Saturday, July 22, 2023

Puzzle #38 - Eurographics - The Potting Shed - 500 pieces

Puzzle #38 of 2023
Finished July 22, 2023

Started a new puzzle.  Eurographics.  I hated that one I did way back at the beginning so much.  So haven’t done anymore by this company.  This one is nicer.  Good pieces - thickness, size (oversized) and color/definition. They fit together so much better, too.  However, the lack of a poster is still infuriating.  And they cover part of that tiny picture on the box, even.  And the edges go off the side and down under the white border so you can’t even really see it.  I don’t get why puzzle companies do this.  A poster is not hard and would generate so much goodwill.  Weird.  So, while I like this puzzle better than the last Eurographics, I am still not overly impressed.





Definitely a better experience than the 1000 piece Cabin one I did in 2022...  But I cannot stand having to look at a tiny box and especially when that tiny box has parts of the image obscured by other insignia or parts of the image not even there! (edges)  Infuriating.  So no.  I will not be getting anymore Eurographics puzzles.  I think I have one or two in my already purchased stash, but there will be no new ones coming in.  Too bad - they have a lot of puzzle images that I really like.  And the pieces are sturdy.  But I just can't do the tiny box picture again.  Not fun.









Puzzle #38 of 2023
Finished July 22, 2023

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Puzzle #37 - Masterpieces - Travel Diary Parisian Charm - 550 pieces

Puzzle #37 of 2023
Finished July 19, 2023


Back to Masterpieces and the Travel Diary collection.  I love these!  This one is so similar to other puzzles I have done (other brands and types) so it wasn't as enjoyable as previous travel Diary ones, but I do seem to gravitate toward Paris scenes.   







I did chuckle at how familiar the Eiffel Tower pieces look now - and also the tables, chairs and tablecloths.  The same in puzzle after puzzle after puzzle.  :) 


This was another super quick puzzle - parts of two days.  More puzzle dust than Buffalo puzzles but far less than White Mountain.  Where Buffalo puzzle pieces are more uniform (although not identical) Masterpieces puzzle pieces are larger overall and have some wonky shapes.  that makes things go super fast at points because you clearly see the shape of a missing piece.  The finished puzzle is a bit larger than Buffalo 500ish puzzles, too.  





Very nice experience - again - with the Travel Diary series. Another wonderful image by David Maclean.  :)


Puzzle #37 of 2023
Finished July 19, 2023


Monday, July 17, 2023

Puzzle #36 - Buffalo Games - Charles Wysocki Bang, Boom, Bam & Pow - 500 pieces

Puzzle #36 of 2023
Finished July 17, 2023

This was a fun and quick one.  I do like Buffalo Games puzzles.  The pieces are smaller but they are nice.  They are a bit higher in overall quality than Masterpieces, but I tend to put them in the same category.  This one went faster than I anticipated.  Good for July - bang, pow, pop.  :)  Basically NO puzzle dust at all!  Lovely big poster. This is a Charles Wysocki, which I always enjoy.  Did this one in one day.




LOVE that big poster!








Puzzle #35 - White Mountain - Summer Porch - 1000 pieces

Puzzle #35 of 2023
Finished July 17, 2023

This is my first puzzle 'back'.  Been awhile!  I have missed puzzling but life has just not even allowed me to set up my puzzle table again, until this night.  I thought this would be a good one to start back with - White Mountain and a clear summer theme.  Hope I really enjoy this.  I have been on verge of depressed and need a pick me up for sure.  Not anything frustrating.




I am now loving this puzzle!  It feels good to be getting back into the groove.  Very enjoyable.  Although, for White Mountain, some pieces don't fit as well.






This was a fun puzzle overall.  I do feel like some puzzles now have too many 'things' in them - clutter in a way - I am sure it is to give puzzlers things to focus on while working on sections.  I can appreciate that but it also clearly shows when a puzzle is created by an actual artist (like David Maclean) and computer generated.  Although, there is an artist name on this one... Joelle McIntyre.  So who knows.  the hardest parts were the blue ceiling and the white wood trim.  Next hardest was the yellow and white blanket draped over the chair.  Pretty puzzle and good WM pieces and overall quality.  Love the poster.









Puzzle #35 of 2023
Finished July 17, 2023

Friday, June 30, 2023

Puzzle #34 - Hennessy - Vintage Retro Trailers - 1000 pieces

Puzzle #34 of 2023
Finished June 7, 2023

I can't believe I only did one puzzle in the entire month of June - but this is it!  Thankfully, it was a very enjoyable puzzle.  Hoping that July won't be quite as crazy busy and I can get back to puzzling more.  I miss it!

Taking this one a bit slowly as I have time.  I enjoyed the only other Hennessy puzzle I have done - the Book Worm one.  And this one is also a fun puzzle.  Difficult in some ways because so many colors are so similar but not difficult in that you pick up a piece, study it and then know kind of where it goes - at least which part of the collage.  I was listening to a book on tape most of my time putting this together and that was quite enjoyable.  This puzzle doesn't require all my brain so I can listen to the book - and vice versa (chose The Echo of Old Books and it is a meh for me.  Good story but predictable and I keep wanting it to just be better.)  Anyway, like the puzzle pieces, shapes, heft (so so but okay enough - kind of like MasterPieces).  The big deal is the amount of puzzle dust.  Wow!  Got my hands dirty!  Like the White Mountain puzzles!  Love that poster, though!  :D










Fun puzzle.  Not difficult necessarily - just one piece at a time.  Clear colors and designs so you can truly make out what is on a piece.  I do like that.  I think this is a smaller maybe even family owned company and I really like that!  Very enjoyable so far.







Puzzle #34 of 2023
Finished June 7, 2023