Puzzle: Passion Flower

Passion Flower, med

Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 30.02 cm x 48.26 cm
Producer
: Mega Puzzles, Vibrant series, 2014, No. 51410ABN, A 04034 LP
Photographer: Johnnyraff

Puzzle: Lovely puzzle to make — not extremely difficult, but not completely trivial either. The bright colours and clear boundaries split the image into several logical areas, and repetitive elements add challenge. An easy place to start is the three-pronged purple stigma(?) on the left, along with the green background, as well as the flower centre with two yellow circles split by a dark purple dotted border. Next the purple, the white, and the blue circles made by the petal colours can be tackled.

Puzzle: Provence

Provence, med

Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 67.95 cm x 48.10 cm
Producer
: Mega Puzzles, Vibrant series, 2014, No.51420ACN, A12054LP

Puzzle: This puzzle does not have a title or specify where exactly this place is. If you know, please do share.

Another one from the Vibrant series, this is a well-done puzzle with beautiful imagery. It combines bright colours and subtle shades, clear borders and soft transition, as well as a variety of textures to convey the feel of stone of the building, metal of the lantern, sky, bright flowers, sharp branches, prickly succulents, and soft grass. The differences in colour and texture make the assembly simpler.

Good starting points are the sky bordering the trees and the roof, the lantern light, the window shutters, red flowers, darker building wall, yellow grass bordering on green trees, the blue patch in the distance, and the succulents on the left. The trees, succulents, and wall borders provide vertical guides, whereas the balcony floor, grass-tree boundary and grass-pavement boundary act as horizontal guides.

Puzzle: Painted elephants

Painted Elephants, med

Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 48.10 cm x 67.95 cm
Producer: Mega Puzzles, Exotics series, 2014, No.50935CN, A20054 PP
Photographer:
David Evison

Puzzle: Bright and lovely puzzle, from the same series as Tropical Flowers, this one takes a bit more time to assemble, due to subtle textures and colour transitions. The borders are a logical place to start, followed by the red cloth, the yellow and green elephant head in the lower left, the patches of sky bordering on other objects, and the elephant paint patterns. The trees and grass of the lower right picture are also distinct enough to be easily assembled. The remaining regions take a little more time and attention.

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Wings, by Josephine Wall

Josephine Wall - Wings, med

Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 73 cm x 48.57 cm
Producer
: The Canadian Group, Sure-Lox, 2011, #50403-2, tin box
Artist: Josephine Wall

Puzzle: “High above the clouds, an angel rides her precious steed, accompanied by her entourage of butterflies. Carried by a winged unicorn whose powerful wings contain a heavenly kingdom, where a host of angels play their morning glory instruments, she holds tightly onto his flowing mane. As he flies the tips of his wings create new galaxies. ” [Josephine Wall site]

Yet another Josephine Wall puzzle, detailed and intricate as always. Lots of subtle shades and distinct textures. This is a puzzle to do over the course of several evenings, at a leisurely pace. Good places to start are the unicorn’s head outlined against the background, and the top borders of the wings. The bright green and yellow areas, the figures under the wing, the butterflies, the ripples of the dress, and the starry-textured top right corner are distinct as well. With the Sure-Lox pieces, the puzzle assembles well.

Puzzle: Best Friends, by P. Govezensky

Govezensky, Best Friends, med

Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 48.26 cm x 35.56 cm
Producer
: The Canadian Group, Sure-Lox, Celebration of Women series, 2008, #44296-3
Artist: Patricia Govezensky “For me painting is a means through which I find expression of life’s joy and fulfillment, and I believe art, more than merely being a means of expression itself, also serves as a medium to help us to make peace with our lives through positive and enthusiastic sentiments and regard for the brighter aspects of our existence, escaping form protest, cynicism and selfishness.”

Patricia Govezensky was born in Tel Aviv in 1961 and was raised in Jaffa, a picturesque quarter known for being the site of the oldest port in the world. Patricia, a sensitive artist, brings to her canvas the immortal effeminate women, combining her tender touch & simplicity with magic moments of beauty in delicate domain. [Puzzle box]

Puzzle: From the same series as Ladies Night and Apple Picking, this vibrant puzzle is a pleasure to do — it only took me a leisurely two hours from start to finish. The borders between neighbouring colours are well-defined and the textures are distinct in different parts of the image, so the assembly is a breeze.

