The Finish Line is in Sight!!!

Finished the water...blue blue blue...

While still working on the 'blues'..

Yet to be completed large and 'smaller' dolphins...

As a whole...48"x32"!!!!

Truth be told, I am somewhat obsessed at this point to finish the puzzle. I think that being an artist has helped because so much of this puzzle has been about 'hues'. The blue-blues, to the aqua-blues, to the light-blues, to the gray-blue hues, to the almost white blues. Now onto the grays for the dolphin. The almost white grays, to the green-grays, to the blue-grays, to the almost charcoal grays, and everything in-between. Shapes are also key. However, with many pieces, I have looked at them, once they fit, saying 'Really??' (yes, still talking to the puzzle....).

The discussion has moved on to, what to do with the puzzle when completed. I am probably going to use Mod Podge to seal it and give it more stability. Then I can choose a backing and it will be a done deal. I am also thinking of donating it to the children at one of the community centers, where Jimmy has been doing so much work!I have my sights set on doing many more jigsaw puzzles, BUT, I will limit myself to 1000/1500 pieces, or whatever fits on Mom's old bridge table.

Lessons learned, and then again, re-learned from this marathon. You cannot fit a circle into a square space. Things will happen when they happen, and then rather quickly. You cannot force it. You can try, but it just will not work, and you will walk away frustrated and bleary-eyed too boot. Not worth it. You really can do anything you set your mind to. It all seems rather basic, but the whole point of doing this puzzle was to stay busy during this Winter, when it was below zero and everything was shut down. Granted, in Colorado, we have not had 1/2 the Winter that the rest of the country is still muddling through, but, Winter nonetheless.Clearly it, (the puzzle) has taken on a life of its own, and has been a fun conversation piece. So, excuse me while I go put a dolphin together....as a storm gathers on the horizon...

Postscript: after working on the puzzle on this wintry snowy day, I have 30 pieces left...looks like tomorrow is the big day !!!

FINISHED, Saturday, March 8!!!

East Has Met West!!!!

Right there.......

For anyone remotely interested in my progress, I have officially connected 4 feet of jigsaw puzzle!!! It was a golden moment. I felt like I had just won an event in the Olympics, an unmeasured feat! Well, that's what it felt like. I did get a couple of fist bumps from the men of the house. 

Taaaa daaaa....

2 Week Puzzle Progress!

 

 

 Edward: 'Mom, you are aware that you are talking to yourself!'
Me: 'If you were working on this puzzle, you would be talking to yourself too!'

Well, my goal right now is to see the puzzle connect horizontally. I can most definitely see a huge difference in the number of pieces I am rummaging through (way down from the original 3000) to find the gold, if you will. So, in some respects it is easier. However, it remains a difficult puzzle. I can see that I am going to be left with a ton of gray pieces for the dolphins and another ton of light blue for the ocean.  In the very short run, this challenge was a really god idea!

Old man winter is still sticking around!

A postscript :
From my friend who lives on Long Island (back East):
Next year buy a 200 piece puzzle - then maybe it wouldn't be snowing every week here - Somehow I think this long cold winter is your fault, just so you could do a puzzle!!!

Progress!!!!

Today...

2 weeks ago..

Today...

2 weeks ago..

It is a love/hate relationship. There is no other way to put it. Just when I think that I cannot find another piece, I find 10, 20 or 30...so I continue. I am now working on the 'whole' puzzle, rather than just one area, and I am finding it easier to know exactly where that single piece goes. So, with the pics I am posting, I can keep a record every couple of weeks. It is not an everyday event, but when I can, I am giving it my full attention...the challenge continues!!!

#WhatwasIthinking???

So, in the middle of Colorado's 'Siberian Express' in early December, I thought, this could prove to be a long long winter. One of the best cure-all's for me has always been a jigsaw puzzle. I grew up doing them w/ Mom, and some tough one's at that. We even did a Jackson Pollack once. Off I went to Barnes & Nobel, and scoured their jigsaw puzzle section. Some just looked way too easy, and really, what would be the point. After some talking to myself, I chose the above pictured Ravensberger, 3000 piece puzzle. That should do it, I thought. Well, first, I had to figure out where in this house I was going to actually do this monster of a puzzle, and on what surface. After a couple of failed attempts, Jimmy and I finally came up w/ the perfect spot on the perfect surface...and the games began. The border was relatively easy, as it is a given. Here is what I have found so far. Anyone who does puzzles, will understand this. It rules. It tells you how it is going to work and you just have to play along. I have also found that to actually sit down and 'work' on it requires hours. It needs all your attention and you have to go through each piece over and over and over again once it starts growing. What I love about looking for that needle in a haystack, is that when you 'happen upon' a certain piece you know it, you know exactly where it goes. (Singing, 'Getting to know you, getting to know all about you...'). An 'issue' which I have to deal w/, is that I have blepharitis in my eyes. I think it came from (the best I have been able to figure) a combination of events colliding. Dry eyes, allergies, possibly picking up 'something' during our long stays @ the hospital w/ Mom...just a theory. Anywho, it cannot be cured, controlled, but not cured. So, when working on the puzzle, or doing any tedious visual work for hours on end (like making cards), I feel it, things become blurry and I have to stop and rest my eyes. Annoying, that's all. All this to say, I am taking my time.

After all, it is just mid-January.

Will keep you posted!