Embroidery: Winter Stitching Club

Cross-stitch is usaually more my thing but I am loving the speed of embroidery! I joined Wild Olive's Winter Stitching Club (Three months of weekly embroidery patterns for $5!? I'm IN!) Here are December's patterns all stitched up and ready for the next step!  

Tatting: Next Two Rounds

The next two rounds of the tatted doily. It's getting larger and each round is taking more time. Tatting is definitely labor intensive! At a few points along the way I was worried that the doily would not lay flat but that is no longer an issue.   

Tatting: Next Two Rounds

Next two rounds on the doily. 

I find this pattern very pretty. 

Crafting: Tatting

I've been on vacation for a few weeks and apparently during that time I've decided to become a tatter! I hit the thrift stores and came across a Coats & Clarks Book No. 124 - Old and New Favorites which originally cost 29 cents. I got my copy for 25 cents! I also picked up a bag of 4 500 yard skeins of vintage thread (all with the same die lot!) for $2.00. 

I had been teaching myself to tat for a few weeks prior to this thrifting discovery so I started right in on the Frosty Flowers Tatted Doily A-347. I really like the design even though I am not sure what I will do with a doily! I finished the first three rounds the first night.

I enjoy tatting. It is simple to learn but you can make a lot of designs. It also seems easy to design your own patterns which is something I've been thinking of doing as there aren't many icicle tatting patterns out there!   

Buffalo Games: The Gathering

Details: Advertised as the 'World's Most Difficult Jigsaw Puzzle' with 'only 500 pieces - seems like 4000' this puzzle is copyright 1993 by Don Scott Associates, Inc. 

Difficulty: This is a double sided puzzle but the sides are rotated 90 degrees with respect to each other. This puzzle isn't really that hard once you figure out a system of determining which side is 'up' for the piece. The large amount of green in the design made it difficult to determine whether the piece fit or not - thankfully when that happened you could just flip the pieces and use the picture on the other side to determine if the piece fit. It didn't take me longer to complete than a regular 500 piece puzzle would have. It's not significantly more difficult but the design differences challenge the puzzling brain in a fun way.  

Done: 16 November 2013

Cost: 0.25 cents

Obtained: Thrift store

Missing Pieces: One

Size: 15 x 15 

This puzzle isn't mine but was done while visiting a friend. With it's nice picture and sturdy pieces I would love to have this puzzle in my collection! 

Springbok: Lucky Roll

Details: Springbok "Lucky Roll" 1JIG10522
Difficulty: Easy
Done: 7 Oct 2013
Cost: $7.99 (regular $27.99)
Obtained: Michaels
Missing Pieces: None
Size: 24 x 30 inches

We went on a little road trip this weekend and stopped at Micheals to see about some Halloween craft supplies. Found this new puzzle there. Love a good sale! :)

Springbok: Super Dome Sunday

Details: Springbok "Super Dome Sunday" PZL4185
Difficulty: Moderate, due to repeating cars
Done: 30 Sept 2013
Cost: $0.99
Obtained: Thrift Store
Missing Pieces: None
Size: 18 x 23 1/2 inches

My local chain thrift store would have sold this for $1.99 but found this at a different location for cheaper! They had fewer puzzles to choose from but I like this one. I think we must have had this when I was a child. I feel like I remember this puzzle.  

Springbok: Farm Garden with Sunflowers

Details: Springbok "Farm Garden with Sunflowers" 400PZL2059, 1973
Difficulty: Easy. Refreshing to put together.
Done: 23 Sept 2013
Cost: $3.99
Obtained: Thrift store
Missing Pieces: none
Size: 20 1/4 x 20 1/4  

Bits and Pieces: Getting Ready

Details: Bits and Pieces. "Getting Ready" by Bradley Jackson. No. 47418
Difficulty: Moderate.
Done: 22 Sept 2013
Cost: $17.99
Obtained: From the website.
Missing Pieces: none
Size:  26.6 inch round

This puzzle was too big for my table. So I taped a piece of paper to the window to hold up the excess. #ghetto Beautiful picture! 

The Puzzle Collection: Hens and Chicks

Details: The Puzzle Collection. "Hens and Chicks". No. 97127
Difficulty: Moderate. Pieces fit fairly well together.
Done: 20 Sept 2013
Cost: $1.99
Obtained: Thrift Store
Missing Pieces: None
Size: 18 x 26 inches

Springbok: Arctic Vigil

Details: Springbok "Arctic Vigil", PZL2090, 500 pieces
Difficulty: Easy - but beautiful!
Done: 18 Sept 2013
Cost: $3.99
Obtained: Thrift Store
Missing Pieces: None
Size: 20 1/4 x 20 1/4 

This is a beautiful puzzle! 

