Category Archives: puzzle mania

“blooming cat” puzzle completed

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Above is a photo of the box . . . this is a puzzle I received for my birthday last month, from my daughter, aka Lindashee.   It’s a 1000 piece, with irregular shapes, so it proved to be quite tricky to do . . . but what lovely colours!  The design is called “Blooming Cat”.

zoom in on cat’s head

close up off the flowers

80cm x 41cm finished size

It’s not quite the standard shape for 1000 piece puzzles, being 80cm wide.  Usually, once I’ve finished a puzzle, I take a photo before breaking it up and putting it back in the box, but this time I’m going to make an exception. I plan on gluing this one and having it on display in the house where I can enjoy those vibrant colours.

Now I can look at my very healthy puzzle collection and decide which one to tackle next!

 

cats and cardigan

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any excuse not to make the bed

Cats and knitting don’t really go hand-in-hand . . . but I took a few cat and cardigan related photos and thought I’d group them for a blog post. First up, Abby – awwwww – enjoying a lovely long lie-in and really not wanting to get up and let me make the bed.

zoom in on odd shapes

I’m enjoying the current puzzle, which is a cat-themed one and proving quite tricky. It has lots of irregular shaped pieces so normal “puzzle piece recognition” doesn’t seem to apply to this one. Still, the result is looking gorgeous.

and I’m halfway done.

As for cardigans . . . a cardigan is my current knitting project. To be more specific, this one.

I’m knitting it for my daughter.  Was a bit unsure about the shaping on the top of those raglan sleeves though. Is it the model, the photo, or does it look a tad snug around upper arms to you?  Anyway, I’ve done a few changes along the way. I’ve altered the raglan decreasing (following the shaping from a different pattern). Was supposed to include lace panels on the back, but I’ve knitted the back in plain stocking stitch.  However, I have added a band of “lace” all the way down both sleeves.

raglan seaming

Cardigan is almost finished. Just need to sew up sleeve seams, tidy up my loose ends, and find 7 buttons. It’s very difficult to photograph the soft green colour correctly . . . that second photo isn’t far off. It’s a sort of soft, sage green.

colourful – yarns and “blooming cat”

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I haven’t been very chatty on my blog of late, mainly because I’ve been busy with other things. Still sorting and  trying to organise in the house.  Getting rid of lots of books and other stuff, which means I’m making space on bookshelves and in cupboards. Which, in turn, means I can have a bit of a move-around and get rid of some bits of furniture.  With Spring on the way, I’m also thinking ahead to when I’ll want to be sitting in the veranda . . . and treated myself to a new sofa cover.

Original colour of the sofa is the plain green of the cushions and around the base . . . but the original cover is grotty and from what I can make out from the label, it can be neither dry cleaned nor machine washed . . . so it’s now hidden from sight.

I also, very naughtily added to my yarn stash again.  I had nabbed a bargain on @m@zon recently, with these yarns, which I showed you last month

being sold as 5 x 100g packs for approx 16€, which is less than half RRP.  Tension gauge on labels had me a bit worried as to whether I could use as DK weight so I knitted a quick swatch.

And I am reassured. It can, indeed, be knitted to DK tension. That opens up a whole world of possibilities for summer tops.  And, even though I’m currently working on a mid-season cardigan, I went ahead and bought in yet more colours.

2.5kg of loveliness

above is the entire haul, including the 2 packs from previous photo).

I’ve also been enjoying some very colourful puzzling.  My daughter sent me this 1000 piece for my birthday last month.

I have begun.

And I’m seriously thinking about gluing this one together when it’s finished, because I think it would look rather nice on the wall.

scarlet macaw (ara macao)- 1000 piece

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gift from my sister

I received a surprise parcel in the post the other week. From my sister. She said I didn’t have to wait until xmas to open it.

Inside, a 1000 piece puzzle of a scarlet macaw and (a first for me) I noticed the back of puzzle was printed with letters from A-F. I deduced this was to make it possible to puzzle in segments, so I thought I’d give it a try that way.

1/6 done

That was the first section . . . and I noticed a piece missing on the border, top left, but wasn’t terribly concerned. I figured I hadn’t sorted pieces correctly, and that I would find it sorted in a different pile.

2/6 or 1/3 done

4/6 or 2/3 done

By the time I’d got this far, I was getting more concerned about that missing piece. The puzzle is looking gorgeous. Colours are vibrant, and pieces are slotting nicely together. I did a bit of detective work, checking out feedback for this particular puzzle (and company) on @m@zon . . . disappointed to read some negative feedback and learn that other people had received puzzles with several pieces missing.

finished

And sadly, that missing piece never showed up. I checked everywhere. On hands & knees under the table with a little torch. Such a shame because the picture is lovely.  After a photo crop and I suppose I can consider myself lucky that the missing piece was on the border, not smack, bang in the middle.

 

puzzling – “Lola” – Misstigri

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I’ve been enjoying some more puzzling.  This one, a 500 piece.

I bought it secondhand because I fell in love with the artwork of French artist, Misstigri.  She has an etsy shop where she sells prints of her artwork: MisstigriBoutique. She has also done the illustrations for several children’s books (much more demure characters). And several of her designs are available in puzzle form.

“Lola” by Misstigri

I have several other puzzles with her artwork – the others are 1000 piece I think.  However, I have a growing collection of puzzles now, thanks to family who have been buying me a few.  I’m spoiled for choice as to which puzzle to do next.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

my puzzle helper

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I’ve brought my “puzzle table” into the living room, from the veranda, because it’s too cold to want to be doing puzzles in the veranda at this time of year. And, as expected, Ducky has been jumping up on the table, to “help”.   I have an old puzzle box I use as my sorting tray . . . and Ducky just has to fit inside. What is it with cats and boxes????