Havasu Falls/Pool in the Grand Canyon, Havasupai Indian Reservation

Waterfall C4848-22, med
Size: 750 pieces
Dimensions: 43.81 cm x 58.42 cm
Photographer:
William Neill
Producer
: Hasbro, 1999, C4848-22
Original: photo

Puzzle: This puzzle does not have a title or specify where this place is. If you know, please do share. A big thank-you to Jamie who has commented with the location and the original image.

“Deep below the Grand Canyon’s rim is Havasu Falls. I was still wet from swimming when I photographed this tranquil pool in the shade of evening. The cool colors of the moss and the travertine minerals in the water make a soothing contrast to this red rock canyon.” [Commercial Fine Art site]

Beautiful, zen scene of water flowing and pooling in rock basins. Waterfalls are one of my favourite subjects to assemble. The number of pieces is perfect to unfold the subtle reflections and colour changes. The horizontal guides of the rocks and the vertical guide provided by the large waterfall divide the picture into smaller areas. The vertical streams of water, the green pools, the white water flowing, the green and orange of the rock wall are all distinct enough to keep the assembly flowing.

Puzzle: Longwood Mansion in Natchez, Mississippi

Mansion, med

Size: 500 pieces, 3 missing
Dimensions: 35.24 cm x 50.48 cm
Producer
: MB, Hasbro, 1998, C4611-7

Puzzle: This puzzle does not have a title or specify where this place is. A big thank-you to Nic Phillips who has commented with the location.

Simple puzzle due to the number of pieces and the symmetric nature of the architecture. A lovely, serene scene to assemble. Good places to start are the borders between the sky and the building, as well as between the sky and the trees. The dome, pillars, balustrades, white arches, windows, and dark gaps between the white pillars can be assembled next, followed by the flower bushes, the orange of the walls, and the grass. The sky and the trees are slightly less trivial, but the remaining regions are not large and pieces fit together well. Overall quite an enjoyable puzzle, alas found by me with 3 pieces missing.

Bridge, Royale

Bridge, Royale 1000, med

Size: 1000 pieces, 4 missing
Dimensions: 70 cm x 55 cm
Producer
: Royale, Golden, 4777-05
Photographer: Johnnyraff

Puzzle: This puzzle does not have a title or specify where this place is. If you know, please do share.

Beautiful puzzle with lovely play of light, a pleasure to assemble. Composition of the image makes it simple to pick out several horizontal and vertical guides: the bridge railing and arches, the green luminescent stripe in the water, the tree trunks and the building borders. The boundary between the sky and the buildings is quite easy to assemble, as are the reflecting lights and lit-up arches of the bridge. The buildings can come next, followed by the trees and the darker areas of the bridge and water. I have found this puzzle second-hand, with a block of 4 pieces missing.

Puzzle: Lakeside Porch, by Julian Askins

Julian Asking - Lakeside Porch, med

Size: 300 pieces
Dimensions: 73 cm x 48.57 cm
Producer
: The Canadian Group, Sure-Lox, 2008, #70310-7
Artist: Julian Askins has gained renown for his brilliantly-colored works that capture the light, beauty, architecture, and nature of the Mediterranean, Caribbean and coastal North America. His artwork often features peaceful outdoor verandas, harbors, seascapes, and terraces that evoke a mood of joyful solitude. [Park West Gallery site]

Puzzle: A lovely painting, this puzzle was very simple given the size and number of the pieces. With the pieces flowing into place, it made for a zen evening. I have started with the sea, the window and the wall, the sunny blankets and cushions, the tablecloth, and the wicker chairs. The flowers followed and the rest of the picture filled in with little effort.

Puzzle: Mixed Berries Collage

Mixed Berries Collage, med

Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 73 cm x 48.5 cm
Producer
: TCG, Sure-Lox, Collage series, 2014, #44719-4
Photographer: Alix Mullins

Puzzle: From the same series as Shell Game, this deliciously-looking puzzle is a bit more complicated, due to many repetitions of similar colours and texture patterns. I liked starting with the green leaves and distinct colours — light blue of the bottom blueberries, bright yellow, peach and orange fruit, and the cherry stems in the bottom right and top left. For the rest, the assembly was leisurely, larger strawberries coming together first with smaller berries later filling in the gaps. The Sure-Lox pieces make the assembly quite enjoyable.

