Snow Hill Station - Waddingtons (1000 pieces)

Edges in and the open roof next. Followed by the framework before putting the trains in place. The smoke was the next challenge and proved a larger area than first envisiged. The darker areas were last to be completed and were quite difficult. All in all your standard train scene....pleasant, but not terribly inspiring.

Time take: day

The Antique Show - Jumbo Puzzles (1000 pieces)

Edges in place, cars in the car park, walls, table legs, cabinets and blocks of colour. All these sections went in quickly and I thought I had made a flying start. Then the people...my goodness, what a lot of people. However it was great to see all the little details and quirks that the artist created. Good fun and always a pleasure to do a Jan Van Haasteren Puzzle. 

Time taken: day

Bavarian Castle in Winter - Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (1000 pieces)

What a beautiful picture. I decided to complete this at my latest BCD meet and always knew it would be a push to get it done before the day was out. Luckily other members provided a helping hand and it soon took shape. I took the sky first, whilst a friend worked on the castle. We then completed the castle and began work on the trees. These proved the most difficult part of the puzzle as they obviously all looked the same initially. However a team effort pushed us over the finish line and we even had time to spare to help others finish their puzzles.

Time taken: day

Departure Hall - Jumbo Puzzles (1000 pieces)

What fun! Once the edges were in place, the tree quickly started and finished and then on to the TV screens and yellow signs. I put in some of the obvious lines and colour blocks and then began on the people. These were tricky, but interesting....every so often you would come across a gap, knowing that you had recently seen the piece to fit, but then having to search for it again. Ah well, I guess that is the joy of puzzles. 

Time taken: Day

Hong Kong in Transition Then...and Now - No maker (1000 pieces)

I quite enjoyed this puzzle for two reasons...sky and water. Yes, I know that I am on my own in my appreciation of sky, but this puzzle is a perfect illustration of why I like it. Clouds, subtle changes of blues and a great skyline with hills which immediately cut the puzzle in half. The buildings didn't take too long to complete and the little ships in the harbour allowed for good perspective and placement.

Time taken: 2 evenings

No title, no producer....never again

I mean it....never again will I do this jigsaw. I was presented with it at my last BCD meeting with those immortal words - do you like a challenge? It was horrid! All wooden pieces, just dumped mixed in a box. So the problem was huge. I had pieces that had the potential to be in one of three frames, which at first glance all looked the same. I spent a long, long time sorting them into sections: pieces that were either top or bottom, pieces that could be top or bottom and edge, and then general pieces. This required looking at varnish and wood grain. After that I began to painstakingly place them in the 3 frames. Funnily enough it was the bottom layers which took the longest as you couldn't see the wood grain. After that I picked up speed and by the end was putting in several pieces at a time rather than 1 every half hour to start with. 'Why did you continue if you didn't enjoy it?' I hear you asking...well...because I am competitive and someone challenged me....pride was at stake! 

Time taken: I don't even want to know...

At Bay - Arrow Puzzles

Trickier than I thought it would be. I started work with the white areas of each animal, before progressing onto the other fur colours. The rest of the puzzle was full of 'samey' colours which made it not only slightly dull, but difficult as well. That all being said it didn't take too long once I'd got started. 

Time taken: evening 

Winter Landscape - Arrow Games Ltd (1000 pieces)

A very enjoyable morning spent putting this together. I started with the trees which quickly provided me with a focal point and then worked on the orange buildings. The people weren't so small that they were tricky, but were small enough to keep things busy and interesting. The colour variant on the sky was pleasing and overall the puzzle was easy to complete. 

Time taken: morning

The Reception - Falcon Puzzles (1000 pieces)

I can't say I was looking forward to this puzzle as the colours did seem a little muted, but it turned out to be pleasant enough. Falcon can always be relied upon to provide a good cut where the pieces fit snugly together. The blue coated man made for a focal point and then I added in the other people. The red areas of wall came next and I finished with the mirror area. 

