Resolutions? Try something new!

We get so bogged down in routine that on a rare occasion we surface for air (during holidays or a vacation), we often realize how monotone our life is. We work, we take care of children, we cook, clean, run errands, and manage to get out for an evening once in a blue moon. In all these chores and commitments, we often lose the sense of being alive. January is the month for the New Year resolutions. This year, resolve to try something new, often.

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Puzzle: Space Station 2 by Ciro Marchetti

Size: 750 pieces
Dimensions: 67.95 cm x 48.1 cm
Producer
: Mega Puzzles, Vibrant series, 2013, No. 50572ADN, A 23123 LP
Artist: Ciro Marchetti
Original:  Space Station

Puzzle: Lovely vibrant puzzle – a pleasure to do. Easy due to multiple cues – bright colours with distinct borders, multiple distinct colour regions, zodiac signs in a circle, different textures of wood and metal, bright red flags. The pieces are large. I would suggest starting from the flags since they are very distinct. The other good regions are the galaxy in the top … Read more

Stay zen this holiday season

Holidays tend to be overwhelming, as new responsibilities and chores seem to rapidly pile up on top of the everyday ones. Suddenly, we are expected to attend multiple events, create or purchase a variety of thoughtful gifts, bake delicious treats, decorate the house, and still manage to keep the kids alive, the work done, the house clean, the food made, and stay somehow looking vibrant, beautiful, and non-disheveled after all this. I share a few strategies that can help make this time less stressful and more enjoyable.

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Puzzle: Shangri-La Winter by Ciro Marchetti

Size: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 51cm x 68cm
ProducerLPF Ltd., Holographic puzzle
Artist:
Ciro Marchetti has had a successful graphic design career that has spanned working in Europe, South America and the US. He is a five-time recipient of the distinguished Photoshop GURU award, and three time winner of the Worldwide Photoshop Competition presented by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. The current content and style of recent illustrations directly reflect his sources of interest and inspiration, allowing him to create richly detailed images that conjure up retro- tech … Read more

Puzzle: Enchanted Encounter

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: This puzzle was one of my son’s favourite, as it had a fairy, a wizard, a dragon, a horse, and a castle all in one. We assembled it together. Good places to start are the wizard’s robe, the blue of the sky, the castle, the sky border with the hills, and the sunset-lit sky. This can be followed by the fairy, the dragon, the path from the castle to the bottom … Read more

Puzzle: Spring Bouquet


Size
: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 30.02 cm x 48.26 cm
Producer
: Mega Puzzles, Vibrant series, 2013, No. 51410AAN, A 17063 LP
Photographer: Val Thoermer
Original: photo

Puzzle: Lovely bouquet – beautiful zen puzzle. With well-fitting Sure-Lox pieces, small size and vibrant colours, it is not difficult. Good places to start are the white and the pink roses, dark purple hyacinth and bright green buds. The violet flowers at the bottom and top left quarter can come next, followed by the white flowers out of focus and the darker green leaves.

How to make Waldorf-inspired play silks

Before my son’s fourth birthday, I searched around for Waldorf-style play silks and found, to my astonishment, that they cost about $15/piece. As I wanted to get him a few silks in different colours, this seemed an exorbitant expense, so I have set out to find a way to make those myself. By the time the supplies have arrived, his birthday was over and I was swamped with getting back to work while taking care of the baby who’s been ill on and off, and trying to recover my system after a drive crashed and took with it not only data but two operating systems as well. This past weekend, I have decided to undertake the silk dyeing project in hopes to get my son excited about making our own toys and to create something that my upset and exhausted from illness baby would enjoy as well. The silks were a success.

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Puzzle: City of Coins by Ciro Marchetti


Size
: 1000 pieces
Dimensions: 51cm x 68cm
ProducerLPF Ltd., Holographic puzzle, #3921
Artist:
Ciro Marchetti has had a successful graphic design career that has spanned working in Europe, South America and the US. He is a five-time recipient of the distinguished Photoshop GURU award, and three time winner of the Worldwide Photoshop Competition presented by the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. The current content and style of recent illustrations directly reflect his sources of interest and inspiration, allowing him to create richly detailed images that conjure up retro- tech worlds of … Read more

Puzzle: Dark Angel

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 puzzle, easy to do due to its small size and large differently-shaped pieces. Good places to start are the wings, the exposed skin, the red belt and skirt trim, and the purple dress. The stairs are easy to do and make for horizontal guides. The greenish light above and behind the figure can come next, finishing with the pillars on the left and right. My almost four-year old was helping me assemble it and found … Read more

Puzzle: Sunlit Sanctuary

Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 35.56cm x 45.72cm
Producer: Ceaco, Glow in the Dark series, 10-puzzle pack, 2013, No. 103013-21081-A
Puzzle: Generally not my type of puzzle to do, as I’m more into architecture, landscapes, and fantasy, but it came in a pack of 10 puzzles from which I liked a few. It was a little big for my son, so I’ve put it together myself. Quite easy to do. Good places to start are the white and green area of sunlight at the top, black backs of the dolphins, colourful corals at the bottom. Black … Read more

Puzzle: Fairy Key by Nadia Strelkina

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 Prisoner, this is a lovely colourful puzzle – a pleasure to do. The best places to start are the skin (face, neck, and hands), the moon, orange and yellow regions (tiger, light, window and gates), brown carriage near the moon and white carriage with a pegasus in the middle … Read more

Puzzle: Sacred Circle by Steve Read

Size: 500 pieces
Dimensions: 35.56cm x 45.72cm
Producer: Ceaco, Glow in the Dark series, 10-puzzle pack, 2013, No. 103013-21081-A
Artist: Steve Read
Illustration: original
Puzzle: A quick easy puzzle for an afternoon. Some good areas to start are the border between yellow floor and dark puzzle bottom, bright white light, lights from the staff and the candles, yellow circle of the floor, striped green radial pattern behind the wizard, the wizard’s face and beard, fuschia cloak lining, dragon’s wings, and boy’s arms. The candle holders make for good vertical guides, and so … Read more

Zen Transition to Motherhood – Is there life after birth?

Zen Transition to Motherhood

For over three years, I have attempted to consolidate the bits of knowledge pertaining to the first year of the baby’s life: the challenges faced by the mama after birth, the baby care tips, the profound shift in perception of reality, coming into the new identity, and rebuilding daily routines around the new family structure. This year I have finally decided to put it into the form of an e-book, in hopes to help other mamas transition into this new phase of their life in a peaceful, loving way.

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