Guess What?

 I won first prize.

Everyone was totally taken with the tree, fascinated at what it was and the detail of it. So many people thought, from a distance, that it looked like velvet and then when they got up close, and realised it was actually tea bags, they were amazed. They didn't even realise, to begin with, who had created it as it sat on my colleagues' desk not mine. Then I got heaps of questions about its creation, the time involved, how I dyed the tea bags etc

So many positive comments and the judges thought so too.

Bring it on 2026. Last year we got 2nd place in the competition and this year 1st place. Got a reputation to maintain here, what will the competition be next year?

It is Finished

 The tree is now finished and just needs to be moved to the office

I am so pleased with the tea pot I found to place on the top. I have the lights pouring out of the spout

Jigsaw 29 - The Bizarre Bookshop

 One I got off of marketplace and was intrigued by the colours, design and intricate detail. In true form, I thought it would be easy but the colour was so intricate and fine that it took some real doing to get the right location.

But I loved all the titles of the books, the qwerky little animals and characters hidden around the bookcase, in between the books

Kudos to the artist on the intricate detail of the whole design

Crafting for Work

 Yes, you read that title correctly, I am crafting something for work.

For a competition within our office. Last year there was a Christmas theme decoration of your desk area. We built a Gingerbread house! The post about it can be found here.

This year, it was a Christmas Tree competition. I immediately knew what I wanted to do and so in consultation with my desk/pod mates, I told what I wanted to do, and they were happy to let me run with it.

Quite a few years ago, a friend of mine had created a tree for a display that was quirky, creative, Christmas themed and latched into New Zealand style.

In other words, a New Zealand Tea Tree.

A Christmas tree that represented the native Tea Tree that we have in NZ (Leptospermum, commonly known as Manuka or New Zealand Tea Tree, is a versatile native shrub prized for its vibrant flowers, aromatic foliage, and ecological benefits)

A Tree that represents all of this, made entirely from tea bags, yes, tea bags.

I set about dying over 200 brand new tea bags, four different colours and then laced them onto a wire mesh frame.

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Drying in the sunshine

Almost there, just need to add the top and the lights

Jigsaw 28 - The Village Show

 This one I received for my birthday the other week. After finishing the previous one that took a little bit of thinking, then it was nice to do one that flowed nicely with some main colour areas. Again, I started with the flags and worked down.

Flowers for a Friend

A friend just had some surgery, and I wanted to let her know I was thinking about her, flowers are my way of doing that, and even flowers that will not wilt and die.

I have so much paper to use, but still struggle to decide what colour to create. Although this time, I asked the recipient what her favourite colour was the week before, which gave me at least some form of guidance.

I need to teach myself to make some different shaped flowers so that I can do a bouquet of different flowers and not ones that are all the same shape.

They were greatly received and I love that they will last longer than a fresh bouquet.

Jigsaw 27 - Jigsaw Festival

 And it continues, another one. I got this in the sale in my local store because the box was damaged. Obviously, that makes no difference to the jigsaw itself.

It was not as easy as I thought it would be, as there was no one main colour that stood out. They all blended together on the pieces. I started with the flags at the top and the 3 main people in the front.

Round The Bridges

The city has many bridges. This is due to the large river that runs up the center of our city. Obviously, we have to cross over the river if we want to get to the 'other side'. There are only 5 bridges in this city crossing the river.

Doesn't sound like a lot to some of you, but in a town of a population of only 180,000, whilst we have some traffic jams at home time, it clears very quickly.

One main thing that is done each year is a run/walk around some of the bridges. You can do a 6km course that goes across one bridge, down to the next and then back across to the start line or you can do a 12km course, which follows the same line as the 6km but instead of crossing back over the next bridge, you continue to the next one south, and then cross over and come back up to the start line, but via a slightly long incline hill!

I have done this event a couple of times now in the years that I have lived here. I have done the 6km twice and the 12km once before back in 2017 in a time of 1hr 40 mins

This year, it was a pleasure to do the 12km again, and in the company of my running club (even though I am a walker)

There were 7000 participants across the two courses. The sun was shining bright with blue sky the whole day. There was music around the course at different locations entertaining us as we passed and so many high vis vested marshals that allowed no one to get lost or in danger whilst walking on the road.

A bridge that you do not get to usually walk down the middle of the road. It is usually very busy with traffic.

And then a dip into a tree lined path that gives us some much needed shade.

Finally over half way, always a great feeling when you know you have less to go that you have already done!

Encouragement along the way, even if it is just counting down the kms

Hot and happy

In a time of 1 hr 50 mins (just 10 mins slower than 8 years ago) I finished and achieved a great event. It was so nice to finish and mingle with friends from my walking/running community and offer and receive praise for all that we committed to and achieved.

Next year, I think I will offer my services as a volunteer, they are always looking for hands to help. I like helping to keep events running so others can achieve them.

Sometimes

 And sometimes, you just need a cinnamon bun/scroll/doughnut in your life.

My favourite doughnut shop, which I have to drive out of my way to get to (which is a great thing), is doing these sticky gooey scrolls and they are divine.

Beauty in The World

 Colour, it is everywhere and I wonder if we appreciate it for what it is?

I pass this bush every day at the door into work and I am fascinated as I watch the multiple different purples come out in the flowers

I have been looking at and aweing in the wonder of nature this year and the beauty that naturally surrounds us

Jigsaw 26 - Flower Shoppe

 Another simple one to complete, allowing me to pass the time completing the puzzle and watching tv to have down time from work.

