It’s November. Yes, I know. In fact, it’s quite nearly December. Since about mid-September, when stores started decorating for Christmas, everywhere I look there are pumpkins, ghouls, cornucopias, Christmas trees, and other assorted Fall/Winter holiday things. All the stores are gearing up for their big sales season, and all the puzzlers are dutifully putting together Halloween, Thanksgiving, and other holiday puzzles. So much orange! So much white (snow)!...CONTINUE READING

Cruising along in life the day-to-day things generally fall in place: Wake up, morning routine, lunch, afternoon stuff, dinner, etc., etc., etc. And so it continues, until….

A few months ago my father died. I had wondered, sometimes, how losing a parent would affect me. Would I suddenly miss him, even though our contact has always been sporadic? Would I grieve visibly, as I’ve seen others do from loss? Or would I continue with the day-to-day, going through the steps of everyday life as if there hadn’t been a change at all?...CONTINUE READING

Anyone who has been puzzling for a while is likely to be familiar with several well known puzzle artists. These folk are household names among puzzlers, and have been prolific producers over the years. Experienced puzzlers can tell you, from a single glance, which of these artists created a particular scene, as each of them has developed a unique puzzle niche...CONTINUE READING

Over the years I’ve noticed something of a pattern to my puzzle solving. Most of the time when I’m looking for a puzzle, I’ll check my stash and choose one totally at random. I’m not picky about the brand, the artist, the subject of the picture, or the number of pieces it has (usually the more the better). But is it really random? I’ve always thought it was, but in looking through the photos of those I’ve solved I noticed some interesting patterns...CONTINUE READING

If you’re reading this, it’s probably a given that you enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles. After all, you’re looking at a puzzle blog on a puzzle website, so it’s not a leap to call you a fan. And, as a fan, you likely have a favorite piece count for the puzzles you choose to do. Maybe you like them small, around 300 pieces?  CONTINUE READING

I think it's safe to say that most jigsaw solvers are familiar with Dowdle brand puzzles. Even if you haven't solved one, it's likely you've seen them online, or at any of several major retailers, where they are consistent best sellers (tens of millions sold to date). And while they may appear similar in style, each Dowdle image is a unique piece of folk art created by Lindon, Utah based artist, Eric Dowdle. CONTINUE READING

Whether you buy your puzzles online (visit Puzzle Warehouse for an amazing selection), get them as a gift, or find them in a local store, you’ll eventually find yourself at home with the box on the table and a question in your mind: Where do I begin? It’s a question every puzzler asks, and one that has almost as many answers as there are puzzles. Let's take a look at a specific product, and see how a puzzler might get started…. CONTINUE READING