Sure-Lox™ is a trusted quality brand. This collection of puzzles features extra thick puzzle pieces that are fully interlocking and uniquely shaped. Sure-Lox™ puzzles come in a durable, restorable box! All designed to make puzzling more fun! Image is everything!” [Puzzle box]

“Lose yourself in the entrancing imagery of the Collages artistic puzzle collection. Enjoy the challenge of piecing together these fun and playful collages of beautifully photographed subjects, like mouth-watering foods, creative crafts and more! Rich with vibrant colours and exceptional detail, these collages make for incredible works of art.” [Puzzle box]

Puzzle: Tropical Flowers

Tropical flowers, med

Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 48.10 cm x 67.95 cm
Producer: Mega Puzzles, Exotics series, 2014, No.50935ABN, A13113 PP
Puzzle:
Vibrant, beautiful puzzle, made simpler by being divided into five smaller rectangular images separated by black borders that serve as vertical and horizontal guides. My four-year old loved helping me with this puzzle, and on his insistence it now adorns the wall above his bed, next to the Shell Game one.

Great places to start are the borders followed by clear yellow and oranges in each picture. The blue in the top left picture is unique, as are the striped petals in the left middle flower and the fanning out petals of the bottom left flower. The white borders of the large image flower and white and green patches of the bottom right flower are also distinct, allowing for quite a bit of the picture to be completed easily. The remaining red, fuchsia, and green colours can fill the remaining gaps.

Puzzle: Shell Game

Shell Game, med

Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 73 cm x 48.5 cm
Producer
: TCG (formerly The Canadian Group), Sure-Lox, Collages series, 2014, #44719-6
Artist: Lisa Fondo

Puzzle: Lovely puzzle – not trivial, but quite enjoyable with a variety of textures and shades of blue and purple. This is one of my son’s favourites – even before it was completed, he has asked that we put it up above his bed where it now resides.

Lots of ways to approach this puzzle: I have started with the large shell, assembling the smaller shells in parallel, and larger pieces of glass, followed by the dried seaweed on the right. After that, it was the matter of filling up every nook and cranny with little pieces of colour and pattern. Slow and indulgent, this puzzle requires a keen eye.

Sure-Lox™ is a trusted quality brand. This collection of puzzles features extra thick puzzle pieces that are fully interlocking and uniquely shaped. Sure-Lox™ puzzles come in a durable, restorable box! All designed to make puzzling more fun! Image is everything!” [Puzzle box]

“Lose yourself in the entrancing imagery of the Collages artistic puzzle collection. Enjoy the challenge of piecing together these fun and playful collages of beautifully photographed subjects, like mouth-watering foods, creative crafts and more! Rich with vibrant colours and exceptional detail, these collages make for incredible works of art.” [Puzzle box]

Puzzle: Untitled, Buildings along a waterfront

Untitled with paint pigment, med

Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 46 cm x 63 cm
Producer
: Ceaco, package of 2 puzzles, 2013, #3210-1
Photographer: Lester A. Garcia
Original: photo

Puzzle: Together in the package with Paint pigment in the sun in Kathmandu, Nepal

Unfortunately untitled by the puzzle manufacturer, it took me a while to find the original photo on which this puzzle was based. Beautiful image and a very easy-flowing assembly, this puzzle is a pleasure. My 4-year old loved helping me with this puzzle, whereas normally 1000-piece ones are a bit too big for him to tackle. The clear vibrant colours of the buildings separated by distinct vertical and horizontal guides provided by the building boundaries and embellishments, split up by large windows, are very simple to assemble. The bottom part with its clear waterfront horizontal guide and reflections in calm water, ripples creating additional horizontal guides, logically follows.

Puzzle: Paint pigment in the sun in Kathmandu, Nepal

Paint pigment in the sun in Kathmandu, Nepal, med

Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 46 cm x 63 cm
Producer
: Ceaco, package of 2 puzzles, 2013, #3210-1
Photographer: bezikus
Original: photo

Puzzle: Together in the package with Untitled. How I wish the puzzle manufacturers clearly indicated the picture title and author. It’s so simple, yet some omit the titles whereas others indicate over 6 photographers for the full puzzle series instead of indicating the author for the one image in question.

This lovely puzzle was picked by my four-year-old and he enjoyed helping me put it together. The top six bags are very easy to assemble since the colours are distinct and borders clear. The bottom four are a bit harder, although pretty quickly different shades of red and different textures stand out. Beautiful vibrant puzzle – a pleasure to do.

