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.

Friday, March 23, 2018

The Concert, Johannes Vermeer

437 pieces, Liberty.  A nice Liberty with painting and music-themed whimsies. Each of the main figures is framed in her own mini "frame."  3/5





Tuesday, March 13, 2018

IZH-Puzzle/Alexey Morozov

Catstle, Alexey Dolotov, 340 pieces.  The cutter is on Etsy; my order took a while to make but was well worth it for the cute cat/mouse whimsies, multi-piece whimsies and mouse-head-shaped connectors, reminiscent of Artifact but hand-cut.  Not quite Stave's best, but given the price differential still quite a bargain. 7/10 Stave scale.

I flipped these over so the carved details were easier to see; two of the mice are color-line cut

Many, many whimsies including the multi-piece knitting owl, which I especially appreciate given my new hobby



Turtle Tracks by Aleen Kienholz

Wells Fargo Memories, by Charles Wysocki, 130 pieces.  It's been a while, so here are some new-to-me puzzle cutters!  This was a small but well-cut puzzle, with thin but solid wood.  Western-themed whimsies and a bit of color line cutting rounded it out.  4/5; would rate higher if it was bigger.





Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Brief return: Clovelly, Chad Valley

Approx. 250 pieces, one missing: I tried to fix this one but I'm still no good at it, even though the missing piece is just one color. Perhaps in a few years I'll treat myself to having all my missing piece puzzles professionally fixed.  Sorry for the disappearance; I'm teaching and knitting more than puzzling, but I intend to return.  Anyway, this is a nice standard Chad Valley puzzle.  I wish I knew why their colors haven't faded as so many other vintage puzzles have.  3/5



Monday, February 12, 2018

Orbicular Geode Puzzle 572

Nervous System, about 360 pieces.  These puzzles are each unique, and cut in a very difficult branching style with crystal-themed whimsies.  Very fun.  5/5





Monday, February 5, 2018

Spring Garden, Janice Larson

Liberty, 466 pieces. More twistiness, as in the other Larson puzzle I've done, though I didn't try to put the vines together outside of the rest of the puzzle this time.   Nice colors and design that emerged slowly as I put it together. 4/5



Peacock

Zen Puzzles, 298 pieces.  More finely detailed whimsies--this time peacocks, of course--and a colorful but still challenging design.  3/5