Holdson Jigsaw

 Holdson has become my least favourite puzzle brand recently, after all the issues I have had with them, I have found the other brands to be a better quality. Will only get them off of marketplace now and not purchase them brand new.

Just not worth it as getting very bored with their designs and actually saw the other week, that they had taken a design that I have already completed by another brand and it had been reimagine, by the artist, to create a new one, but it was only small subtle changes that had been made so knew I had already done that design. 

New Holdson design

Come on, at least come up with new designs!

Are they that desperate for images to use that they have to work with the same artist from another country and recreate, when they could come up with something new.

Jigsaw 24 - Vintage Book Shop

 This past weekend I have not been well.

I have the start of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia, although they are currently classing it as Palindromic rheumatism. So occasionally I get flare ups where I have pain in my ankles, wrists, knees, hips and neck. The pain comes on for no reason; nothing sets it off and it can last for 6 hours to 3 days. Pain relief and rest is usually the treatment. There is not much I can do when in a flare up, walking is painful, legs sometimes struggle to work, hands don't want to work as no strength in them and my brain just does not cope well.

So, this past weekend I have spent a lot of time sitting and completing jigsaws as it is easy to do and doesn't hurt my wrists so much. It is my first major flare up in the past 4-6 months.

This one was finished within 24 hours of the Lego one as I have had nothing else, I can do during that time.

It was easy to sort into colours, went together easily and apart from being a Holdson and being flimsy and breaking easily every time you caught a piece on your sleeve, it was nice to do. 

Jigsaw 23 - Space Stars

 This was easy, quick and fun to complete.

I do like the Lego jigsaws but there is not much challenge to them because the colours are easy to identify and sort and then they come together very quickly.

So, start to finish took all of about 24 hours.

Jigsaw 22 - Butterfly

 This is one I got from marketplace and thought it might be somewhat easy to complete.

Yeah, well, occasionally, I am totally wrong! This one was tricky, drove me spare and I think I cursed every time I touched it until it was finished. The colours smashed into each other and the pieces were not easy to identify by pattern/colour alone. Several times I searched all available pieces for what I thought it would be only to find it looked slightly different.

Glad I finished it but by far my least favourite one this year.

Now on to one a little simpler

Jigsaw 21 - Sidewalk Fashion

 This one is actually 1500 pieces, and I have enjoyed completing a jigsaw slightly bigger than normal. It did mean I had to get my board out to complete it on as it was too large for the card table I usually use. Whilst 1000 pieces is a good size to complete, a bigger one is always fun, and I wish I could get more of the large sizes to complete. Still trying to work out how to get a slightly bigger board so I can complete 2000 pieces more easily.

I have started looking at measurements to see how to make myself a slightly bigger board, so watch this space.

Where Do They Come From?

Where do I get all my jigsaw puzzles from people often ask me.

For a while then yes, I did buy them myself when I saw them on special or received them from the boys as presents on birthdays and Christmas.

Then I found Facebook Marketplace, and, in my city, there is quite a movement of jigsaws between people. Mostly costing about $10. I only stay in my city and don't travel long distance or pay postage for any. 

Back in April 2024 someone put a post on marketplace about some jigsaws she was selling, she had heaps and I saw many that I wanted. So, I went and visited to buy some. She had been completing jigsaws all through covid, had been storing them in a storage unit and now wanted to get rid of them. She had a wall full, and I mean there had to be nearly 200+ puzzles in her room. I have only seen that amount in a shop, not someone's front room of their house! Lots of Holdson jigsaws come in sets of 4 and she had all four from the collection, so there were many that I wanted.

Well, 25 puzzles later ($210), I left her house. I got most of the ones you have seen me complete this year and last year from her (if Holdson brand) and I have moved them all on since then by selling them back on marketplace for $10 each, so I am pretty much equal on the money front 😎 the odd one hasn't moved but it is a minor loss for all the enjoyment they have brought me and savings of getting them for $5-10 instead of $28-40

This was one picture I took of some I got from her and as you can see, many are of the same design and collection. This pile is only 9 jigsaws so you can imagine, I had jigsaws all over the house, still do if I am honest!

This year, whilst I have still purchased quite a few, always on special and when my local Jigstore has good specials on, or damage box sales (just because the box is dented doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the jigsaw) then a majority have come from marketplace, although a few weeks ago I did actually do a swap with a lady of 3 puzzles. Saved me giving her $10 only to have her give it back to me for one of mine. from now on, I will be putting this on my posts that I am open to swaps.

I would say I have probably spent about $500 on jigsaws throughout the year but when I sell them, I get a little bit of that back, but it is not about making the money back.

So, gifts, purchasing and marketplace is my place of choice, although the odd one does still get loaned from family/friend.

I do also loan them to family and friends and that has started to happen a little bit more, but they always come back to me.

Jigsaw 20 - Bees and Honey

 This one was loaned to me by a colleague and was trickier than I realised it would be. The colour was all the same so made for some harder parts and difficult to sort. Although it was nice to have a challenge for a while.

Recovery is going well, but finding walking hard some days as my abdomen muscles are definitely telling me that they are not happy about being chopped up and then put back together!

Jigsaw 19 - London

 Here we are, equal to my amount completed in 2024.

This one was a good one to complete to achieve number 19, as London holds a special part in my heart and life. Whilst I find the city large and overpowering, as I get older, I am appreciating what the city can offer and have enjoyed exploring it on the odd couple of times I have got back to the UK in the past 10 years. I also have some very special people living close to London and I just associate London with them.

Let's see how many more I can complete in 2025, but being at home on sick leave at present means the number may go up significantly.

2026 will be a challenge to keep up (and expensive)