About my ratings

Perhaps because of my day job, I'm a tough rater. Everything 3/5 and above I consider worth the time and money. If I purchase on Etsy or a similar platform and the puzzle is as expected, I will give a top rating on the platform because of how seller ratings work, but here "as expected" is probably a 3/5 in most cases.

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Oriental Peacock

 Eaglewood, 188 pieces. Good colors on this Amazon seller's puzzle, which I always appreciate, especially for a peacock image. This one's distinguishing factor is that it comes with a wooden pin with the same image in miniature. "Designed in the US," for what that's worth. 3/5





Feared Kraken

 Jigsawow, 160 pieces. Good for its type; I like that the whimsies differ across puzzles, except for the JW whimsies. 3/5





Glowing Wooden Owl

 Ninostar, 188 pieces. I hoped I'd be able to get it to glow, but I wasn't. Other than that, standard for its type. 3/5





Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Lu Ji, Autumn Egrets and Alceste Campriani, Pappagani (parrots)

 130 and 201 pieces--both bird-themed.

Egrets: limited color background was the main challenge. 3/5



Parrots: Nice irregular edges! 3/5


bird about to land on perch


edge bird


Alison Gardner, Westminster at Christmas

 Wentworth, 1000 pieces. A fine Wentworth with big areas of similar color that required careful shape-matching. 3/5




really hope this was an Avengers reference


Map of America's Making

 Liberty, 706 pieces. An impressive puzzle that looks color-line-cut in terms of difficulty of assembly but actually has connectors (I expected a lot more delineation when I flipped it over!). 4/5





Southwest

nautical area

Florida panhandle, interrupted by whimsies


Monday, June 28, 2021

Eugene Delacroix, Liberty Leading the People

 Nautilus, 466 pieces. Dark and without the elaborate cuts of some Nautilus puzzles. I did like the whimsy that appeared to go off the edge of the image. 3/5



a sword plunged into the side of the image



Home for Christmas

 DaVici, 520 pieces. Some elaborate building whimsies here as well as some other winter/Christmas-themed assemblies, easier to see on the back side. 3/5









skaters

Santa face

desk jockey?

wolf and person with ax

dueling reindeer


Marie Metaphor, Eye See

 Puzzle Lab, 275 pieces. I liked the irregular edges, which added a bit of difficulty along with the similar areas for the image. 3/5




Friday, June 25, 2021

The Greatest Wonder of the World

 DaVici, 220 pieces. Another nice DaVici cut. I think those are a lot of wizards in the whimsies? 3/5




chicken and egg

leaping dolphin

do not meddle in the affairs of wizards


Lissa Anthony, Sunset Serenade

 Puzzle Lab, 175 pieces. Puzzle Lab gets some very nice images, and I like the organic cutting style, similar to but thicker than Nervous System. I could live without all the char remaining from the cuts, though. 3/5