If you've up for a challenge, "Story of Wine" by Francois Ruyer is a ton of fun. The image is super cute with lots of crazy characters and vibrant color. There are plenty of jokes and mini-stories to reveal as you assemble the pieces. The Piatnik quality is very good with thick, sturdy pieces, a grid cut, a fairly tight fit, and a nice matte finish. However, there are lots of similar two-knob, two-hole pieces which make a few areas, like the random red tiles on the roofs, challenging because pieces can appear to fit where they don't go. There're also lots of repeating elements such as the big red noses. This isn't a fast and easy puzzle, but it is rewarding and very satisfying to complete. Recommended if you like busy cartoon puzzles or are looking for something to keep you occupied for a good while.. CONTINUE READING
"Christmas Chaos" by Francois Ruyer is a fun but moderately challenging Christmas cartoon puzzle. The artwork is beautifully executed with tons of color and detail. The repeating elements of similar-looking elves and gift boxes scattered throughout the image are tricky, but there are some anchoring elements such as the windows, fireplace, toys, and Christmas tree, which help fill in much of the design. I found myself referring to the box lid often to figure out which piece of elf went where. The Piatnik quality is very good with thick, sturdy pieces, a grid cut, a fairly tight fit, and a nice matte finish. If you like a little more challenge, Christmas puzzles, or cartoon puzzles, this is highly recommended... CONTINUE READING
I'm so excited that the new Heye puzzles for 2017 are here! Well, they're not here, as in physically--not yet. But we have the new catalog so I can announce them on the blog. As for an ETA for Puzzle Warehouse to get them in stock, we order them as soon as possible and will get... CONTINUE READING
"Cats in Paris" by Sven Hartmann is a moderately difficult puzzle from Heye. The cats in the foreground are all unique and you can figure out where the pieces go by comparing them to the large poster that's included. The sky, cityscape, and gargoyle areas of the puzzle are more of a challenge to put together, though the strong color variation in the sky keeps it from being tedious. There's lot of interesting details to discover, French cliches and tropes the cats act out. As always, the Heye quality is outstanding with sturdy pieces, a matte finish, and a wide variety of grid-cut piece shapes. If you like cats or have a fondness for Paris, you'll enjoy this one... CONTINUE READING
"Cat's Life" is terrific fun and a perfect example of the awesomeness of cartoon puzzles from Heye. It's a fairly easy puzzle to assemble. Despite the large body of the cat and the green background, there are unique little characters (fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, among others) that inhabit every inch of the brilliant composition by cartoonist Marino Degano. Each little critter has a unique outfit, expression, or action, and you can match your pieces against the large poster that comes in the box. There are many joke and puns and pure silliness to discover as you assemble this puzzle... CONTINUE READING
And now for my top picks in Christmas puzzles this year.... My criteria was: a) it can be any puzzle still in print, b) it must be available for US distribution at Puzzle Warehouse, c) I want to cover a range of piece count, brands, and art styles in my list, and d) even though it's a "top ten" list I can have as many as I want! Okay. Let's get started... CONTINUE READING
I loved shaped puzzles. There aren't that many released each year, so I treasure the good ones when they come along. This stocking-shaped Christmas puzzle is really delightful. The curved border is fun to work with and the image is filled with bright colors and patterns that keep you moving from one object to the other without wanting to stop. I love the quiet scene by the Christmas tree and the soft, painterly art style. The Sunsout quality is excellent too, with sturdy pieces and a fun random piece cut. Highly recommended... CONTINUE READING
"Christmas Village" is a lovely holiday puzzle from artist Nicky Boehme and Buffalo Games that's easy to assemble. The beautiful and nostagic wintery scene is from an oil painting, and it brings back wonderful memories of Christmas's past. Buffalo Games's quality is very good with sturdy pieces and a well-designed box. The puzzle has a grid cut with a nice variety of piece shapes including a few zig-zag shaped pieces. The panoramic design of this puzzle makes for a nice change from the usual rectangular size. No poster is included in this box, and the box image is a little on the small side, but I didn't have too much difficulty with that. Recommended to all fans of Christmas puzzles... CONTINUE READING
AIMEE STEWART WEEK: This week here on Jigsaw Junkies, we’re featuring puzzle artist Aimee Stewart. This week I reviewed two of her puzzles ("Butterfly Menagerie" and "Treasure Hunt Bookshelf"). Today we have an exclusive interview! At the end of the interview is a gallery of all the Aimee Stewart puzzles I could find. See all Aimee Stewart puzzles at... CONTINUE READING
