Another jigsaw bites the dust

 I fell in love with this one when I saw the picture on Amazon.  I love butterflies so this was perfect for me.

 But Oh boy was it tough.  Normally I sit down open the box and just keep going but with this one I had to take breaks.  Here it is.

I had trouble taking a decent photo.  The image on the box is much better, but I think that is because it is a photo of the smooth print, and not the ups and downs of a jigsaw surface. 

Anyway here it is.  Not 100% about the yellow but nothing else was any better.

Carol xx

P.s. I thought I would show the image from the box.

A wet Saturday and what to do?

 It is pouring with rain.  I know we need the rain but it is depressing and a little chilly.  I have done the CD Sunday Plus Post already for tomorrow.  I have some housework I must do  as I am expecting a girlfriend over for lunch tomorrow so..... I thought I would finish my jigsaw instead.

This one is one of Colin Thompsons'.  My favourite jigsaw designer. It is called 'Higgledy Piggledy House' and you will see why.

Here is the picture from Amazon from whom I purchased it.  I cropped and magnified to make it easier to see.

Here is my puzzle finished:

This is my next puzzle - for when I have finished all my chores.

I can't wait to get started on this one. It is called 'The Crown' and is by an English artist called Tim Bulmer.  I think you can see that it won't be easy.

Yet more Jigsaws

 Recently I showed one of the jigsaws that I was given on my recent birthday.  I started it almost immediately and it is finished but I didn't take a photo.

 It was quite a tricky one and took some concentration.

I am working my way through the Awesome Alphabet jigsaws by Colin Thompson as they are produced. Here is 'F and G' - the second puzzle received as a birthday present.

 Easier to appreciate with the photo from the box.

  A good friend - who also is a jigsaw fan - came round for the day on the 12th and we finished it together.  Then we started a new one that I had bought some time ago.  It needed thinking about before I started it so my friend and I started it off and then on the 17th two more friends were inveigled to help with it -  after I had fed them lunch with wine.  I was so pleased to find more jigsaw enthusiasts.  I only managed to finish it by myself last Saturday

It proved to be as difficult as it looks. I can't bear to put it back in its box so I am going to frame it.

Now I have another new one on the go. Yet another Colin Thompson one  - called 'The Treasures of Time'.

All finished now and back in the box.

This looks to be as tricky but time will tell.

'Awesome Alphabet' letter H is already on my wish list.

Hugs

Carol xx

Birthday booty

 As promised I have some photos to show of just some of the cards and flowers etc that I was lucky enough to receive last month. It was a wonderful birthday and seemed to go on for ever.  I felt very humble and grateful that friends and relations had gone to so much trouble.

Here are just a few of the flowers:

And just some of the cards:

From my son

From my daughter and SIL

From Aimeslee

Many others but not all up when I took this  photo.

These balloons were hanging up in the restaurant - for all to see - so I brought them home.

Finally - most of my friends know that I love doing jigsaw puzzles and have a huge collection but when I added this particular one to my Amazon wish list I must have been quite mad.  Bought for me by my daughter - bless her. I do a little each day but not finished yet.

And this is what I hope to see when I have finished:

Thanks for your patience in sharing part of my day.

xx

p.s. Finally finished the puzzle late evening on the 11th. Took quite a while.

CD Sunday Plus - Challenge #88 - hosted by Margaret

 On the day I am typing this we have a beautiful clear sky, lots of sunshine and a very light breeze.  Perfect for the subject of my design card:

I love all things about Hot Air Balloons and I would love to go up in one.  I love those beautiful paintings you see of many of them up in the sky. All various  sizes showing how near or far away they are.  I even have some jigsaws showing a sky crammed full of multi-coloured ones.  Some just striped and others as advertisements. Here are some ATCs I made some time ago show a couple as Minions:

One of the best places to see them in this country in all their majesty is at the Bristol Balloon Festival.

Anyway that is enough of me going on and on.   I made a couple of little matching calendar cards to go with the main card. All came from one of The Card Hut CDs. 

 

I have chosen to give this card to a friend whose birthday is later in the year so I will just include the 2023 calendar for her to pop into her purse.

 Here is a jigsaw of mine that was framed and hung.

Hugs

Carol

xx

Jigsaws

Any one who has followed my blog for a while will know that I love doing jigsaw puzzles - when time allows.

It would appear from this posting here that it is not uncommon for me to resort to jigsawing when everything else comes to a halt.  And the previous posting to that tells me that is was 5 years ago that I first started to have treatment for the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

I  managed to finish this one yesterday:

Harry Potter and friends. 1000 pieces

I had done the edges before the op but did the rest in the last week after the bandages came off.  A wonderful puzzle. I can recommend it. (Amazon).

