Marketplace in France is a 1000-piece puzzle from eeBoo, and the artist is Uta Krogmann. I have a few of her puzzles now and really enjoy her bold, colorful images. This brand is also a favorite of mine.
Marketplace in France
Book Nook
Book Nook is a 1000-piece puzzle from White Mountain, and the artist is Rose Khan. Rose Khan is also an author of fantasy books and her artwork is inspired by her writing. This image was a treat to put together. I love the rich colors and the beautiful details like the scrollwork on the window and the cozy pillows.
The image was darker on the puzzle that it shows in this image, so there were sections that were pretty hard, like the fireplace. That didn’t really detract from my enjoyment, though.
Khan has done a number of other puzzle illustrations. One that I am very interested in is called The Six Portals, which is currently available as a 7000 piece puzzle from Ravensburger. I don’t really have the room for a puzzle that big, even with it being split into two bags of 3500 pieces, but I have heard a rumor that they might be releasing the image in a 1000-piece puzzle. I would definitely get that one!
Emerald Bookstore
Emerald Bookstore is a 1000-piece puzzle from Villager, and the artist is Tara Younggren. This was a splurge from their spring collection, and I am so happy I got it!
I love this image so much. I am a lifelong bookworm, so combining puzzles and books is always a big hit for me. Villager is also such a great brand. I love the quality of their puzzles.
This one was definitely a challenge but in a very satisfying way. I had to sort by shape to get through the last third of the puzzle, but I never felt truly stuck or frustrated.
I also just hear they are coming out with some 250-piece puzzles soon, and I am excited to see them.
Seashells
Seashells is a 1000-piece puzzle from Elena Essex, and the artist is Katherine Herrell. I just love rainbow/gradient puzzles. It is so enjoyable to pick out the colors one by one and work on each section. I also love the quality of this brand. The pieces are a nice shape and weight, and they fit together well.
I love how each of the seashells has a slightly different pattern; they are so beautiful. There were also very few pieces that had just the background color on them, which was very nice.
Purrfect Life
Purrfect Life is a 1000-piece puzzle from Elewhite, and the artists are Juan & Yuan. Earlier this year, I splurged on a few puzzles from higher-end brands, and this was one of them. This was my first Elewhite puzzle, and I was blown away by how much I loved it! The colors are so vibrant, and the image is super adorable.
This puzzle is panoramic, and the box mimics that in the design. The pieces are packaged in a reusable silky storage bag, and there is a poster that is about the size of the image on the box. I loved the feel of the pieces, both the weight and the finish. They fit together perfectly with no false fits.
I usually do puzzles sitting on my couch using my rotating puzzle board, but this puzzle was too wide to fit it, so I had to use the dining room table. I had forgotten how uncomfortable hard wooden chairs can be after a few hours. Thankfully I was able to finish it in two sessions!
There are so many cute details in this puzzle. Here are a few closeups of some of them:
Sunset Bay
Sunset Bay is a 1000-piece puzzle from Buffalo Games, and the artist is Charles Wysocki. I got this one at Community Aid one day when they had gotten a whole bin of puzzles. I think I got 4 or 5 Wysockis that day.
This is such a lovely image. I found the blue and gray color palette of the main buildings so soothing, and I especially like how the sky meets the water. The greens and browns got a bit tricky at times, but a bit of shape sorting and I was good to go.
Seasons in Kyoto
Seasons in Kyoto is a 1000-piece puzzle from eeBoo, and the artist is Jennifer Potter. I really enjoy eeBoo puzzles and this was no exception! The pastel color palette is a bit different than what I normally gravitate to but I found it soothing and beautiful. I love the interesting buildings and the variety of flowers.
Puzzling is not only fun for me but also quiets my brain and gives me some respite from my anxious thoughts. I’m so glad to have found this hobby and to be part of the puzzling community.
The Chocolate
The Chocolate is a 1000-piece puzzle from Magnolia, and the artist is Alice Celia. This was a delightful puzzle. It is beautifully illustrated with lots of different colors and textures to work on. The quality is really good as well, although I am always surprised how much puzzle dust there is when I take the puzzle apart!
Chickenology
Chickenology is a 1000-piece puzzle from Princeton Architectural Press, and the artist is Camilla Pintonato. I have been interested in this puzzle for a while and was really excited to pick it up at a puzzle swap last November.
After doing it, I have mixed feelings about this puzzle. I love the image and really enjoyed all the different colors and textures of the chickens. There was some element on almost all of the pieces, so there weren’t too many that were all green. Also, the border and the background behind the word “Chickenology” reminds me of graph paper, which was a nice touch.
What I didn’t love was how loose the fit was. I couldn’t pick up any joined pieces at all. I’m glad I got the chance to do this one, but I don’t think I will be keeping it to do again!
Cozy Living
Cozy Living is a 1000-piece puzzle from Elena Essex, and the artist is Uta Krogmann. I absolutely loved this puzzle experience – I can’t say enough good things about it!
First of all, the image is beautiful. I love all the amazing colors and patterns that make up this scene. It has a lot going on, but it didn’t feel busy because there was always another pattern to work on.
Second, the puzzle quality is fantastic. The pieces have a nice feel and finish to them and the colors are so vibrant. They also fit together so well that I could easily pick up sections and move them around within the puzzle.
This is one of my favorite brands, and this puzzle proved just why that is. Highly recommend!
In So Many Words 