Talking Tables “Pooch Puzzle”

This was a Christmas gift I received.  Finally got around to it while staying at an AirBnB after my home was damaged in a flood.   It's been great to have something calming and meditative while dealing with this stressful situation.

This puzzle required a lot of sorting.  Separating the puzzle into its individual portraits definitely made it easier. 

I'd never heard of the brand "Talking Tables" but this one was definitely well made.  All in all a quality, fun puzzle!

 

Karmin International "The Redecorators" by Linda Picken

This Linda Picken puzzle featuring painting puppies had me fooled - its blue color tones were more difficult to put together than I expected.  I framed these cute labs for a friend who has a dog boarding and training business.  "The Redecorators" is 18" x 24" at 550 pieces.  It's an earth friendly puzzle by Karmin International that is copyright 2011.  I found it at a thrift store.  There is a nice bio of the artist on the box that explains she's been painting for over thirty years and oil paintings of animals, especially dogs, are amongst her favorite subjects.

MasterPieces "A Dog's Plea" -- June Payne Hart

I bought this puzzle new in box from a fellow puzzler I knew through a facebook group.  I couldn't really read the poem in the photo she'd posted, but it looked neat, and I'd lost Caitie only a few days before.  I thought it would be a poem about the rainbow bridge that I could frame in her memory.  Rather, it speaks of not holding onto a pet too long.  I'm not sure I agree with the poem's sentiments, but I wanted to frame and donate it anyway.  I thought the collage of pups would be fun.  It was, but it was more difficult than I expected! 

A Dog's Plea

Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in

all the world is more grateful for kindness than the 

loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I

should lick your hand between blows, your patience and

understanding will more quickly teach me the things you 

would have me learn.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world's 

sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging

of my tail when your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.

Please take me inside when it is cold and wet, for I 

am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed

to bitter elements.  I ask no greater glory than the 

privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for I cannot tell 

you when I suffer thirst.

Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp

and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, 

and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my

life, should your life be in danger.

And, my friend, when I am very old, and I no longer

enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic

efforts to keep me going.  I am not having any fun.  

Please see that my trusting life is taken gently.  I shall leave

this earth knowing with the last breath I draw that my

fate was always safest in your hands.

-Author Unknown

Cobble Hill "Dog Quotes"

The girls helped with my latest dog puzzle during a Los Angeles heat wave....Cobble Hill’s 1000pc “Dog Quotes.” This one will be framed eventually.  Not sure if I will auction it off for dog rescue, keep it, or give it to one of our awesome support team that cares for my pup (groomer, vet or pet sitter). 

I loved all the famous quotes pertaining to dogs that are scattered throughout this puzzle!  Many different breeds are represented, including the Chihuahua and Daschund, though unfortunately no Rat Terrier (let alone a Teddy Roosevelt Terrier).  I bought this new off Amazon with a giftcard as a special treat to myself and was so excited to break into a brand new box.  

I often get better pictures before framing as I don't have to worry about glare from the glass, so I wanted to take a few shots before I consider how to mat and frame. 

Masterpieces "Hero's Helpers" by Jenny Newland

I couldn't find a more fitting puzzle to do over the 4th of July holiday than this one, honoring fire dogs.  It was bought from a puzzle club in Orange County, so I assumed it to be complete.  When I found that to be the case, I knew it had to be glued and framed to donate to my local fire station.  Stay tuned for pictures of the donation and where it gets placed.

As I am learning how best to glue and frame puzzles, the lesson I took from this one was that I only mod-podged the back of the puzzle, so that it would stay together.  If the front is glued and it is not hung in a temperature controlled area, the glue can melt to the front in places, giving the illusion of a "bubble" inside the glass.  

I'm hoping kids who tour the firehouse will have fun with this artwork.

Go! Games "Jack Russell Terrier"

I saw this puzzle on Ebay and splurged because it looked so much like my rat terrier babies.  The box is beautiful, but the image on the puzzle proved to be a bit faded, with poor resolution.  I thought it was vintage, till I did an online search for the puzzle company and found it was not that old.  The pieces were loose fit and often more than one piece seemed to fit a given spot, so it was hard to tell which were correct.  It sat on my kitchen table from mid April to late June, with little improvement, so I finally scrapped it and set it aside for another time when I have more help or patience.  I was ready to do something more fun, quicker and easier.  So I started another with a lower piece count and more vivid colors.  Maybe I'll come back to this guy another time.  I did realize I needed to simplify the pattern on my kitchen tablecloth, so I bought foamcore to use under the next puzzle for an even background.

The Dog Artlist Collection "Jack Russell Terrier"

Sometimes, taking pictures of dogs with puzzles does not work out.  This puzzle WAS complete.  Until Claire sat upon it.

SunsOut "A Friend in Need" by C.M. Coolidge

Another fun and quick postcard-sized puzzle with a classic image.  I'll be taking pics of the dogs with this one sometime soon. 

Fink & Co "Everyone Needs Their Own Spot" by Mary Engelbreit

This one couldn't be more apt for me.  I bought it off ebay because I liked the image, but didn't realize it was so small.  I may yet glue this one for my bedroom wall, or I may wait till I can find a poster sized copy.

Puzzle Bug "Beachy Pooch"

Landon and Ellen have both done the same puzzle at separate times!  This Puzzle Bug 100 piece puzzle came from Dollar Tree and is the perfect puzzle to usher in summer.

Re-Marks "Birthday Boy" by Lisa Jane

My girls were more than happy to show off the birthday bulldog in this puzzle.  It was small but had quite a few pieces, and the randomness of the confetti made it difficult to put together.  Lots of fun.

Mega Puzzles "Dogs of the Saturday Evening Post"

I was so excited to do the puzzle "Dogs of the Saturday Evening Post"!  It was the first one I bid on and bought on Ebay, and the first 1000 piece puzzle I had done since I was a kid.  It took me over a week to do, and some of the pieces seemed so out of place I actually threw one away, thinking it was from another puzzle and mistakenly in the box.  As it turns out, I think it did go to this puzzle, and now it is one piece short, so I won't be able to resell it.  My learning mistake is to always have a "spare piece" cup and keep them in case they are needed later. 

It was fun to take some close up photos of my pups with these old-time magazine covers. 

Forever Clever "Puppy Love"

This one proved to be a little bit challenging, so it was set aside in favor of starting a new puzzle that was more fun.  It was bought new though, so it is complete with all 500 pieces.

LPF Ltd. "41 Dogs"

Since I had made a deal with Landon that he was to send me a photo of himself with each puzzle he completed, I began sending him pictures of my pups, Claire & Caitie, with each puzzle I completed.  And thus our contest/collaboration/sharing was born. 

This 240 pc puzzle was a dollar store find that came with two puzzles intermingled in one box.  When I put it together, of course I was short one piece.  But since the box was new when I opened it, it's likely that the missing piece is with the pile of pieces I pulled out as belonging to the other puzzle in the box.  So, the mystery is still to be solved.  The puzzle was actually quite difficult as all the pieces were shades of white, brown, or black.  But the furry faces were fun to look at. 

Puzzle Bug "Beachy Pooch"

I did this puzzle while I was babysitting for a regular client.  I thought the kids might join in, but turned out I did it alone.  I gave it to Landon to try afterward.  Bought at a dollar store, new in box.