Now the next one is ready to start:   Woodland Seasons - by Gibsons

This has 2000 pieces.  I have the edge pieces separated and plan to do one Season at a time.

When you have been instructed to take things easy - not to rush about lifting anything heavy (not even a kettle) - and only essential housework?  - this is the next best thing.  I am keeping my mind busy and improving my left hand dexterity.  That is my excuse.

So off to get started.

Hugs

Carol

xx

Back to the Jigsaws etc

Followers of my Blog will know that I love doing Jigsaws when I can't craft properly. The arthritis is still ever present so I retrieved the puzzle I had started before Christmas from under the sofa and got started again.
It is a Colin Thompson one - of course - and here is the picture from the box.

It is called 'The Red Box' and like all Colin's puzzles - difficult.

'Parching' - if there is such  word - is proving very difficult and painful at the moment so as well as doing jigsaws I am doing more stamping, decoupage,  general card making - using my CD's of course - and some digital card making.  I belong to a group of crafters that exchange birthday cards throughout the year and for next month I have to make 4 and in April 6. So I am creating them digitally with either Serif, Docraft or MCS and then printing them out.  Not what I usually do but at least I am still crafting.
Here is one I have made using Serif and Daisy Trail.

I am finding it quite challenging working with Serif.  I think it is a whole different world and I am only just dipping in one toe but enjoying  the challenge.
Good news is that the hospital rang and brought my appt forward so not too long now until hopefully I will receive some treatment so I can get back to 'proper' parchment work.
Hugs and happy crafting.
Carol xx

Jigsaw by a different artist just finished

I liked this one when I saw it online.
Called  'The Craft Shed'  and it is by Steve Read.  It looks idyllic and a bit too tidy but I enjoyed it as a change from the more challenging Colin Thompson.

Now tomorrow I am having my steroid jab into my wrist so I will not be crafting for a wee while. How long I don't know.  So I am organising a new puzzle to keep me occupied and this is a doozy by Colin Thompson:

It is called 'Flying Home' and lt looks a little difficult so it should keep me quiet.
I will see you when I come out the other side.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Latest jigsaw by Colin Thompson

This one is called 'Fantastic Cityscape' and oh boy isn't it just.  I did enjoy doing this one. Bizzarely It wasn't as hard as it looks.

With the ones I have been given and the ones I have bought I have another 8 to do.  I can't start a new one yet as 'the girls' are coming on Saturday for our craft day and we will need the table.

Two of them are going to be studying Serif.  One learning , one teaching and the remaining two of us are just going to be messing about.  Some stamping I think.

I read today that Colin Thompson is colour blind.  Can you believe that? - I find it very difficult to believe it.  Wow - what an artist.

We have our Parchment Workshop tomorrow and I have a new toy to play with - my Cutterpillar Glow arrived .  Can't wait.
Have fun and hugs all round.
Carol
xx

More art from Colin Thompson

Yes - I have another finished Colin Thompson jigsaw to show off to you.  I just love his work.  He is a British Artist who now lives in Australia and he has the most incredible imagination.  I can't afford to buy his artwork  or even if I could I haven't the room to display it so I have resorted to buying his jigsaws.  I love doing jigsaws - always have - so this way I get the best of both worlds.

This one is called 'The Inventors Cupboard' and here is the picture from the box:

Now here is my finished one. This is the best picture I could get indoors.  Bit difficult to cart it outside without losing pieces.  There are a 1000 of them.

Whilst tracking down Colin's artwork looking for future jigsaw purchases I happened on a site in America that sells items made using his artwork.  Of course I was tempted and here is what I purchased:

A Mug - obviously

and this that arrived this morning:

A Tote Bag

Both these items depict "The Bizarre Bookshop 2" - my favourite (so far) of his designs.

So later today I will break up 'The Inventors Cupboard' and start on the next one.  I have four new ones at the moment.  They keep me occupied whilst I still have the trapped nerve.  Although a little better it hasn't untrapped itself yet.
Keep well.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Happy Birthday to a special friend

Tis a special friends birthday today and this is the card I made for her using MCS - Elegant Ladies.

I am afraid that sadly this year the only little bit of decoupage is the bow.  I have been making  more 'graphic' cards recently than ever before whilst I have these trapped nerves.  It is good practice though and I am losing some of my prejudices.
Whilst I am not doing parchment crafting etc I am still doing jigsaws. The one I am doing at the moment is 'The Bizarre Bookshop  2 '  by Colin Thompson:

 I have discovered a Ravensburger Colin Thompson Colouring Book and I am having fun colouring the puzzle that I am actually doing:

I haven't made a very good job of the scanning but you get the idea.
An unexpected parcel from Amazon arrived this morning and on opening I found an early Mother's Day gift -  two more puzzles from my wish list.