Time taken: evening 

Summer in the Provence - Jumbo Puzzles (1500 pieces)

I am often asked to check puzzle for fund raising sales and people have got wind of the fact that I am willing to check 1500 piece puzzles, which the average puzzler doesn't have space for. It soon became apparent that I was pushing my 'puzzling table' to its limits and for quite some time had pieces one on top of the other. However, I soon began to wade through and sections began to hang together. The basket and walls started things off with the flowers finishing the picture. It took my a while, but that was space issues as much as anything else. 

Time taken: day

A Wentworth Personal Puzzle - Wentworth Wooden Jigsaws (320 pieces)

I was asked by a BCD member whether I had ever done a tessellation puzzle...'no', I replied and was promptly presented with this little gem. The picture was beautiful, but it was the cut I found most appealing. As the name suggested the pieces were in little tessellating sets and this made a tricky puzzle a little easier to complete. The quirky edges added extra interest and I thoroughly enjoyed completing it. 

Time taken: 2 hours 

Title Unknown - Deccan Miniature (150 pieces)

I tackled this little gem at a jigsaw puzzle weekend as my first puzzle of the day. The cut was very interesting and the style reminded me of one of those little puzzles that can be made in several different ways. However, there was of course, just one way to finish this. It didn't take too long - and helped by a friend we soon got it completed. A perfect way to start the day with friends at the BCD. 

Time taken: less than an hour

National Palace Museum Taipei - Scorland Puzzle (500 pieces)

I was selling jigsaws at a fundraising fete and we had been given a donation of unchecked puzzles. Now, what better way to pass time between customers than jigging. This little gem didn't take long to do and once checked as complete it was immediately sold. Although the colours were fairly muted, and the outer edge taking some patience it had some nice detailing and made for a pleasant afternoon. 

Time taken: 2 hours 

Shades of Childhood - Springbok (500 pieces)

On the face of it just another baked bean style puzzle, but actually much more satisfying to complete. I wonder whether it was because of the rows which made it easier to place individual crayons. I started by placing all my blue, purple and green crayons before moving onto the white. After that it was a case of building the other colours around these placed sections. Not a a bad way to spend an evening. 

Time taken: evening 

Museum Collection: School of Athens - Clementoni (1000 pieces)

I had done a puzzle inspired by this image at the British Champs, so it was nice to do the original puzzle. I started by getting the arch in place and then worked on the ceiling. Following on from that began column work before placing people. Having written several posts now it has become apparent to me that faces are not my favourite thing to do as it quite often requires reference to the picture, something I don't usually like to do. Anyway, a pleasant evening spent completing a pleasant puzzle. 

Time taken: evening 

VE Day - King (1000 pieces)

There is nothing worse than a poor cut, or pieces where the card hasn't torn or torn leaving bits behind. All of the above applied to this puzzle sadly and it really spoilt what was otherwise a really good picture with plenty to keep you busy. I began with the banner and sky, before moving to the table and street paving. After that it was all about people placement. A nice puzzle which was spoilt by the piece quality. 

Time taken: Morning and afternoon

Sunday in the City - Gibsons (1000 pieces)

I had been putting this puzzle off for a little while as it isn't one I would normally choose. Lack of sharp lines and clear pictures doesn't always appeal to me. That being said, once I got started I actually quite enjoyed it. The red lines meant that I soon had the picture frames laid out and then I began to fill out the central point of each picture, starting with the London Eye. The red buses soon got rid of some pieces and the green arched roof was also easy to do. All in all, not as bad as I had feared. 

Time taken: afternoon 

I Love Gardening - Gibsons (1000 pieces)

My last Jupp for a while and an interesting one to finish with. A lot of green - an awful lot of green. That being said it didn't take long to get some key things in place, like the striped lawn and the two parachute. After that I worked on areas of unusual detail such as the smoke, greenhouses and other buildings. The rest of the picture soon built up around these focal points and I really enjoyed the puzzle. 

Time taken: Day 

I Love Car Boot Sales - Gibsons (1000 pieces)

My goodness, what a busy puzzle. I really enjoy the Mike Jupp series, but think this has to be one of the most time consuming I have completed - why - there seemed to be a lot of people - lots of little faces to place. I started my puzzle with the skyline, buildings and motorway before moving down to the trees and yellow burger van. The rest was just a case of slowly and steadily placing people, cars and objects. Good fun though. 

