"Favorites are for kids", I used to say. I still agree with that to a certain point. But if I can choose more than one, some amazing puzzles definitely comes to my mind. I'm not very picky with puzzles (as I am with everything else in life) and I'm cool with pretty much anything.
My puzzle friends know this. It's very easy to sell me any puzzle. Or give me any puzzle they want to get rid off, and that no one else is willing to take even for free. I could say I like all puzzles. Certainly there are some puzzles I'm not ready to pay more than 10 €.
If you are a puzzle, you are always welcome to my home. My collection has exploded in the last half a year. On my first year (2022) I barely had 20 puzzles. In 2023... maybe 150-ish in total? This year, 2024, I have more than 300 - and it's only April.
Here are some of my favorites. Please excuse me if you have heard me claim something else as my favorite that isn't listed here. I have so many that I pretty much keep forgetting what is in my puzzle collection.
Favorite Mini Puzzle
I'm a mini puzzle lover. I wish I could have more. One of my favorites is 150 piece puzzle, Rainforest by Nature Planet. The box doesn't give any name for this puzzle but Google was very helpful (again). It has all animals and cute colors.
I bought this from Korkeasaari which is a zoo here in Helsinki, Finland. Nature Planet as a brand have been a mystery for me. They sell all kinds of toys and gifts via resellers. Their website says that they work alongside PLAN International and Red Panda Network.
Tell me where them resellers at because I would love to have more of their puzzles! I also have some mini round 56 piece puzzles from Nature Planet. Good quality for a brand that doesn't fully focus only on puzzles
Favorite Round Puzzle
Round puzzles are weakness of mine. And I'm not talking about buying them. They are my weakness as I'm really slow doing them. Probably because of the funky pieces. Not sure. Anyway, as a speed puzzler, I tend to like more puzzles I'm fast with. So not too many favorites from round puzzles.
So my favorite round puzzle is from Ravensburger, it's their Pokemon puzzle. I'm not sure if it has more specific name as there are plenty of Pokemon puzzles. The box does not specify the name. :(
This puzzle is also one of Daniel's favorite puzzles. I must say he is true Pokemon fan. I don't love any other Pokemon puzzles than this one. I have also done one of my biggest competition fails ever with another Pokemon puzzle so that may affect my opinion...
Favorite 500 Piece Puzzle
This puzzle you have seen before. It's on my main page and my social media profile pictures. And it is... At the Parker by Galison. It's from their Gray Malin collection. Malin is a known American photographer. This puzzle is also double-sided so double the fun.
My favorite is actually the front side of an elephant and some balloons. It has a glossy finish. A giraffe by the pool aka the back side with matte finish is not my favorite at all. But not too bad either. Since the artist is actually a photographer, I cannot help than wonder how did these animals end up in these "photographs".
I bought this puzzle from a small shop on Old Town Porvoo. I did this for my birthday last year. I felt like the balloons on the image were appropriate for this celebration. I love bright colors and animals on puzzles so those are the main reasons why this is my favorite.
Favorite 2000 Piece Puzzle
I don't do bigger puzzles that often anymore but I have a clear winner from this category: Doors of USA by Bluebird Puzzle. It's the one and only puzzle I have from this brand and I absolutely love it.
It's easy to sort. Okay, I'm not a sorter. It's still easy to at least collect all the right pieces of the section you are building. I'm not really a fan of big puzzles that barely have any different colors or separate sections. In a way, you could almost consider this puzzle as a collage.
I also want to praise the brand a little bit. This puzzle has one of the smallest boxes I have seen. It fits perfectly on my shelf that otherwise have only 500 piece puzzles (and from some brands even those don't fit in to this shelf...). Perfect fit!
Bluebird Puzzle has great quality and design based on this one puzzle I have. I would love to do puzzle brand review for them but that has to wait until I have more of their puzzles. I wonder if they have series, Doors of different countries? I would love to do more of these.
The Ultimate Favorite Puzzle
This is a puzzle that I haven't done yet. So how on Earth it can be on my favorite list? Well, it has a special meaning. When I was sick, in and out of hospital, last December, the puzzle community send me a surprise gift of eight puzzles. I was in tears. Happiest day of my life.
One of these puzzles was given to me directly from the one and only Aimee Stewart. She had also personally written me hand-written note with well wishes. I'm the biggest fan of her. I love her illustrations. She is my inspiration. And the puzzle she gave me is Unicorn Haven 1000 piece puzzle by Buffalo.
It has been waiting for the right moment on my to do pile. This one is definitely not for speed puzzling. I want to take my time and enjoy every piece of it. The rest of the puzzle from that surprise gift are shown on the video below.
I'm sure more favorite puzzles are yet to come!
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