Carol
xx

More Jigsaws - I'm afraid

Whilst I still have this trapped nerve thingie my actual card making etc is still sporadic. Trouble is that parchment work and stitching - my favourites  - need fine muscle control and that is lacking at the moment so.......... jigsaws to the rescue.

I finished this one quite quickly because as you can see the colour blocks are quite distinct.

It is another Colin Thompson one called 'Bizarre Babble'.

But the one I have started now is another story.  'The Artist's desk'.   I loved the image when I first saw it and I think the subject is very apt but Oh boy!  is this one a ....... or should I politely say - difficult.

I don't know what possessed me but I will finish it.  The artist - Aimee Stewart - is American.

See you later.
Carol
xx

All finished.  Certainly not an easy one but enjoyable to do.
xx

Unbelievable !!!

Another Jigsaw with a piece missing.  I don't know yet whose fault it is - but I will check the car even though it was missing before I went out anywhere.

This is the one I am doing now

Another of 'The Curious Cupboard' series - The Kitchen Cupboard.
I like this one much more than the last Christmas one and am speeding along.
All this jigsaw doing is because I can't do much crafting at the moment because I have trapped nerves in my neck (arthritis) and my right arm, hand and fingers are badly affected with pain and numbness.
I seem to be able to do the jigsaws as you don't need such fine control and it keeps me from going round the bend with boredom.
I have an appt for something called Nerve Conduction Studies.  It appears to involve needles a bit like acupuncture!!- Ouch.

I have Parchment Workshop this afternoon.  Not much will be done but at least I can chat to the girls and spend some money.
xx

P.S.  I found the missing piece so no ones fault but mine own.  It was right down the side of my new electric armchair.  Lucky it didn't get mashed in the works.  Lesson learned - look harder next time.
xx

Every Jigsaw lovers embarrassment

I am pink with embarrassment after I had contacted Amazon about the missing piece from my Jigsaw - because I have found it.
I said it wasn't anywhere in the house - it was in the car.    I had to go to a very early hospital appt this morning and as I got into the front passenger seat I saw the piece on the floor between the seat and the door.
We can only think that it must have caught unnoticed on my clothing and just dropped off as I sat in the car.
To make me feel worse a brand new replacement jigsaw arrived this morning from Amazon free of charge.  It is now relabelled and waiting go to the PO.

So I can't blame anyone but myself.

Here is a photo with the found piece.  Now I can put it all back in the box.

I have already sorted out the edge pieces for the next Cupboard jigsaw.  This time it is The Kitchen Cupboard.

Carol
xx

Every Jigsaw lover's nightmare

A MISSING PIECE

I started a Jigsaw after Christmas and it took me until last evening to finish it.
This is the Jigsaw:

This is in a series called The Curious Cupboard by a wonderful artist Colin Thompson. I love all of his puzzles that I have done so far and this one is certainly the hardest I have done so imagine my distress when I found I was missing the last piece.  All those hours!!
I have searched the house and even emptied the cleaner bag - but no piece.  I have sent an email to Amazon and asked them to enquire with the manufacturer.

This is my finished effort (the lighting is a bit naff I am afraid).  Can you spot the missing piece?

 Hugs
xx
p.s. When I told my son (who has watched my efforts closely as he has to pass the jigsaw on his way up to his bat cave) all I got was a sort of chuckle...............I wonder!

The Craft Cupboard

As well as all the crafty things I love doing I also love Jigsaws.  I hadn't done one for a while so while I was under the weather recently and seemed to have lost my mojo I went to my cupboard and fished out a puzzle by Colin Thomson - my favourite puzzle artist.  His puzzles are so whacky and colourful and an absolute devil to do and  I can't resist them.
This one is called No 2. Curious Cupboards and this is what it will look like when
I have finished.  I have about 100 pieces left out of the 1000 to do:

I am so nearly there that I am neglecting other things that I should be doing.  The puzzle is a Ravensburger by the way.
This was another of Colin Thompsons that I posted a while ago

I said they were whacky - but such fun ...... and it is all finished now.

Noah's Ark

When I can't craft and I am so bored with TV (I still can't drive yet) I have been doing some jigsaws.  I used to love doing them with the family but like so many things you get out of the habit of doing them.
Well I wanted to show you this one which was a joy to do and I got so involved I was still up at 2 am just putting the last bits of sky in.

This is called Noah's Ark by Colin Thompson.  1000 pieces.  It was difficult to photograph well because of the size .
Does anyone else still do jigsaws?

Carol
xx