Time taken: 2 days of on and off puzzling 

Westminster Sunset - Ravensburger (1000 pieces)

A present from a friend and what a lovely puzzle which accompanied me on a family holiday. Being busy we left it until right at the end and weren't sure we would manage it, but once started we realised we had worried with no real cause as it was a joy to put together. We split into teams and I began with the water whilst my dad completed the buses and lamps. My sister put together the Houses of Parliament before all of us moving onto the sky, bridge and remaining areas. A thoroughly enjoyable puzzle.

Time taken: evening 

I love the Farmyard - Gibson (1000 pieces)

For fans of the Mike Jupp series this was another good one. Lots of things going on and plenty of comedic value as well. I started with the sky and fields before moving onto the rooftops. The chickens were well placed to add some challenge and the tree was the last things on my list. I always enjoy the 'I love series' and look forward to my next one. 

Time taken: afternoon and evening 

British Jigsaw Championships 2016

Well, I felt prepared, had trained well and knew my 'sort' had become quicker. What I didn't reckon on was that the jigsaw was going to be 'Heart Throb' by Schmidt (1000 pieces). Now, I know many of you will be thinking - what a lovely puzzle, full of bright colours. And it is. However, it is also the kind of puzzle I don't choose. I like scenes where you can build pictures up. This one is just an exercise in colour and pattern matching, followed by section placement (yes, I know all puzzles have an element of this). However, personal preference aside I gave it my best shot and came 2nd again with a time of 2 hours and 12 minutes, behind first place who managed it in 1 hour 57 mins. 

Better start training for next year!! 

British Jigsaw Library Puzzle

The theme for my latest BCD meeting was 'overground, underground' and this made for an afternoon of trains, trains and the odd womble. This poster was rather pleasing, after we had managed to sort the edges. It appeared that some pieces had more than one home so we ended up leaving the side edges until we had put some of the middle pieces in. However, the combination of grass, lake and castle in the background was lovely and the finished effect very satisfying. 

Time taken: working with friends a couple of hours 

No Title - Deluxe Jigsaw Puzzles (1000 pieces)

I love puzzles like these. I decided to work on the sweets in colour order starting with the black and white ones and leaving the yellow ones until last. The sugar coatings made it possible to split the colours further and the good cut made the pieces fit together well. 

Time taken: Evening 

No Title - Deluxe Jigsaw Puzzles (1000 pieces)

 After the flower this puzzle was a dream. Clear characters to work on, different shades of grey and smaller details which kept me busy. A nice way to spend an afternoon. 

Time taken: afternoon 

No Title - Deluxe Jigsaw Puzzles (750 pieces)

Well, this proved to be a tricky little blighter - I thought that there would be enough detailing in the flower to allow me to get on reasonably well, but this wasn't the case and after the obvious outer darker areas were complete the flower itself took a long time. However, the cut was good and the pieces fitted well when placed so although not the most inspiring I have ever done it was a good problem solving exercise. 

Time taken: many, many evenings!

No title - Deluxe Jigsaw Puzzles (750 pieces)

I really enjoyed completing this jigsaw! The sky went in first and then I collect 3 little piles of coloured pieces which would form the three domes. Once they were in place the only thing left to do was to build up the buildings around them. Even with brickwork of similar colours there was still enough variety to make this easy to complete and I loved to vibrant colours and bold shapes presented.

Time taken: afternoon

No title - Deluxe Jigsaw Puzzles (750 pieces)

Moving onto the next size up this puzzle proved not only more difficult in piece count, but also in picture. Once the various vegetables had been put in place the other greenery proved a little tricky and the muted colours of the house in the background took a little time. However the overall experience was not unpleasant and finished picture enjoyable.

Time taken: evening

No title - Deluxe Jigsaw Puzzles (500 pieces)

The last of the 500 hundred pieces and I had left it like that because the picture didn't really grab me. However, once started I really enjoyed it. I put the background shaded in first before starting on the penguins and these two quickly built up. As I puzzle without using the box it took me a little while to work out which penguin was placed where, but once they were settled the pebbled beach didn't take long to bring the whole puzzle together.

