THE PUZZLE OLYMPICS: SILVER ROUND

Hello:  Back for another update on the Jigsaw Puzzle Olympics.  This time:  the Silver Round.  

The Silver Round (500-999pc) lasted for three weeks from June 9 to June 30.  I managed to get twelve puzzles finished for this round.  That would average four puzzles a week which isn't too bad considering that some of these puzzles took three days to finish.  Having done 1000 and 2000 pc puzzles, one might think that 500 pc puzzles might be a breeze, but that isn't always the case.  I've admitted before that I'm not a speedy puzzler, but I don't think it's a requirement to enjoy the craft.  

This round had me stretching myself into unchartered territory.  My puzzle themes usually involve nature, farm scenes, animals, and distinct architecture or a mix of the them.  But this time I went beyond my comfortable puzzle choice and took on the Ravensburger Krypt Gradient.  

Gradient puzzles are a common option in the puzzling communities, but I haven't been attracted to them as much because I like my puzzles to tell stories.  What story comes from this?  I had to ponder that for a while.  

What gives this puzzle a story is the gradient.  The colours are not distinct from each other, they blend together and one colour merges into another one gradually.  Maybe there is a life picture in this.  Maybe if we give ourselves a hard look we might find ourselves less contrasting to other people, and more blending.  We have our own colours, but if we look deeper into ourselves, we just might find a path that blends our differing colours together.  This puzzle reminds me of that.  

The other puzzles for the most part are Puzzle Bugs from the Dollar Tree.  I like the 500 pc puzzles they have.  There is lots of colour and vibrancy.  I am less concerned with piece quality  and more inspired by colour and beauty.  

Not all were Dollar Tree puzzles.  I found a few on my journey that I especially liked.  

This puzzle I picked up at one of our local grocery stores.  The artist is Laivi Pōder.  I am not a big fan of art puzzles, but I like this artist.  The colours are dynamic and the image takes me away into it's story.  This puzzle, manufactured by Spin Master Puzzles, is called "Tucked Away".  It was one of the more challenging puzzles, but I really enjoyed the journey and stuck with it.  I even bought a companion puzzle from the same store and same artist.  I look forward to taking that on when this whole Olympics journey is over.  

I was able to submit one 750 pc puzzle for this round.  The puzzle is part of an eight pack Ceaco Thomas Kinkade Collection called "Amsterdam Cafe".  I like Thomas Kinkade.  The other puzzles I had done long before the games began, so only this one and the last 1000 pc puzzle (in the Gold Round) are part of the games entries.  

I am still frustrated at the whole strict adherence to the rules orientation of the Games.  Puzzles are about enjoyment, community and beauty.  The nitpicking of the rules really puts a damper on the whole event.  I won't be back next year, but I'm not quitting this year.  If they ask us to give them a review at the end, I will be upfront about the nitpicking.  It really takes the joy of out of the whole adventure and I don't think I'm the only one has noticed that.  

I think I will end this post with the cutest puzzle of this round.  I ended up giving it to a friend in Saskatchewan.  She really enjoyed it.  It's one of the Dollar Tree purchases... Puzzle Bug.  "American Staffordshire Terrier Puppies"  (I think they stuck a Rottweiler in there... The black and brown puppy looks like a Rotty)