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Playing with Puzzles

Susan Quinn
@SusanQuinn
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"pieces of a puzzle," titov dmitriy. (Shutterstock)

On a gray, rainy day when I was a kid, my Mom often went into the hall closet and dug out a puzzle for us to assemble. I remember being overwhelmed by all the little pieces, the multiple shades of blues, greens and yellows, and wondered how we’d ever complete it, even though we had done it in the past.

But we did.

Recently I had a yen to take up puzzles again, and decided to ask one of my dear friends to make suggestions about potential puzzles. She’s been doing them for years, and I knew she would try not to overwhelm me with choices. So, when we discussed puzzles, she suggested a couple of companies, recommended that I pick a puzzle with 500 pieces instead of 1,000, and sent me to the Amazon site. And I picked out this beautiful Ravensburger Puzzle.

Everything about it spoke to me: the greenery, the flowers, the fruit trees, the light. So when it arrived, I opened the box—and gasped! A puzzle with 500 pieces is a lot of pieces! But I took a deep breath and went into my office where Jerry had set up a bridge table for me.

I poured out the pieces, and asked myself, “Now what??” But those rainy mornings with my Mom came back to me, and I realized a good first step would be to find pieces of similar colors and also pieces of the puzzle that had straight edges - which meant they were probably part of the borders. (Where those memories came from, I have no idea.)

I’m a couple of days into the puzzle, maybe a half-hour at a time, and am breathing a little easier. I don’t think I started with the easiest part of the picture, but I’ve attached about 20 pieces of the upper edge. I’m in no hurry, and I have no idea why I’m enjoying it, although I must say that I’m so tickled when a couple of pieces match up!

There’s also something satisfying in giving myself permission to create something without pressures, time frames or expectations. And I can stop for a few minutes and walk over to the bridge table to pick up where I left off, selecting one piece at a time.

I know I’m just a novice, and I don’t want to get discouraged. If there are any master puzzle assemblers out there, do you have any guidance you can give me on any aspects of assembling puzzles?

Remember: I’m hoping you’ll encourage me in this process!

This post was promoted to the Main Feed at the recommendation of Ricochet's members.

Discussion (52)

  • Red Herring@EHerring

    I love doing puzzles and logic problems. I sort colors in these old Christmas card boxes I think I have 12 of them. I do them on $1.29 foam core board from Hobby Lobby. I can pick them up and move them out of the way. Once I can use the porch when the weather warms up, I do them there. You could do 1,000 piece puzzles if you pick out puzzles with buildings. My daughter and I pass our collection back and forth. She told me to put all the edge pieces in a ziplock bag when I take them apart. I like that. It helped me get started quicker when I did one of hers. Rooting through 1000 pieces trying to find edges is a pain. I have so many that I date the bottom of the boxes now when I complete one.

  • Susan Quinn@SusanQuinn
    ReplyingtoRed Herring

    Red Herring (View Comment):

    I love doing puzzles and logic problems. I sort colors in these old Christmas card boxes I think I have 12 of them. I do them on $1.29 foam core board from Hobby Lobby. I can pick them up and move them out of the way. Once I can use the porch when the weather warms up, I do them there. You could do 1,000 piece puzzles if you pick out puzzles with buildings. My daughter and I pass our collection back and forth. She told me to put all the edge pieces in a ziplock bag when I take them apart. I like that. It helped me get started quicker when I did one of hers. Rooting through 1000 pieces trying to find edges is a pain. I have so many that I date the bottom of the boxes now when I complete one.

    Wow! What great information! I like your separation suggestions--anything to make it just a little easier! Thanks, RH.

  • Rodin@Rodin

    Yes the 500 piece puzzle is a better pick. I bought a 1000 piece puzzle and it remains unfinished. I also bought a rotating puzzle board that has a plastic cover you can slide on to hold the pieces in place if you need move the board or put it aside for a bit. The board also has drawers into which you can place puzzle pieces that you want to sort in some fashion or otherwise keep off the board while you work the puzzle. My strategy is to always start by completing the edge (as those pieces are readily identified — if not readily joined).

  • Susan Quinn@SusanQuinn
    ReplyingtoRodin

    Rodin (View Comment):

    Yes the 500 piece puzzle is a better pick. I bought a 1000 piece puzzle and it remains unfinished. I also bought a rotating puzzle board that has a plastic cover you can slide on to hold the pieces in place if you need move the board or put it aside for a bit. The board also has drawers into which you can place puzzle pieces that you want to sort in some fashion or otherwise keep off the board while you work the puzzle. My strategy is to always start by completing the edge (as those pieces are readily identified — if not readily joined).

    Ah! More good advice. That rotating puzzle board sounds interesting. Even with just 500 pieces, I wish I had more room, but I'll do okay. Too bad about your 1000-piece puzzle. Thinking about trying it again?

  • Rodin@Rodin
    ReplyingtoSusan Quinn

    Rodin (View Comment):

    Yes the 500 piece puzzle is a better pick. I bought a 1000 piece puzzle and it remains unfinished. I also bought a rotating puzzle board that has a plastic cover you can slide on to hold the pieces in place if you need move the board or put it aside for a bit. The board also has drawers into which you can place puzzle pieces that you want to sort in some fashion or otherwise keep off the board while you work the puzzle. My strategy is to always start by completing the edge (as those pieces are readily identified — if not readily joined).

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Ah! More good advice. That rotating puzzle board sounds interesting. Even with just 500 pieces, I wish I had more room, but I’ll do okay. Too bad about your 1000-piece puzzle. Thinking about trying it again?

    Oh, I’ll finish it. Thanks to the plastic cover it is suspended in place.

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