Time taken: evening

No title - Deluxe Jigsaw Puzzles (500 pieces)

The path went in first, followed by the flowers. The buildings peeking through the trees offered a number of different options as a couple were quite similar and then the trees were last to be put in place. For once I left the sky until last as there wasn't much of it. It quickly fell into place and the whole puzzle was very pleasing on the eye. I have very much enjoyed the puzzles from this new set.

Time taken: 3 hours

No title - Deluxe Jigsaw Puzzles (500 pieces)

Another lovely little time filler from the box set. The trees in the foreground were what I decided to leave until last, thinking they would prove trickier than they eventually turned out to be. The cut of these puzzles is not standard so there are quite a few irregular pieces which help with construction and overall enjoyment. As usual the sky went in first without any problems, followed by the building with the trees last.

Time taken: evening

World Treasures - Master's Collectiong (1000 pieces)

I knew there was a reason I had left this puzzle until last - and I wasn't proved wrong. It was an awful puzzle to complete. It started well with the bridge and lights quite quickly in place....and then....the sky. The black soon lacked little subtle shading which might have helped and the cut was so poor that in the end I had to turn the pieces over to work upside down (back showing) as it was easier to see which pieces fitted that way than the normal way. However, I didn't give up and eventually it was done - but - NEVER again! 

Time taken: I gave up counting the hours

No title - Deluxe Jigsaw Puzzles (500 pieces)

Another one from the box and this proved as enjoyable as the last but for different reasons. This time I put the hill skyline in place followed by the sky and then the outer edge of the building. I followed that with the gardens and left the inner pieces of the building until last. The building itself proved trickier than I excepted, but all in all a nice puzzle.

Time taken: 3 hours

No title - Deluxe Jigsaw Puzzles (500 pieces)

Another compilation box but this one is so very different from the last - primarily because the cut of the pieces if very good. This mountain and lake scene was a lovely way to start - the skyline and water were quickly filled in and then I started on the trees which didn't take too long. A good way to relax on a rainy afternoon.

Time taken: 2 hours

World Treasures - Master's Puzzles (1000 pieces)

Coming to the end of the box of 8 world treasure puzzles and have enjoyed them for the most part, but this was one of the ones where the poor cut of the pieces made sections more difficult than they needed to be. As with previous puzzles I put the skyline in first and then completed the sky. Once this was in place I tackled the various shades of sand and dirt which made up the central image. Not very inspiring, but not bad either.

Time taken: afternoon and evening

The Battle of Britain - Unknown (1000 pieces)

This was a super puzzle and even more enjoyable as it was completed at the latest meeting of the BCD. Group work is always good fun, although invariable a little bit of negotiating is needed to make sure you aren't all doing the same section. Once the two flags were in place and the title at the top, teams formed to put together the planes, writing and central image. A lot of fun had be all involved.

Time taken: 2 hours

World Treasures - Master's Puzzles (1000 pieces)

The reflection in the water added an extra level of detail which was most pleasing. I completed the skyline first followed by the sky, which was bright and bold with nice changes in shade. The trees proved trickier than I had anticipated but once in the rest of the puzzle formed quickly.

Time taken: afternoon and evening

World Treasures - Master's Puzzle (1000 pieces)

Not as difficult as I thought it was going to be. I stared by putting in the skyline and this split the puzzle neatly in sections. The sky wasn't too difficult to complete and then I started on the central paved section. Once this was in place the rest seemed to follow quite quickly. The person was a fun little aside and the overall effect was pleasing.

Time taken: day

The Sweet Shop - The World's Most Difficult Jigsaw Puzzle (529 pieces)

I have to be honest that my heart sank somewhat as I started this. I had been given this by someone accompanied by those immortal words - 'I chose this because it looked really hard and I thought you would like the challenge'. Don't get me wrong, I do like a challenge, but most jigsaws are that without looking for baked beans, smarties or sprouts (yes, they are out there). The problem with these puzzles (double sided, rotated 90 degrees) is that you don't really do them as a jigsaw, they become an endurance test. I ended up laying all the pieces out in little rows and systematically going down each one until I found a piece that fit....and so on....and so on.... I don't wish to sound ungrateful, just realistic.

