The 500 piece jigsaw puzzle I picked up from the church jumble sale in September with the idea of getting back to jigsaw puzzling for autumn and winter was a fail. The pieces were so tiny it was impossible to see what was on them.
But I'd got the idea in my head so a couple of weeks ago I did a tour round the charity shops, first in Stowmarket then in Diss, looking for a House of Puzzles jigsaw as they have decent size pieces and good pictures (I'm fussy about the picture!) Couldn't find anything so I came out of Ipswich after the dentist via where we lived for a year, where there are 3 charity shops in one road and found .....................nothing.
I gave in and looked on ebay, which I'd not used since lockdown, and had a nice find with this- the gypsy caravans really appealed, so much so that I didn't really notice the amount of sky or tree!.
Not brand new although the bag of pieces inside was still sealed and it was actually less than what some charity shops charge now..... they were £4.50 in the RSPCA shop in Stow - which is quite a lot for a donated item with no guarantee that it's complete.
Had to look back in the labels on the blog to see when I last did puzzles and it was way back in the winter of 2019/20 and I seem to have gone right off the idea in September 2020 when I gave some away without doing them.
None since then........ no idea why....moving?......unsettled?....getting settled?.
I thought as I was back into it I'd better look for another for later and this time it was a charity shop find for £3.50.
I'm going to keep a look out for a House of Puzzles 'Spot The Difference' puzzle as the one I did back in Jan 2019 was quite fun to do .............and made a Spot The Difference Blog Post.
Must remember not to get another one with too much sky or snow and I'll stick to these reliable H.O.P 1,000 piece. Although I see between 2019 and now The Works do their own brand called "Corner Piece". No idea how tough they are to do. Rachel in Norfolk looks for Ravensburger puzzles. I've had Gibson jigsaws before but one back in 2019 was too annoying. Another maker I've had in the past is Falcon. The 500 piece one with tiny pieces was a WH Smith puzzle so I'll avoid them, .
Back Soon
Sue
Our library has them for free!
ReplyDeleteI think the libraries here also have some but I wouldn't like to borrow as I never know when I'd want to start and finish and how long it would take me to do it
DeleteI do mine online Sue. A large screen helps though. But if you want a go this is the place..... https://www.jigsawexplorer.com/ It does save having a jigsaw lying around though.
ReplyDeleteI looked but it doesn't appeal at all - same as I don't like online books/magazines
DeleteI gave all ours away to family during the COVID years…..they then passed them on to others. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t but don’t really want to buy more so I’m like Thelma and get my kicks online. Not the same though
ReplyDeleteBack in sept 2020 I seemed to prefer reading and writing now I've too much time on my hands and can fit in time for jigsaw puzzles too
DeleteTry Magma for Laurence King. We did two circular puzzles when D, E & I were here and they were such fun. 299 cats and 1 dog, and 299 Fish and a diver. Brilliant. 300 pieces but tricky as so many cats or fish!! The one I found upstairs is an MB puzzle, 1,000 pieces and interesting picture (Medieval Banquet) but not easy to do!! I've not touched it for a fortnight but have been busy with other things.
ReplyDeleteYikes! I'd never have the patience for those!. I'm ever so fussy about the picture
DeleteYes, I am a Ravensburger only now. I used to do other makes but one never quite knew what to expect. Ravensburgers are reliable and good quality.
ReplyDeleteLooking back I see I did a Ravensburger one once. Plenty to choose from really.
DeleteRavensburger for me too. A 1000 piece one, gets started on Christmas Eve (a family tradition) and serves as a big coaster!
DeleteBeing a glutton for punishment, I like sky and sea, it’s relaxing. J’nan
I've noticed that jigsaw puzzling is quite an individual activity, what suits one is anathema to another. My m in law has done hundreds of Wasijigs, they wouldn't be my cup of tea at all. I like the look of the Gypsy Caravan scene.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
Definitely never doing a wasijig or things like a plate of baked beans - would drive me nuts! and it's no good anyone giving me any random puzzle - I'm much too fussy!
DeleteWhen I did jigsaws (many moons ago!) I was always fussy about the picture as well. Today I do online jigsaws (and am still fussy LOL), partly because I can reduce the number of pieces so that I can see them more easily.
ReplyDeleteHave fun with your puzzle searching :)
I mustn't go crazy and do too many and put myself right off them again
DeleteI fear I have jigsaws beyond life expectancy! Some I do again and again…the larger piece 250 and 500 ones are a good rainy Sunday afternoon filler. X
ReplyDeleteSounds like the amount of cross stitch stuff I still have! Especially as I've not done any for ages.
DeleteI love jigsaws and have a preloved one ready for Christmas. In the winter of 2020 when we were locked down again, I gave away 30+ jigsaws on our local FB page and I could have given them away 10 times over as people were desperate to find something to do. I’ve also tried the online ones but not for me. Catriona
ReplyDeleteOnline doesn't appeal to me at all. Now I'm looking again I'm sure plenty will turn up at charity shops
DeleteThat reminds me that I have a Christmas puzzle that we also used to start the day after Thanksgiving but I haven't done that for a few years now. Maybe I will take it out again this year. Good luck with your puzzles, Sue!
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy having another go at your Christmas puzzle
DeleteI have a 1000 piece puzzle spread out on the puzzle table of fanciful flowers. Granddaughter #1 helped me start it.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have a break after finishing the gypsy caravans so I can use the table for some other hobbies
DeleteI like Springbok puzzles, nice interesting shaped pieces, good pictures. I borrow from my local library. Three weeks, with two possible extensions, even I can get done in that time.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we have Springbok puzzles here.
DeleteYou found a couple good puzzles pretty quickly. Keeping well supplied means you'll be in the shops regularly. Puzzles are a good interest for the Winter season when the garden sleeps.
ReplyDeleteI have lots of garden clearing still to do but it never appeals when the weather is gloomy
DeleteThose puzzles look like a great deal of fun.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
They will keep me out of mischief!
DeleteI love a good jigsaw. I've been searching for a festive one, but I haven't yet found one that I like. Xx
ReplyDeleteSome of the Christmas ones have too much snow!
DeleteOur town library has a jigsaw puzzle table. It is pleasant to spend a little time there, then leave it for someone else. There was one in the quiet room at a Quaker retreat house, very enjoyable to do a bit and see the progress.
ReplyDeleteThere was a puzzle table in the Oncology out patients at the hospital in Cambridge where Colin had to go frequently. I sometime put in a few pieces while we were waiting.
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