 

Mei chasing after Chibi Totoro and Chu Totoro

This is the latest finish. Only a small one (300 pieces). Originally bought, while in Tokyo in 2000, for daughter’s 6th birthday. Picture is a shot from one of our family’s all-time favourite animation film: “Tonari no Totoro” (My neighbour Totoro – Hayao Miyasaki).

 

one day at a time

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I’m continuing to tackle things one day at a time. Some days are good days and I feel I’m making progress. Other days are not so good, and I feel completely overwhelmed.  Four and a half months on, and I still haven’t been able to obtain a certain document, required by the insurance company in order for them to pay out the premium they owe. The husband’s pension people sent me word that they’ve processed my application for widow’s pension . . . but I’m still waiting for those monthly payments to kick in. All I can say is: I’m lucky I have savings in the bank to tide me over.

Anyway . . . not much crafting happening here. I have started picking up my knitting in the evenings, but don’t have a photo to share for now. Photos I can share . . .

my puzzle helper

Ducky has been helping me do a puzzle . . . I know, leave an empty box/tray lying around and cats just have to see if they can fit inside! Luckily, he soon grew bored and let me get on with my puzzle.

500 piece

Only a 500 piece one, but I found it quite tricky to do. Probably because only part of the picture is on the box, but also because some of the pieces were very similar in colour and shape.

home grown peaches

I’ve been busy in the kitchen. There are 2 very healthy peach trees that self-planted in the veggie/hen garden several years ago. In French, we call them “pèche de vigne” because the peaches are ready to harvest at the same time as the grape harvest (vignes). There were dozens of kilos . . . I told all the neighbours to help themselves because I don’t know what to do with them all. I’m not in the right frame of mind to be making preserves this year.  I’ve put about 6 kg in the fridge, just putting a few in the fruit bowl to ripen up and eat when I fancy. Also cooked up a very large batch to make peach purée, which I’ve frozen in 400g tubs.

I’ve also been sorting the dvd cupboard, and the bookshelves.   Some items have been boxed up and sold and with (some of) the proceeds of those sales,  I treated myself to a ukulele!

concert size ukulele

I had got the electronic keyboard all set up in October of last year, to teach myself to play the keyboard. That started off quite well, but fell by the wayside because I wasn’t practicing regularly. Probably because I’d set the keyboard up in the bedroom and in recent months I’ve been spending most of my time downstairs.  The ukulele is very portable, and I keep it in the veranda where it’s handy to pick up several times a day.  It’s also a lot easier to learn to play a few simple chords on a ukulele than on a keyboard, especially since I learned to play the guitar when I was a child.  Anyway, I spent quite a few weeks watching videos and researching different instruments before I went ahead and bought.  This one is made by Flight, and it’s a concert size (23″ in length as opposed to the soprano which is 21″).

 

 

 

 

 

back to the 1980s

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While Mr Viking was here, we spent a couple of hours in the attic getting dirty, bringing some boxes downstairs to sort. Mr Viking mainly saw to boxes that contained his belongings, while I uncovered a few treasures of my own. Which included several boxes of vinyl records, both 33s and 45s.

It just so happens that the husband and I had also kept the old record player. And Mr Viking kindly offered to set it up for me.  I learned, with astonishment, that vinyl records and players have made a come back . . . so how “trendy” am I, eh?  With my genuine, vintage record player and LPs.

Mr Viking couldn’t get the entire “surround” set of  5 speakers to work, with woofers and tweeters, so I’ve only got stereo sound, but that’s perfectly fine for my needs.

I’ll be able to do a bit of disco dancing in the living room, which is very empty since the old 2-seat sofa has gone to the local tip. Or simply have a sing-along to old favourites while I’m doing puzzles in the veranda. Speaking of which . . . haven’t had time to do any puzzles of late, but I have bought a few more for the collection.

Local discount store, NOZ, had a fresh delivery. 1000 pieces puzzles for 5.99€.

And 500 piece puzzles for only 4.99€.

How could I resist? Well, I couldn’t lol.

 

knitting & puzzling

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June was a very full month for me. Daughter and son-in-law came to stay for a few days, mid-June, for a planned visit, but also so that daughter could sign a few papers at the solicitor’s.  My sister  came to stay also – her first visit to this house, where I’ve lived since Dec 2014.  She had thought to help me get ahead with some sorting & clearing, indoors & outdoors but weather was very hot for the last week of June. Much too hot to be doing anything too physical.

It’s been too hot to sit out in the veranda, and too hot to do much crafting either . . . although I did manage progress on my current knitting project recently

back

This one is going to be for me. I had 250g of a colour-changing yarn left from knitting a sweater for my daughter,

seeing as how I’d bought in way too much to begin with.  I’m combining with a solid dusky pink and following a plain raglan-sleeved pattern.

Anyway, I’m in no hurry . . . it won’t be sweater weather for many months to come.

As for puzzles . . .

I bought several really cheap 1000 puzzles from a local discount store. Only 2.99€ each. This one kept me very busy for several evenings.

1950s Hollywood – JUMBO

spot the dogs!

and James Dean

 

 

“circle of colors” – 500 piece Ravensburger

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I mentioned I’d been sorting, tidying and cleaning . . . well the veranda is about the only part of the house I can call “done”.

I’ve got an old table set up in one half  (by old, I mean, seen better days, not antique) so that I can make use of the good lighting in there and do some puzzles. Only problem – now summer is here, it’s getting very hot in there.

circle of colours

This was the puzzle I was working on then.

500 pieces – Ravensburger

lots of lovely colours and (I found) quite tricky to do.