Puzzle: Prisoner by Nadia Strelkina

Nadia Strelkina - Prisoner, med

Size: 750 pieces
Dimensions: 51cm x 68cm
Producer: Lafayette Puzzle Factory, Goldenline Fairies series, APL33650LK0812, #0213
Artist:
Nadia Strelkina
Painting: photo
Box: photo
Puzzle: From the same series as Fairy Key, this is a beautiful puzzle – a pleasure for the eye. I suggest starting from the lighter coloured part of the dress and the light background around the fairy, the exposed skin, the torch fire, and the castle at the bottom right. The lighter background border with the dragon wings, the purple ends of the dress, the tree in the top left, and the flowers in the fairy’s hair can follow. The boys in the bottom left, the ships on the river, and the rest of the fairy and the dragon can then complete the assembly.

Puzzle: Arctic Night

Arctic Night, medSize: 100 pieces
Dimensions: 22.86cm x 17.78cm
Producer: Ceaco, Glow in the Dark series, 10-puzzle pack, 2013, No. 103013-21081-A
Puzzle: Simple puzzle, great for kids. My almost four-year old needed only a little help to complete it. Good place to start is the purple and yellow sky and its border with the mountains. Next can come the polar bear with the cub, the black of penguins and dolphins, and the water surface with ripples. The rest of the puzzle should then fall into place.

Puzzle: Into the Wind by Sally Caldwell Fisher

Sally Caldwell Fisher - Into the Wind, med

Size: 234 pieces
Dimensions: 15.24 cm x 10.16 cm
Producer
: TDC Puzzles, Item #7180
Artist: Sally Caldwell Fisher
Package: photo

Puzzle: “The World’s Smallest Jigsaw Puzzle. This puzzle has 234 of the smallest pieces ever to be die-cut. Tweezers are included to help you with this ultimate puzzle challenge. Good Luck!” [Puzzle box]

Similar to the Times Square puzzle, this puzzle had pieces that were too small to fit well and make the assembly enjoyable, but I liked it more due to the beauty of the image itself. I have assembled the colourful sails first followed by their reflections. The rest of the water was easy to complete due to ripples indicating direction, and the white of the clouds helped with the completion of the sky.

Puzzle: Times Square

Tony Shi - Times Square, med

Size: 234 pieces
Dimensions: 15.24 cm x 10.16 cm
Producer
: TDC Puzzles, Item #7177
Photographer: Tony Shi
Original: photo
Package: photo

Puzzle: “The World’s Smallest Jigsaw Puzzle. This puzzle has 234 of the smallest pieces ever to be die-cut. Tweezers are included to help you with this ultimate puzzle challenge. Good Luck!” [Puzzle box]

It being such a small puzzle that tweezers have to be included to handle the pieces, just like Into the Wind by Sally Caldwell Fisher, my friends thought it would make an interesting addition to my collection. Although the novelty factor is there, I can’t say I enjoyed putting this puzzle together.

Since it’s such a harlequin puzzle with blinding clashing colours, there is no one good sequence to assemble it. I started with the sky as it’s the most uniform area in the entire puzzle, followed by the red truck, the road, the beige and red patches of colour, and proceeded in random manner from that point.

Puzzle: Unicorn Waterfall

Unicorn Waterfall, med

Size: 300 pieces
Dimensions: 27.94cm x 38.1cm
Producer: Ceaco, Glow in the Dark series, 10-puzzle pack, 2013, No. 103013-21081-A
Puzzle: Lovely vibrant colours. We did this puzzle with my almost four-year old, and he quite enjoyed it. Good places to start are the orange ground, the purple sky and yellow mountain top, the green bushes at the bottom, the lilac haze along the right side, and the dark purple tree. Next can come the unicorn body, face, and mane, the blue of the water, and its border with the leaves and branches on the left. The rest of the pieces can follow.

Puzzle: Fairy Raindrops

Fairy Raindrops, med

Size: 300 pieces
Dimensions: 27.94cm x 38.1cm
Producer: Ceaco, Glow in the Dark series, 10-puzzle pack, 2013, No. 103013-21081-A
Puzzle: Great for kids with its vibrant colours and clear colour borders. My son loved assembling it with me. The rainbow background is the easiest place to start, followed by the exposed skin, face, hair and flowers, mushrooms on the right, daisies, and shiny raindrops at the bottom. The dress, long-stemmed plants, and pale pink flowers in the top left can come next. The rest of the pieces can follow to complete the puzzle.