Birthday Puzzle Treats - Cobble Hill

 As I mentioned in the last monthly puzzle adventures post, I was given 3 puzzles for my birthday recently. And to say that I was pleased to receive these is an under statement. I was delighted...and started on the first one immediately.

These were purchased from a local retailer who always has a shelves packed with delicious looking puzzles, including lots of Cobble Hill ones!

I could not wait to start this one...all those delicious details and the beautiful saturated colours! What is not to love about that?

I thoroughly enjoyed discovering all the little items in the collage. After all I am very fond of 'I spy' type books, 'Where's Waldo' etc. I also love postage stamps - miniature works of art, and this puzzle is full of them!

Just some of the little dolls in the collage...

An absolute delight to make. I was ready to start it all over again as soon as I had broken it up.

Next up I did this one...love birds, love details, like the idea of seasonal images. And I really did enjoy this one. I was not sure how it would be as the art work really leaves much to be desired. Images of mostly birds super-imposed over a background of questionably computer generated art work...that was a disappointment. I hope Cobble Hill is going to maintain a high standard of quality of art in their puzzles. This does not fit the criteria. A buildable puzzle yes, enjoyable yes, but good pleasing art? Nope! 

I did enjoy discovering all the different birds, insects and animals, and doing the puzzle was not a bad experience. I will do it again for sure.

Must love this little nuthatch!

I've commented on art in a Cobble Hill puzzle before - in this post, however that was a matter of personal preference. The art work in that puzzle -Mountain Cascade - is beautiful, I just did not enjoy doing it as a puzzle. 

I recently borrowed a puzzle, from a puzzler locally...another new Cobble Hill called  'Parisian Flowers' and the art work was so bad I could not bring myself to do it. I was appalled at the quality. Please Cobble Hill, don't let us down! I have always assumed the art work you use is of the highest quality, seems I may be wrong when it comes to some of the newer items!

As always though, the puzzles are high quality - I like the thickness of the pieces and the random cut that fits snugly. The matt linen finish feels luxurious to the touch and the smell when you cut that bag open for the first time...oh my, oh my!

Smells better than chocolate...

And finally - this beauty. Adirondack Birds, by artist Greg Giordano.

I like snowy puzzles and this one is no exception.

It was a joy, start to finish. Lots of variety in the snowy areas, so none of that 'solid blue sky' syndrome LOL

Cute little chipmunk detail...

...and a birdhouse. Another favourite motif of mine. I also really like the reds in this painting. I think it works really well for the puzzle.

Another puzzle from another friend joined the gift line-up, but I have not had the chance to do it, as I only got it last week...covid rearranging everything this year, including regular lunch dates with friends.

I'll be back with December puzzles in a couple weeks, and then I will be doing World Puzzle Days again, so I'm collecting a pile of 6-8 puzzles to do over January and February.