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Covid-19 has officially made jigsaw puzzling chic again. Here are seven cool adult jigsaw puzzles to try out.
Last year, I stayed in a secluded seaside AirBnb and, with the wind howling outside and no internet connection or TV, we lit the fire and pulled out one of two 1,000-piece lighthouse puzzles. An hour and a half later and holding tufts of my own hair, I realised that an *actual real-life psychopath* had mixed the two near-identical seascape puzzles together, randomly dumping half the pieces into one box and half into the other.
Needless to say, I reenter the world of jigsaw puzzles with no small amount of trepidation. But it seems that I am the only one, with Wall Street Journal saying that of the ten items searched on Amazon last Tuesday, nine were a variety of cleaning supplies and number seven was “puzzles for adults”.
So if you fancy getting your teeth into a 1,000-piece jigsaw, or want to start off with an easy 500, you’ll be glad to hear the jigsaw world has moved one from the snowy streetscapes, Disney characters and realistic exotic animal paintings. Not only is jigsawing now cool, but the jigsaws are too.
Here are a few to snap up – while they’re still in stock and still delivering!
The Hendrix puzzle illustrated by Seeta Roy, around €32, Journey of Something
Okay okay, so this is kind of like a streetscape and it features an exotic animal. But everyone’s crazy for Tiger King now, right?
Doodle jigsaw by Cloudberries, €23.69, Etsy
I bought this one and while I mightn’t go so far as to frame it when I’m finished (yes, people actually do that), I might leave it on the table for a few days and just enjoy its general splendour. This UK company has quite a few puzzles to choose from, but they’re only delivering to the UK at the moment, so I cheekily bought mine on Etsy through my Parcel Motel account. Needs must.
Vogue 1,000-piece puzzle, around €18.50, Vogue.com
The New York Puzzle Company usually have tons of great New Yorker, Vanity Fair and Vogue cover puzzles but most of them are sold out, such is the demand. I found this one of Vogue’s own site, so you’ll have to account for delivery from the United States when ordering it, but it’ll definitely be worth the wait.
William Morris Golden Lily Vintage Pre-Raphaelite jigsaw puzzle, €74, Zazzle
If you’re looking for something a little more timeless, Zazzle has a number of jigsaw designs of celebrated printmaker William Morris’ work. The colours in this one are soothing yet the mix of greens will make it a challenge to complete, the ideal puzzle really.
Great Wave of Kanagawa jigsaw puzzle, from about €34, Wentworth Wooden Puzzles
You can get Hokusai’s famed “Great Wave of Kanagawa” in a 250-piece or a 500-piece jigsaw. Made of wood and with irregular-shaped pieces, this will be one you’ll keep forever.
Areaware Dusen Dusen Pattern jigsaw puzzle, €30, Charles and Marie
Unsure as to whether this puzzle’s abstract nature and lines will make this easier or harder but either way, it’s certainly beautiful.
Andrew Watch’s Home jigsaw puzzle, around €27.50, Inner Pieces
I am a sucker for beautiful packaging and Inner Pieces had me at “reusable cotton pouch”. They also have a number of cool designs, from busy ones like this one, to geometric designs and Surrealist portraits.
Featured image via Journey of Something on Instagram
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