Rendezvous on Myconos Schmidt Puzzle

Last week was a ve-e-ery long weekend in Bulgaria, Easter plus St. George's Day, a whole 10-days mini-vacation (for some). Students had their Easter holidays, Gaby's boyfriend was visiting us and all in all it was a very nice, festive and fun week. I hadn't assembled puzzles in years, so I decided it was the ideal time to open one of my latest acquisitions - it is a Sam Park's picture, made into a 1000 pcs puzzle by Schmidt.

I opened the puzzle on May 1st and finished it on May 10th - it took me the whole 10 day vacation to assemble it, slowly and gradually placing a piece here and there. I enjoyed the process, but I think I'm ready to part with my puzzles, as I've gathered quite a collection and I don't see myself assembling them a second time - somehow my heart is not so much into puzzles any more.

Some process pictures - this is from May 5th 

On May 7th I had assembled most of the pieces

On the morning of May 10th - I finished it later that day.

 

Close ups:

 

Puzzle: Rendezvous on Myconos by Sam Park

Brand: Schmidt 

Size: 1000 pcs.

Time to assemble: 10 days

I have one more unopened puzzle to assemble and I plan not to buy any more puzzle before I have done it, who knows when. It is curious how hobbies come and go :)

Harbor Garden Puzzle

My second Sung Kim puzzle I bought from the sale. I thought I'd keep it for later, but we've been hit by the Lucifer heat wave and assembling puzzles seems the only one of my hobbies I can pursue while I'm slowly melting :)

Puzzle: Harbor Garden by Sung Kim
Brand: Anatolian, 1000 pcs.
Time to Assemble: 2 days

Terrace Cafe Puzzle

Yesterday I assembled another puzzle by Anatolian, which is becoming my favourite brand lately. A big puzzle on-line shop had a sale and I bought two puzzles by Sung Kim. When it comes to puzzles I really enjoy his paintings - appealing to the popular eye, without being too cheesy. I wouldn't hung his paintings on the wall, they are obviously haltura, but I find them perfect for puzzles - maybe because they are made to be turned into puzzles, and I much prefer assembling such pictures to puzzles made from photos or classic masterpieces.

Puzzle: Terrace Cafe, by Sung Kim
Brand: Anatolian, 1000 pcs.
Time to assemble: 1 day

This time I spread my puzzle mat on the bed and combined the assembly of the pieces with listening to lectures by Geoffrey West on scale and complexity. It all started with his talk with Sam Harris about his latest book From Cells to Cities, which intrigued me and I must have further listened to at least six or seven lectures of his I found on youtube on the topic. This was a Sunday well spent!

Second Alps Puzzle

Finally, I finished the assembly of the second Ravensburger Puzzle of the set. This one took me longer, I felt a bit tired by the speedy assembly of the previous two puzzles, and then I also resumed the knitting of my husband's long suffered cardigan. I thought this one would be easier than the one with the flowers but as I assembled it over almost a week, I can't really decide. But I enjoyed them both.

Puzzle: Mountain Valley 2
Brand: Ravensburger 1000 pcs.
Time to assemble: probably a week with breaks for days

Thomas Kinkade Puzzle

To observe the family tradition - a new puzzle for the New Year holidays. This one was more difficult than the other 1000 pcs. Schmidt puzzles we have, which is a plus, as it took us me more days to assemble. So far Schmidt puzzles remain my favourite brand - unique pieces, various forms and shapes, beautiful pictures.
And some of them, as this one, even come in a metal box.

Puzzle: Gingerbread Cottage by Thomas Kinkade
Brand: Schmidt Puzzle
Size: 1000 pcs.
Time to assemble: 3 days

Puzzle Cervena Lotha Castle

This is one of the two puzzles we bought for the New Year's Eve. Traditionally we open a puzzle on the 31 Dec and spend some time assembling it, while waiting for the New Year to come. However, this year none of us felt like assembling a puzzle - until a couple of days ago. From a family hobby puzzles are quietly becoming my personal hobby - this one I assembled almost entirely on my own, with a small part of the big tree done by hubby.

Puzzle: Cervena Lotha Castle, Czech Republic
Brand: Castorland, 1000 pcs.
Time to assemble: 2 days

The quality of the pieces is not as good as Ravensburger or Schmidt, but still quite good and better than Trefl, Educa or Jumbo. I definitely prefer puzzle paintings to puzzle photos, but this one was pleasant to assemble.  I hope one day to be able to visit the actual place, I love old castles :)

Cafe in Cassis Puzzle

Puzzle: Cafe in Cassis by Sam Park
Manufacturer: Schmidt 1000 pcs.
Time to assemble: several hours in the afternoon and the next morning

Very easy ans pleasant puzzle, probably the easiest of the bunch. Made me wish for a summer vacation already :)))