Springbok: Hershey's

Details: Hershey's, Great American Legends Series, PZL6193
Difficulty: Moderate. Repetitive picture.
Done: 17 September 2013
Cost: N/A
Obtained: Thrift Store
Missing Pieces: None
Size: 24x30 inches

Cobble Hill: First Jar of the Year

Details: Cobble Hill "First Jar of the Year"
Difficulty: Moderate
Done: 14 Sept 2013
Cost: $3.99
Obtained: Thrift Store
Missing Pieces: none
Size: 26.625 x 19.25

I purchased a Cobble Hill puzzle from the online store a few months ago. I enjoyed putting it together so much that when I saw the thrift store stocked with 6 Cobble Hill puzzles for $3.99 each I yoinked them up! 

Cobble Hill puzzles are so beautiful! The pieces fit together very nicely and are of sturdy material. 

Order some Cobble Hill puzzles! (ps They are a Canadian company!)
  

Bits & Pieces: Mississippi Memories

Details: Mississippi Memories no. 02-0298, 1000 pieces
Difficulty: Easy. Pieces do not fit as snug as some other brands but you can tell when it fits.
Done: 15 Sept 2013
Cost: $1.99
Obtained From: thrift store
Missing Pieces: none
Size: 20 x 27

I recently ordered some round Bits & Pieces puzzles from the company so when I saw this in the thrift store I decided to give it shot. Looking through my puzzle collection I found a childhood round Bits & Pieces puzzle but it is Christmas themed. 

I set up my puzzle table and organized my puzzles this weekend which is why I was finally able to complete a 1000 piece puzzle!  

Springbok: Berries 'N Cream

Details: Berries 'N Cream. 1JIG70502. 400 Pieces. 
Difficulty: Family Puzzle (meaning that there is large pieces for children and smaller pieces for adults)
Done: 7 Sept 2013
Cost: $3.99
Obtained From: Thrift store, even though the puzzle was brand new (still in the shrink wrap!)
Missing Pieces: None
Size: 26.75 x 20.5     

I probably wouldn't have purchased this had I realized it was a family puzzle (various sized pieces) but it is a really beautiful pictures that is currently available from Springbok (also in a 1000 piece size).

Springbok: Indulge Thyself!

Details: Indulge Thyself! PZL4186. 500 pieces. Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Difficulty: Moderate due the multitude of browns
Done: 7 Sept 2013
Cost: $1.99
Obtained from: thrift store
Missing pieces: none
Size: 18 x 23 1/2 

   

Springbok: Familiar Birds

Details: Familiar Birds PZL6039 500 Pieces Painted by William Dilger. 1970
Difficulty: Moderate. Round  puzzles are inherently slightly more difficult than traditional puzzles (but in a fun way).
Done: 6 September 2013
Cost: $2.99 
Obtained from: thrift store
Missing pieces: none
Size: 20 3/8 " in diameter

I yoinked this puzzle so hard when I spied it at the thrift store! My father had several beautiful vintage round puzzles when I was a kid. They were amazing to put together and doing this puzzle reminded me of some of my rare happy childhood memories. I put in an online order for some more round puzzles last night as I won't be able to acquire those family puzzles. 

   

Springbok: All Aboard!

Details: All Aboard! PZL4188 Design by Bob Schneeberg Hallmark Cards Inc. 
Difficulty: Novice
Done: 18 Aug 2013 
Cost: $1.99
Obtained From: Thrift Store
Missing Pieces: None  
Size: 18x23 1/2 inches 

I've been digging the 500 piece puzzles lately. A few hours and bam - finished puzzle! I wish the hallmark Cards puzzles were clearer about what year they were produced in.  

Springbok: Song of the Unicorn

Details: Song of the Unicorn. PZL4143. 500 pieces. Hallmark Cards, Inc
     According to this website - this puzzle was released in both 1982 and 1985. 
Difficulty: Novice
Done: 15 Aug 2013 
Cost: $1.99
Obtained From: Thrift Store
Missing Pieces: None  
Size: 18x23 1/2 inches 

This puzzle reminded me of why I love Springbok so much. The pieces fit so well together that the completed puzzle can be lifted up. Each piece is unique in shape and pattern so I can pick out a piece and almost immediately find it's place. Puzzle took the one movie and one tv episode to complete.