Ellis Beach, Cairns, QLD

Brand: Ken Duncan Images Of Australia (Crown & Andrews)- The World's Most Beautiful Jigsaw Puzzles
Pieces: 504
Size: 64cm x 24cm
Product Code:  -

It's currently winter here in Australia and I never thought I'd say this but I'm really starting to miss the warmer weather!

Because of this, I thought I might put up the above image- how beautiful does this tropical puzzle look?! 

I've never been to Ellis Beach but I have been to Cairns, and I can remember how warm and sticky the weather was- so humid! Even if I'm not a huge fan of the weather, there's no denying how beautiful that sky looks.  

Ken Duncan always manages to capture the most beautiful images (hence the name of the puzzle brand he prints with I guess 😉)

Is there a place you're craving to go to at the moment?

Tropical Paradise

 

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 500

Size: 36cm x 49cm
Product Code:  141876

This is an oldie but a goodie, and one that I had to dig out of my childhood puzzle collection. I have done this puzzle countless times over the years and it always guarantees a nostalgia hit. I put this one up today because I needed to remind myself of better times, when we were able to travel to places just like this one and enjoy beautiful sunshine and tropical climates. 

I don't really have much more to say than.

I hope you enjoy looking at this puzzle as much I enjoyed putting it together.

African Sunset

Brand: Ravensburger
Pieces: 1500
Size: 60cm x 80cm
Product Code: 162987

Time for another animal scene I reckon...

I did this puzzle for the Global Jigsaw Puzzle Jubilee from the stash of puzzles that I had in my cupboard. I can't remember exactly when I bought this one- it's quite old- and I haven't seen it available for sale in a long time (although I'm actually selling mine now on eBay if anyone's interested?!)

This puzzle took me a lot longer to do than I anticipated- it may have something to do with all the oranges, reds and yellows in the Saharan landscape! That said, it was also a pleasure to do, with its beautiful design and exceptional Ravensburger quality. Once I had the trees and solid background done, the zebras and giraffes became a little easier to manage. 

This is a beautiful puzzle and a worthy addition to any collection. 

Wonderous Safari

Brand: Cardinal
Pieces: 500
Size: 35.5cm x 27.9cm
Product Code:  -

This may seem strange, but I'm quite in awe of the power of Instagram.

Every week when I post up on this blog, I also post up the same puzzle photo on my Instagram account. It's always a hit-and-miss moment when it comes to the popularity of particular puzzle designs. You would think that licenced designs- of popular pop culture icons or series- would get the most likes, but often Disney and Star Wars, for example, rate less highly than random pictures of say, a sailboat scene (or last week's Kuri Kumi: Summertime).

I guess it can be hard to know what people are interested in seeing.

Maybe there are so many similar designs online that anything that is slightly different will get more interest, hence the popularity of some pictures over others.

I have decided to put up the above puzzle- of a lion and his cubs- this week to test my theory. I was going to put up a DC Comics Justice League of America design (because I saw the new Wonder Woman film this week) but changed my mind at the last minute. I might put it up next week and see how they rate in comparison to one another.

This cardinal puzzle was a pleasure to do. Like the others from the brand, it has really small, good quality pieces and a vibrant design. The sunset colours are gorgeous, as is the illustration of the lions.

We'll see how this one goes Instagram-wise. I don't really care about the numbers so much because the aim of this blog and the Instagram account is to showcase the amazing puzzles I have done, but it's always interesting to see what others think!

Sydney Opera House And Harbour Bridge

Brand: Ravensburger
Pieces: 1000
Size: 70cm x 50cm
Product Code:  192113

I love living in Australia. 

This is something I have learnt after travelling across several countries over the years. While it is wonderful to see other cities and cultures, there's never any place quite like home. 

With this in mind, I decided to do this puzzle which features Sydney's iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Living an hour's drive away from Melbourne (which, in turn, is about an hour's flight from Sydney), I haven't had the chance to visit this amazing city as much as I would like. There is still so much that I would like to see and do there, but completing this puzzle brought back great memories all the same!

On my last trip to Sydney, I did a twilight climb to the top of the Harbour Bridge- a wonderful experience that I hope I never forget. It is something that every visitor should do if the opportunity arises. While it is a bit pricey, it's also a unique experience that's well worth the money! 

Doing this vibrantly-coloured puzzle, which features Sydney's most iconic structures (maybe even Australia's most iconic structures), was a pleasure. The imagery is beautiful and the dusky pink and purple tones of the sunset are captured perfectly. This would make a great memento of a Sydney trip, guaranteed to bring back any delightful memories you may have had. 

This puzzle is available from Fishpond by clicking the link below:

Ravensburger Sydney Opera House - 1000 Piece Puzzle