puzzles Archives - Dogear Diary

Jeweled Peacock

Photographer: unknown
Made by: Dreamtivity
Count: 101 pieces
Final size: 16 x 6″
Piece Type/Variety: Ribbon cut, average
Piece quality: Average
Skin irritation: None

I think this is the first 100-piece panoramic that I’ve ever done. For what I would usually consider a “kid’s puzzle”, it was somewhat challenging. All the feathers complex and dazzling. The pieces were decent thickness, not too thin, but already starting to warp in places so it didn’t all lie flat. Worth keeping for another go-round someday.

a thrift store find

Tags: puzzles

Colorful Buildings, Nyhavn, Copenhagen, Denmark

Photographer: unknown
Maker and Year: LPF Ltd, 2010
Count: 350 pieces
Final size: 12.25 x 7.25″
Piece Type/Variety: Ribbon cut, one shape
Piece quality: Poor
Skin irritation: None

A very long name for a small puzzle! Thin, rather flimsy pieces with no variety. They did go oblong one way and more squarish the other, so at least there was orientation to go by. And very few false fits- it’s just that the individuality in knobs/indents was too small to see. Still, an engaging little puzzle to while away time. I like that the blue building in the middle of the picture is a near match for the color of the sky.

a thrift store find

Tags: puzzles

On the Trail

Artist: Elaine Estern
Made by: Coconut Coast Studios
Count: 300 pieces
Final size: 15.5 x 11″
Piece Type/Variety: Straight ribbon cut, one shape
Piece quality: Decent
Skin irritation: None

Nice little puzzle that I got as a souvenir. From the Virgin Islands, in a gift shop at the National Park on St. John Island. I was delighted to find a small, very lightweight puzzle to bring home! The image is painted by a local artist and I wonder if it was locally produced as well. Not surprised that it has a very simple cut- all the pieces one shape-

but with so much color and detail in the picture, it wasn’t too hard to do. Only had a few false fits. These pieces feel different from the usual puzzles I get, though. They’re so light if I blew to get debris out of the way (no cardboard puzzle dust, but little bits of plasticky material shed off), pieces shifted around. The surface was very shiny and smooth, plastic feel. Some pieces had little threads of plastic hanging on the corners. The reverse sides are textured- which I liked because I could tilt my board a good amount before it all started sliding off.

They fit together very snugly, most times I had to press a piece into place with some force, and it made a little audible snap. It all held together so well, not only could I pick the entire puzzle up and wave it around in the air, but I could do this when it wasn’t even complete yet! (Bad photo example- the shadow from my arm holding it aloft).

I won’t be able to just waggle my fingers in from each edge to dismantle this puzzle- going to have to carefully separate it all one piece at a time. This was another one worked on a board on my lap.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, it’s sparkly. The whole thing has a fine glittery layer, appears to be beneath the plastic, not going to rub off as from the Mermaids.

bought new in a gift shop

Tags: puzzles

Bengal Tiger

Photographer: unknown
Maker and Year: Cra-Z-Art
Count: 100 pieces
Final size: 13 x 10″
Piece Type/Variety:
Piece quality: Good
Skin irritation: None

Another little puzzle I worked on a board on my lap. From the Kodak Premium Puzzles series. I was actually pleased with this one. The pieces are a bit thicker than the MB kid puzzles. They have a kind of boring shape- blocky with small knobs, very regular in size- reminiscent of the Panda and Through the Fields. (I need a name in my head for this kind of piece shape). But for a small puzzle this wasn’t frustrating at all. The colors are so vivid seems like must have had the saturation pushed up a notch in an editing program, but I think it’s just the quality of older Kodak pictures. Only negative was that the pieces are started to warp a little bit- many of them bent up slightly on opposite ends so didn’t quite lie flat across the finished puzzle. I liked it regardless.

Tags: puzzles

clownfish in anenome

Photographer: Jeffrey L. Rotmon
Maker and Year: Milton Bradley, 2006
Count: 100 pieces
Final size: 15 x 12.5″
Piece Type/Variety: Ribbon cut, average
Piece quality: Good
Skin irritation: None

I injured my knee and have to keep it elevated. That’s really hard to do at my usual puzzling table because there are pieces around the edge under the tabletop and framework on the underside for leaves that fold out on either end, so there’s no space for my knees except in normal position. I tried sitting with my leg propped up on a chair alongside me, but the twisting was very uncomfortable. So had not done any puzzles in five days and I really miss it! For a very long time now I’ve only had a day -or at most two- break in between puzzles, usually I start another immediately, do at least something every day.

