I didn’t know January is National Jig Saw Puzzle month until a friend posted a photo on Facebook. But in our home since the pandemic in 2021, Christmas though mid February has been jig saw season. January is a natural fit–weather is not conducive to outside chores, darkness comes early, and the dining room table is empty after the holiday centerpieces were put up. We started the first one this season with our Seattle family, an holiday theme. The 1000 piece puzzle had a lot of evergreen and deciduous trees that looked very much the same. Threats were made to me about choosing future puzzles. Really! But I already had!
Chickens in the kitchen was fun. But my husband insisted on choosing the next one
Coffee was a quick puzzle for 1000 pieces plus we had a holiday week end. But there were 6 pieces missing and a duplicate! The company received an email concerning “quality control” and is sending another puzzle to fulfill their guarantee. Every puzzle we have done has been from a different company. So there may be a comparison chart of puzzle makers in the future.
I found this prize –still in the cellophane for $3 at a garage sale. A bit of trivia, Springbok is based in Kansas City
Maybe we will finish this up tonight…notice it is all the very dark pieces left…ugh. I would really like to own this “she shed”.
Look what a friend gave me for Christmas! She knows me well. Quilting and puzzles!
After much consideration, I believe quilters and puzzlers have several traits in common. We see color differently than some people do–for example, sorting greens into many different groups. After cutting and piecing 500 equilateral triangles for a quilt, quilters become adapt at noticing very slight differences in shapes, important in working puzzles. Quilters can “see” the finished product in their mind when only piles of fabric clutter the cutting table. Puzzlers see a pile of 1000 puzzle pieces and “see” the finish. Both quilting and puzzles can be done alone or with friends.
When a quilt is finished, most of us can not wait to show it off. Quilts are usually gifted for a special occasion, contributed to a charity or given a place of honor in our homes. When a puzzle is finished, there is a sense of satisfaction and photos are shared on social media and in texts with friends but then what? Usually it remains on our dining room table while we work on the next on, later to be broken apart and put back in the box. We have a network of friends with which we share puzzles and we have discussed the possibility of a jig saw library at our church. But realistically, puzzles do not have a very long residence in our life. And that is where quilts are different! Quilts can last generations. But both give our minds a short break from depressing world news, both keep our little grey cells working, both are a sort of therapy. Puzzles and quilts are both important for long winter nights.
We have more quilts/projects alllllllllmost ready!
Tammie is sewing the binding on this beauty. The colors are richer than my phone photo shows. The leave motif used by the long arm quilt shows up well on the backing.
A “jelly roll” in soft florals was used to make this top….a baby quilt, a throw, a lap quilt..you decide.
This holiday table runner just needs the binding before it will be for sale.
Scrappy Friendship Star is large, measuring 59″ x 84″–certainly large enough for a twin bed. After a visit to the long arm quilter and Vicki binds it, it will be for sale.
Diane has been super busy making bibs–big and little one. Some are very girly with pink patch work hearts and some are from novelty prints. Thanks to her we will have the largest selection of baby items ever!
We have several more weeks of winter here in the Great Plains. I hope you find something—puzzles, reading, knitting, baking, woodworking or quilting –that makes these cold days and nights interesting and relaxing.
Quilts, Etc. 
We love puzzles too and found a brand of wooden puzzles that we consider heirloom just like our quilts! The quality and beauty of the Liberty Puzzles made here in the USA, is unmatched and the selection of puzzles is a vast assortment of museum quality art! The hidden figures delight the entire family and although we can’t afford too many each year, we are buying a Christmas puzzle each year as a family gift and starting a wonderful collection!
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Have not heard of Liberty Puzzles but will certainly check them out! Thanks for reading the post. J
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