Month: November 2023
Puzzle Lab, Mandala 1
Another puzzle Ash and I did today — the pieces were so loose until the very end, that it was a kind of torture. Still, the image and colors were lovely, and it definitely required some concentration and was both fun and satisfying. There was no way we were going to be able to flip […]
Fool’s Gold “Purrformance”
A fun little hand-carved cat puzzle from Fool’s Gold, with art by Kitty Bigelow. Ash and I did it together – it moved quickly with color and shape matching, and made a lovely shape. Cut by David Beffa-Negrini — I think they all are?
Basis Wood “Evolution”
A second puzzle from “Basis Wood” in Ukraine, via the Hoefnagel Puzzle Club. This puzzle reminded me of the two I’ve done by Victory Puzzles — thinnish pieces that felt more like board game pieces, and a very retro image. I wonder if this actually *is* a retro, possibly public domain image, from the era […]
Basis Wood “Tree”
Well, I was not expecting this! A layered, shaped tree …. Definitely required attention to the color gradation in each chunk of branches. Layers is probably not the right term. The puzzle is 3-dimensional, in that different sections have different thicknesses — four in total. The trunk and branches are all pretty thin, and the […]
Desert Owl by Shachi Kale (Hidden Piece)
My first puzzle by Hidden Piece Puzzles — “Desert Owl” by Shachi Kale. Loved the art — beautiful, with wonderful colors and patterns — and really enjoyed the cut. The uneven border was done really well. The whimsies were fun — not too overwhelming, and all thematically appropriate. There were a bunch of cacti, and […]
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Crafthub “Cat Inspired by Klimt”
I have seen this “inspired by Klimt” description before and I … wonder about it. Regardless, this was beautifully colored and printed, and had a plenitude of (somewhat random) whimsies. The second in a batch of CraftHub puzzles I bought — CraftHub is one of the vendors of Chinese cut puzzles. No artist, no cutter, […]
Puzzle Lab “Adventure Awaits”
“Adventure Awaits”, art by Ella Mazur, puzzle by Puzzle Lab. 300 pieces. Loved the image. The large central hot air balloon was an interior puzzle. The cut also included a hot air balloon, which was cool — sort of a multi-piece whimsy. The pieces were light, and felt almost charred. Something to get used to. […]
Elephantaisy by André Sanchez (Heye 1000)
“Elephantaisy” by André Sanchez, part of the “Fauna Fantasies” series from Heye. This one was steady puzzling, lots of patterns. I ended up slogging through about 75 pieces of leaves at the bottom left of the image, which was probably the most tedious part. Otherwise I had a good time!
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Spooky Halloween – Nautilus
Finished the “Spooky Halloween” puzzle by Nautilus. Art by Finchley Paper Arts / HVC Licensing Group (was this AI-generated, I wonder?). Nautilus doesn’t specify the cut designer. Anyway, I enjoyed the whimsies, and the subject matter, and the overall work. (Okay — Even though I enjoyed it, actually I was a little bothered that the […]
Fool’s Gold, “Moose and Moon”
I loved this little puzzle – it went fast. There wasn’t a lot of color, but the pattern areas were quite distinct, and the puzzle pieces were distinct, and together they solved quickly. The puzzle fit together rather tightly. The print was peeling off (already) in one corner of one piece. Artist is Kitty Bigelow. […]
Ravensburger “The Reading Room”
A “cozy crowded space” with books kind of puzzle. Satisfyingly cozy. “Ravensburger No. 80 104” — Copyright Eduard, Artist, licensed by MGL. I liked this description: Historically, Reading Rooms were often found in towns and villages and were places where residents could read books and periodicals of the day. The British Museum boasts one of […]