So I decided to gather up all the little ones and do more on my lap. This one was actually a bit of a challenge, having only three main patterns- and all those anemone tentacles look very much the same on scattered separate pieces. It made it enjoyable for me though. But I can image a kid in the age group this is aimed at (starting at five years) might get a bit frustrated with it. From the same maker as my mare and foal puzzle, also no title on the box. This one had very bright colors and crisp edges, either relatively new, or was kept in very good shape (or the dates on these puzzle boxes don’t indicate when each was made, I think they indicate when Milton Bradley was absorbed by Hasbro actually). I have to say, this Junior Puzzle series is very well-made for kid puzzles.

Anyway, here’s the brief assembly:

from local swap group

Tags: puzzles

Bathtub

Artist: Mateo Dineen
Maker and Year: Heye, 2021
Count: 1,000 pieces
Final size: 20 x 27″
Piece Type/Variety: Random cut, high variety
Piece quality: Good
Skin irritation: None

I have reformed my opinion of this puzzle brand. The one I did before, had such little piece variety it was frustrating on the background areas (mostly solid color). I thought it would be a brand to avoid in future. But this one was different! Lots of shape variety in a random wonky cut that I enjoy. It did have some surface glare- not enough to bother me while puzzling, but made some photos come out poorly (due to overhead lighting). I would be keeping this one, except that it’s missing two pieces and I don’t feel like making replacements this time. I thought the image was fun, even though dingy bathrooms creep me out (not to mention the disembodied eyes that have nerves hanging like little legs and arms).

Tags: puzzles

A Mediterranean Mooring

Artist: unknown
Maker and Year: Penelope Puzzle, circa 1950/1960
Count: 750 pieces
Final size: 19.5 x 16″
Piece Type/Variety: Random cut, very high variety
Piece quality: Very good
Skin irritation: None

Last of the wooden puzzles I bought used. A really rich experience, doing this one. It was in the best condition of the lot. It’s another painting of ships, but I couldn’t find any information on the artist for this one. Nor a date, though the company made these puzzles in the 50’s and 60’s. There’s no picture on the box, but someone before me had photographed the completed puzzle, and included a printout of that inside. So I did have a guide. It has crisp, unworn edges, the colors are still bright, and the box full of pieces has a nice wood scent.

Only one knob was broken, and I did repair it with wood glue this time. (Visible in the completed puzzle frame, 5th piece from the left bottom corner, done by the 4th photo).

Lots of fun, super squiggly shapes just like in the mountains one. (But a much better picture!)

I’m very please with this one. It’s the biggest piece count I’ve ever done on a wooden puzzle, and took the longest. I didn’t mind at all. The careful scrutiny of shapes and even the way you have to hold surrounding pieces steady while fitting the next one in, can be so meditative. I only had one false fit (you can see it momentarily in the 11th photo, lower edge of the middle portion of sky). Sky was definitely the hardest part, all that plain color with nothing to distinguish except shape. A bit of variation in the blue top to bottom, not much. Still enjoyed the challenge.

Definitely a keeper.

bought used via CList

Tags: puzzles

Fame

Artist: Lesley Harrison
Maker and Year: Buffalo Games, 2006
Count: 300 pieces
Final size: 21.25 x 15″
Piece Type/Variety: Ribbon cut, average
Quality: Good- nice thickness, minimal glare, no dust
Skin irritation: None

Nice, quick puzzle. I seriously thought this was a photograph, until I was looking more closely at the picture while assembling. And then read the back where it praises the artist for her rendering skills, very high realism. In pastels! Now I’m just wowed by the art. She does a ton of horse paintings, also wolves and other wildlife. Would love to do another puzzle by her someday.

a thrift store find

Tags: puzzles

Ocean piece

Found this puzzle was only missing one piece (not two, as I previously thought) so I decided to try and make a replacement for it. The cutting of shape was a lot easier because they’re fairly large pieces. What was harder, getting the color match right. I thought I did a decent job, except the fish and the blue background aren’t quite dark enough, and I didn’t draw the ray’s eye right.
I’m still moderately satisfied with it.

a thrift store find

Tags: puzzles

Dolphin Falls

Artist: Sherry Vinston
Maker and Year: FX Schmid, 1996
Count: 1,000 pieces
Final size: 20 x 27″
Piece Type/Variety: Ribbon cut, average
Quality: Very good, no glare, nice texture
Skin irritation: None

Very nice puzzle. I love the feel of Schmid puzzles, the linen texture is lovely on the skin. The ribbon cut on this one is really straight, and the pieces don’t have a lot of variety in the way ‘arms’ and knobs lean, or sizes, or anything- but there’s enough subtle shifts of color, pattern and detail that it’s easy enough to assemble. Though some parts were challenging- especially all the corals that blend one into the next, and the nubbly rock overhang and hillside with waterfalls in the background. I think my favorite bits were these greenish anemones that look like they’re glowing:

Some of the fishes have more realistic faces (these spadefish) and others a bit more cartoony (the one in lower corner with long flowy fins)

Assembly:

Tags: puzzles

Tag: puzzles

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