Puzzle Adventures - World Puzzle Days 2021

 World Puzzle days, over at Puzzler's Paradise is off to a flying start! I have a lower expectancy for number of puzzles to complete this year, instead I'm just enjoying the nightly hour and a half or so of building and we'll see what happens.

First up this Dowdle for C -is for Cities in the Alphabet Challenge

Title - 'London'

Brand -Dowdle

Piece Count - 1000

Artist - Eric Dowdle

Although quite dark in colour (it is a Dowdle after all!) I really enjoyed this one.

Lovely little details on the buildings.

And the last season  for the 'Country Diary' series by Cobble Hill. I'm ready to do the spring one again as soon as March arrives!

Adorable little birds all over this one!

This little wren is the cutest!

I like cats and I like Cobble Hill and although this was not terrible, it is in the 'to trade' pile for sure. Just did not get exciting at any point, but a few chuckles from the quotes made up for that.

Next up was L- is for Lighthouses over at the Puzzling Together Alphabet Event

Title - Holiday Boat Parade

Brand - Sure-Lox

Piece Count -1000

Artist - Heronim

Although I had done this next puzzle in December, a copy that was missing 2 pieces, I was given a new one for Christmas, so I traded the other one and decided to do it again this month. It is such a lovely puzzle! Eurographics sure has nice ones. This one is called 'Vintage Christmas Cards'

And another beauty I was given as a Christmas gift. This one travelled all the way from England. Such a fun image with all the animals and of course that hedgehog. Oh my goodness that hedgehog!!! It was a quick built and a very nice one. Produced by Otter House Limited and the RSPD.

Puzzle Adventures - December 2020

 Where did December go!?!

For the alphabet challenge I did I is for Ice Skating. A fun little Dowdle puzzle entitled 'Over The River'

Followed by a bunch of Christmas and winter Themed puzzles. I enjoyed every single one of them!

This one by Serendipity is older, and beautiful but the puzzle quality is quite ghastly! So many pieces are loosing lamination, I literally did it with glue bottle in hand. It was worth it though.

Lovely little details in these images...

For Gingerbread House Day on December 12th, I did this Dowdle one, aptly named 'Gingerbread House' it is such a fun image loaded with tongue-in-the-cheek characters.

Next up this stunning one by Eurographics. This is one sadly missing a couple pieces, but I was gifted a new one for Christmas, so this one will go up for trade.

Love this little image on the Christmas card

For the alphabet challenge, A is for Animals. The challenge stipulated more than one type of animal and I think 'Christmas Pies' by Larry Jones delivered. It was a great build and by now I know to just start anywhere with these Bits & Pieces puzzles, no point in trying to do the border first. Many inside pieces have straight edges, which defeats that effort. I do, however, store the edges separately for the next time I do them...

Adorable little mouse with a veritable feast at it's paws. No wonder it is smiling!

And to top it of a Christmas themed 'Santa's Workshop' by Dowdle. I enjoyed it, but it is not my favourite Dowdle. Rather dark and some of those character's faces look downright creepy. We'll see whether it makes it until next Christmas or join the 'to trade' pile before then...

And that's another year of puzzling done. And not a single Cobble Hill among them. That is unusual for sure!

On to World Puzzling Days next starting in January...

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.

Puzzle Adventures - November 2020

 Puzzling started with the alphabet challenge over at 'Puzzling Together'

D is for Dogs, Deer and Dessert. Well I had puzzles neatly fitting in all the categories, but decided to stick with this oldie that dates from the 60's, I think...

'In The Orchard' by Tower Press from the UK. It is such a lovely puzzle and still is good condition for it's age and the amount of times it was built by us while still young!

For the second half of the month the alphabet letter was 'U' for Unicorn or United or 'Ugly' (in the title)

I opted for this puzzle. A composite of images of the Isle of Wight (United Kingdom). It brings back good memories of a lovely holiday with family.

Next I did this world map, which I enjoyed more than I had expected to. It looked a little boring, but was nothing of the kind. If anything some of the larger ocean areas were a little challenging. It was my first Eurographics puzzle and I like the quality. Am looking forward to doing the 2 more Eurographics that I have on my shelf.

I've had this Wysocki puzzle, 'Melodramas in the Mist' for a while and decided to do it, in anticipation of using it to trade with. I must say though that I really enjoyed it and am in no huge hurry to trade it just as yet! I should like to do it at least one more time

I also received 3 puzzles as gifts this month and I've done these 2 so far. Look for another post coming soon with more pictures, details and comments.