Thoughts of an introverted bookworm and avid jigsaw puzzler
Houses in the Valley is a 1000-piece puzzle from JaCaRou, and the artist is Anie Maltais. This one was on my wishlist at Puzzle Warehouse for quite a while, but it recently came back in stock and I grabbed a copy.
I enjoyed this one a lot. The quality was good, and I love the rich, bold colors. Buildings are one of my favorite things in puzzle, so this was right up my alley.
Black Cat is a 500-piece puzzle from Fred, and the artist is Karen Obuhanych. This is a super cute puzzle that was lent to me for free from Completing the Puzzle.
Completing the Puzzle is a subscription service that is very easy to use and is great for people who want to try different brands and not worry about having to store puzzles they have done. The puzzles come in a prepaid mailer that includes a pouch with the pieces and a laminated image. When you finish the puzzle, you just stick on the label, pop it in the mail, and they will send you your next puzzle.Â
They recently approached me about becoming an affiliate. If anyone is interested in trying them out, they can use my code PUZZLINGBOOKWORM to get 25% off their first month.
Rabbit Hole Town is a 500-piece puzzle from HUADADA. I came across this puzzle randomly on Amazon and just loved how cute it was. It makes me think of Peter Rabbit if he was all grown up. I love the little bedrooms and the concert hall, but my favorite space is the store near the top.Â
Bees & Honey is a 1000-piece puzzle from Cavallini & Co. This is my third puzzle from this brand and I really enjoyed it. The image features vintage-style illustrations of honey bees, beehives, and pollinator-friendly plants. Piecing together the beehives, the flowers, and the banner at the top was quite pleasant. The larger insects were easy enough but kind of creepy.
I got a bit stuck when it came to all the small bees and the plain colored pieces. Luckily a friend came over and helped me with them. It was much more fun working on those tedious pieces with someone else.
This month marks five years since I started doing puzzles, so I celebrated by putting together my very first puzzle again. When I had done it the first time, several of the pieces had separated from the cardboard backing, so I took some time to glue them back together.
The quality of the puzzle was definitely an issue with a lot of peeling on the knobs and the pieces having what I can only describe as a squishy fit. The finish was quite glossy as well, and the lighting where I was doing it made that challenging.
I still had a great time putting it together though. The flowers and butterflies/other insects came together quickly and the words took a bit longer, just how I remember it the first time.
I am so thankful to my therapist who suggested way back when that I needed another hobby besides reading. Little did she know my foray into puzzling would turn into an ongoing obsession that would give me so much joy and result in me finding a whole bunch of people who love it just as much as I do!
Puzzle: Rare and Beautiful by Puzzle Crush, 500 pieces
Green Room is a 1000-piece puzzle from Soonness, and the artist is Rowon. I have heard about this brand for years but never considered it before because of the price. Earlier this year, I decided to splurge and get one to try it out. After putting it together, I have mixed feelings about it.
First of all, I love the art! The colors are great, and the whole feel of the image is just so cozy and full of life. There was quite a bit of green and brown that slowed me down, but thankfully the pieces had unique connectors that made it not too overwhelming.
On the other hand, the quality of the pieces was not that great. A couple of the pieces were damaged, and the knobs were peeling on some of the other pieces. The brand did send out an email that they were aware of the issue and that we could send in pictures to get a replacement puzzle. I feel like for the money I spent, they should have had better quality control upfront, but I appreciate the effort to make things right.
For me personally, the pieces were a bit too matte. The finish felt almost like paper to me, and I didn’t really like it. So this is not a brand I would consider rebuying.
The Beach Hut is a 1000-piece puzzle from Ravensburger, and the artist is Steve Read. This is part of their My Haven series. My friend Renee got this for me for Christmas. I was impressed because she picked out a puzzle that I really liked and also because it was complete despite coming used from a flea market.
I really enjoyed building this one. There were so many interesting objects in the image, and I found the colors very soothing. It was a pleasant experience all around, and I am always happy with the Ravensburger quality.
Times Square Dogs is a 1000-piece puzzle from Ceaco, and the artist is Amanda Haley. This was such a fun puzzle to put together! It was like having two puzzles in one because I could do all the colorful billboards in sections and then use the pick and place method for all of the dogs on the square.
There was a lot of puzzle dust and I left the top border for last because it was all one color and it was difficult to know if I had the pieces in the right spots. I didn’t have any issues with the rest of the puzzle, though.
Cozy Cafe is a 1000-piece puzzle from Trevell, and the artist is Anna Vaughn J. This puzzle is aptly named. There are so many charming details, from the colorful patterns on the rug and tablecloth to all the goodies in the display case to the adorable furry companions. The quality is exceptional as well. The pieces come in a drawstring cotton bag and are so lovely to work with.
I never felt stuck as there was always a new color or texture to work on. I do have to admit that I find slanted sections a bit challenging when it comes to placing sections where they go, but that’s just because my brain doesn’t work that way!
I am so glad I picked this one up when I had the chance. 💗
Tree of Hope is a 300-piece puzzle from Pintoo. I redid this one last week when I had some time to kill before my friends arrived to hang out. I knew it would be a quick build, and it was.
I just love the four seasons theme and the whimsical illustration in this one. This brand is interesting because it has plastic pieces that snap together in a very satisfying way. It can be a bit hard on your fingers by the end, but it is so fun to be able to pick up the puzzle and flap it around! 😄
