Coming Soon: Gardener's Paradise (Luv-it, 1000pc)

Image via Amazon

The kind folks over at Luv-it Puzzles have sent me one of their selections to try out, and I am working through it now. Stay tuned for the review!

The World's Smallest Jigsaw Puzzle, Maybe

Image via Vat19.com

Front runner for the world's smallest jigsaw puzzle in the 236 piece, die-cut, 4x6" category is the aptly named The World's Smallest Jigsaw Puzzle.

Piece density comes out to 9.83 pieces per square inch, almost double that of TOMAX's 1000 piece miniature puzzles, which clocks in at 5.22. So, it makes sense that each box comes equipped with a pair of tweezers.

And how much smaller can a puzzle get? Apparently a lot.

Coming Soon: Balloon Glow (Sunsout, 6000pc) *UPDATED*

Image via Simple Pastimes

This 6000 piece puzzle from Sunsout, a brand that is completely new to me, is the result of an impulse purchase several months ago.

However, the fact remains that completing a puzzle over 5 feet wide in a tiny NYC apartment requires moving around some heavy furniture.

As a result, the box has been sitting in my closet collecting dust, but I suspect I'll be taking it out soon enough to help battle the winter blues.

Purchased from Amazon.

P.S. Like the picture but not the size? The manufacturer offers a 1500 piece version as well.

UPDATE on 6/30/15: It's been nearly 5 months since I started this puzzle, and I made it through about 30-35% but have now given up, primarily due to the lack of space and subsequent waning interest. I'll re-start it at some point, if ever I get that ping pong table.

Reddit AMA session with creator of New York Puzzle Company

About a month ago, the creator of New York Puzzle Company participated in a AMA (Ask Me Anything) interview on reddit.com.

It's a fun, informative read, providing some good insights into the jigsaw puzzling industry. Topics include image licensing, printing and manufacturing process, and some background on the biz itself.

Head over to reddit for the full interview.

Wish List: Flower House (TOMAX, 1500pc) *UPDATED*

Image via Simple Pastimes

This 1500 piece puzzle from Tomax is a welcomed reminder that I should branch out beyond their miniature puzzle series.

At the time of posting, it's carried by a few different retailers including eBay, but SimplePastimes.com has it available for the lowest price, $23.95.

UPDATE 12/12/17: No longer available at Simple Pastimes but in stock at Amazon.

Review: The Great Wave (TOMAX, 1000pc)

Completed picture is 16.5" wide by 11.6" tall

Wish List: Toadstool Cottage (Educa, 6000pc)

Image via Amazon

For awhile now, I've been eyeing this 6000 piecer from Educa and am finally getting around to adding it to the official wish list. It's another piece of digital artwork from Dominic Davison, same artist/creator of Rue Paris.

At the time of posting, the puzzle is available from a few sources, including Puzzle Warehouse, this Amazon vendor, and that Amazon vendor.

Wish List: Metamorphose (Selegiochi, 3000pc)

Image via puzzle-forum.de

What we have here may be a strong contender for the world's most narrow puzzle: an M.C. Escher print that is almost 20x (!) as wide as it is long.

Manufactured by Italy-based Selegiochi, the puzzle is cut into 3000 pieces and divided into 4 panels. When each panel is complete and placed side by side, the final puzzle measures over 13 feet wide and 8 inches tall.

The puzzle is available on Amazon for a whopping $400 (and then an extra $50 for shipping). I'm not feeling particularly inclined to spending this amount on 4 x 750 piece puzzles, which is essentially what it is, so the fun stops here for now. However, if you're interested in further reading, head to swappuzzles.com for a detailed write-up.