R.L. Stine's novels were the thing to read, and even spawned their own television series. The books, while not particularly scary, were the catalyst to get many kids reading- including those who never showed much of an interest in books beforehand! 

I, being an avid reader anyway, absolutely devoured these books, and had quite a collection of them (as did one of my brothers). When I saw this puzzle, I knew I had to do it for nostalgic reasons, even though the piece count is quite small compared to my usual standard. The puzzle was quick, fun and easy, with a variety of different shaped large pieces. The cardboard was thick and the design brightly printed. 

Although it only covers a selection of the book covers, it was still a treat to do, and provided a lovely walk down memory lane...