Going Trick Or Treating

Brand: Mr Bob Puzzles

Pieces: 525
Size: 40cm x 30cm

Product Code: -

After all the excitement of last week, reaching 400 posts, and the Victorian Puzzle Competition, I forgot to post up a photo of a Halloween-themed puzzle!

I was never really interested in Halloween until recently, and just saw it as another 'non-holiday event' but it has really started to take off here in my area, and now I'm getting a bit more involved. Enough so that I have started doing Halloween-themed puzzles anyway! lol.

The above puzzle features a cute illustration by artist Alicia Rutigliano, and is the first larger-piece-count wooden puzzle I have completed. The design was so cute and I was just drawn to it. 

In true Mr Bob style, it also features cute whimsy pieces of Halloween motifs, although I don't think I pulled any out for the photos unfortunately.

There are so many cute/ scary/ cool  Halloween puzzles out there nowadays, and I'm keen to do a few more. I especially loved the Halloween Advent Calendar that Reverie Puzzles released and will probably post some photos from that at some point. 

Which awesome Halloween puzzles did you do? 

Instagram Post 400!

Hi,

Today marks a milestone on Instagram for Jigsawpuzzlelove. 

I have finally reached the 400 posts mark!

Admittedly, I could have reached this a lot sooner if I posted more regularly than once a week (Saturday morning, usually, with only a few exceptions) but this blog was only ever intended to be a small, every-now-and-then thing, so it's already a lot bigger than I originally planned. It's been going for quite a few years now, and I've put up over 400 puzzles in that time frame. That's such a lot! Haha

I plan on continuing this (because, why not?!) but today I'm not going to be putting up any puzzles. I made a reel of all the puzzles I have put up on Instagram with this account, and that can be found on the Instagram page- a little commemoration of sorts. 

Now I'm going to leave this for the day and try and get one more practice run in, before leaving for Malvern Town Hall - where I will be competing in my first ever Vic State Jigsaw Puzzle Competition! 

I'm so excited but also extremely nervous. I hope I can get a good time! 

Wish me luck!

xo

The Lion King

Brand: Ceaco

Pieces: 500
Size: 46cm x 36cm

Product Code: -

This puzzle came in one of the Thomas Kinkade 4-in-One Disney boxes (Season 1 if I remember correctly), and I absolutely love this design. 

All of his paintings are just magical- he manages to capture each iconic scene perfectly. 

I know some people are not fans of his puzzles due to the paintbrush strokes sometimes making completion of the puzzle difficult, but I think this adds to the charm (and really it's not that difficult to put them together!)

This one was very quick to do and brought on all the nostalgic feels! It's also fitting because the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has just announced a show where they will be playing the score to the film in concert next year- tickets have already been booked lol

90's Icons

Brand: Smith Street Gift

Pieces: 500
Size: 45.8cm x 61cm

Product Code: -

This is one I've been holding onto for a while, but I've decided to finally put it up- simply because it's been in my photos folder for long enough and it was time to take it out! 

However, there's nothing particularly special about it - except for the little nostalgia hit it gave when I completed it. The pieces were of an OK quality, and it has a very cut-and-paste design, as you can see. It was fun to recognise different aspects of the 90's within the pictures though- I'm pretty sure I got all of them!

Do you enjoy doing this style of puzzle? Collage? Nostalgia? 

Zodiac Power

Brand: Galison

Pieces: 1000
Size: 68.6cm x 50.8cm

Product Code: -

I felt the need to put up a bright and fun design today, after the muted, pastel palettes of last week's Barbie puzzle, so here it is!

This puzzle from Galison ticks all the boxes for bright colours and interesting graphics. It was fun to put together- each zodiac sign had a specific colour so it almost felt like I was doing twelve mini puzzles and joining them together. I even played a little game with myself as I was doing it, to see which star-sign would be completed first!

I've done a few zodiac/horoscope-themed puzzles even though I generally have no interest in the ideas behind them. I just find them fascinating to do. 

Have you done any puzzles like this? 

Barbie: Paris Fashion

Brand: Ravensburger

Pieces: 500
Size: 49cm x 36cm

Product Code: 165001

I finally got the chance to watch the Barbie movie last night! Yes, I know, it came out ages ago and I had every intention of seeing it with some of my friends but then I went overseas, and we had people cancel, and time just slipped away from us... 

But that's OK because I can finally say that I've seen it. And I really enjoyed it! It was very tongue-in-cheek, had some great little jokes throughout, but also was quite inspiring. It brought home a lot of truths about the patriarchy and women's often contradictory roles in the world, and I'm glad I finally got the chance to see it.

Anyway, I have decided to put up a Barbie puzzle for just that reason. This puzzle is a lot more muted than some of the other Barbie ones I have done- it's very classic and elegant fashion as opposed to the usual hot pink fashionista Barbie that is usually the norm but I enjoyed doing it. 

I bought this one online from the US and it cost me quite a bit but totally worth it for the rarity (and prettiness) of it. The quality was typical Ravensburger and it was quick to complete when you worked in sections.

Is there a movie you really want to see, that may have an accompanying puzzle to it?

Melbourne Map

Brand: Hardie Grant Explore

Pieces: 500
Size: 51cm x 51cm

Product Code: -

I'm back in the state this weekend so I am able to post as normal. 

And I have exciting news!

When individual competition tickets first became available for the Victorian State Jigsaw Puzzle Competition (held in Melbourne) I missed my chance to secure tickets and ended up on the waitlist. I didn't think anything would come of it but during the week an opening came up and I was able to buy ONE ticket! 

So now I have to practise speed-puzzling 500 piece puzzles in preparation for the event. 

It's being held on my husband's birthday which is a bummer but he was OK with me doing it, considering I've been travelling everywhere with him in his marathon and running interest pursuits. Now I need to crack down and start practising!

Today I have put up an image of a 500 piece puzzle of Melbourne- since that's where the event will be held. This puzzle disappointingly wasn't of the best quality, but I still liked the image, and was able to recognise most of the landmarks (with our city of Geelong being only about an hour's drive from there).