Time taken: you don't want to know

Pointe des Poulains - Collection Plisson (1000 pieces)

This had been handed to me as one of those 'tricky' ones that no one else wanted to attempt. At first glance I thought they would probably be right, especially as I only seemed to see variations on grey, black and white. However, once I got going it soon became apparent that these shades were very distinct, there were large areas which could be completed with ease and the land mass across the top third provided a good starting division. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Time taken: afternoon and evening

Art Collection Puzzle: Roma Il Colosseo - Cartilia (1000 pieces)

A tricky little number with many, many similar colours, shades and aspects of light. According to the box there should have been a thin area of grass at the bottom of the picture, but it was so dark that I couldn't make it out. The cut wasn't brilliant with several edge pieces matching others. In the end I do something I don't often do and added the final bottom edge after all the other pieces were in place.

Time taken: day

The Clock Repairer - Waddingtons (1000 pieces)

Hmmm, lots of little details and pieces of clock to orient, place, replace and check. However the flooring and beams of light provided a good starting point and once they were in place the centre of the puzzle was there to build around. The pieces were a little thin so didn't fit together very securely, but this was due to the age of the puzzle more than anything else.

Time taken: afternoon and evening

Title Unknown - Classic Deluxe Puzzle (1000 pieces)

With the weather outside being rather chilly of late this seemed like the perfect way to spend a cold evening snuggled in front of the TV with the fire on. Once the rather tricky watercolour effect sky was in place the rest of the puzzle didn't take long to assemble. The snow covered ground wasn't too bad once every other detail had been put in place. Having never done a Deluxe Puzzle before I was also pleased at the quality of the cut.

Time taken: evening

Antique Carta - Clementoni? (1000 pieces)

Now, Clementoni produce this puzzle as a 4000 piece one, but mine certainly wasn't so I am a little baffled. I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it as maps can often be a little confusing, full of similar lines and colours. However, the outer circles were fun to find and construct, the inner corners and scenes gave a pleasant diversion and the centre was too bad after all. Even if it isn't a Clementoni, then it is a fine jigsaw in the 1000 piece form.

Time taken: afternoon and evening

The curse of a puzzle checker

I knew my run had to come to an end at some point. I knew that a missing piece was bound to appear (or not as the case may be) at some point through all the jigsaws I check. What I wasn't prepared for was two on the trot. However, I have included them here as until that final sad moment of realisation that the missing piece wasn't on the floor they had been rather good puzzles.

Double Sided Impossipuzzle - The airport (1000 pieces)
King Puzzles: Department Store (1000 pieces)

Time taken: an evening a piece

Wasgij: Late Booking - Ravensburger (1000 pieces)

This was great - you can't be a good Wasgij. Clear colours, interesting characters and little details all in keeping with the theme. Add to this the quality cut of a Ravensburger and you are left with an incredibly satisfying puzzling experience. I liked the central characters and how they appeared as I got going. The castle walls provided the necessary frame to get my bearings and the sky was filled with little extras.

Time taken: afternoon and evening

Title unknown - Woolworths (1000 pieces)

Not my normal type, but I actually enjoyed this one. The past providing a nice central division and then it was easy to build up blocks on flowers as you went along. The tree line wasn't too difficult and the only tricky bit was the tulips in the foreground as they were slightly out of focus causing definite lines to be blurred.

Time taken: evening

Wonderful World: Budapest. Hungary - Sure-Lox (1000 pieces)

A nice big chunk of sky to get started with, and sky with plenty of shade variation so it proved to be manageable. Add to that the different boats, buildings and smaller splashes of colour for the cars and this had the makings of a good puzzle. The downsize - the pieces were very thin and did not sit together well meaning at times one small nudge could cause a lot of damage and hours of frustration.

Time taken: day  

 

 

 

Avon, Wendens Ambo, Essex - Falcon Puzzles (1000 pieces)

What's not to like about a traditional English country scene? Beautiful blue sky, grass in the foreground and once they were in place the cottages and church followed with no real problems. A slightly older puzzle so the pieces didn't click beautifully, but the overall experience was pure jigging at a simple level - even the trees didn't spoil things. A lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Time taken: afternoon