Tag Archives: Halloween

Artist Profile: Edward Gorey

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I was looking through our collection of Halloween puzzles when I spotted an Edward Gorey puzzle we have:

Dracula puzzle by artist Edward Gorey

Dracula in Dr. Seward’s Library, by Edward Gorey. 500 pieces – Finished size: 24″ x 18″.

I love Edward Gorey. His and Tim Burton’s melancholy, macabre works have always fascinated me. My favorite movie of all time is Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas, and I was always thrilled it was appropriate to watch during two holiday seasons.

Gorey is famous for his alphabet poem with pen-and-ink illustrations, described as a list of “incredible ways to die.” My favorite is probably “B, for Basil, assaulted by bears.”

I’m drawn to those people who look at things a little differently, and Gorey is one of them.

Here are a collection of my favorite quotes from this great artist:

“I really think I write about everyday life. I don’t think I’m quite as odd as others say I am. Life is intrinsically, well, boring and dangerous at the same time. At any given moment the floor may open up. Of course, it almost never does; that’s what makes it so boring.”

Edward Gorey Puzzle

The untitled, gleefully chaotic work reproduced in this puzzle might be seen as Gorey’s celebration of the theater, which brought him great pleasure and inspiration. 1000 piece puzzle.

“My mission in life is to make everybody as uneasy as possible. I think we should all be as uneasy as possible, because that’s what the world is like.”

“Explaining something makes it go away, so to speak; what’s important is left after you have explained everything else.”

“I don’t think anything might have been. What is, is.”

Edward Gorey died in April of 2000. He is missed, but his charm and peculiar humor lives on his art. As he said about himself: “To take my work seriously would be the height of folly.” So, if you like his unique take on life and his wonderful drawings, check out the Gorey puzzles we have displayed above.

 

EDWARD GOREY: SEVENTEEN CATS Puzzle

Seventeen Cats on the Front Steps of 82 Maple Street, by Edward Gorey. This 300 piece jigsaw puzzle with extra large pieces, measures 18″ x 24″.

October Giveaway: Win a Free Halloween Puzzle

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IT’S GIVEAWAY TIME!

Simply comment on this blog post and you’ll be entered into the drawing. SHARE on Facebook for an extra entry. This mini puzzle is 100 pieces and measures a tiny 7″ x 9″ when complete. Fun and fast to put together, and great for the spooky month of October. THREE winners will be picked from our Blog, Facebook, and Twitter at the end of the week.

In the comment section below answer this question:

What are you going to be for Halloween this year?

15 Best Autumn Themed Puzzle

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Autumn is back and it’s the best time of the year for puzzles! The days are shorter, colder, and prettier, and it’s the perfect setting for curling up by the window and putting together your fall-themed puzzles with your families. Things feel timeless in the fall, and here are some puzzles that will help evoke the nostalgic feelings that come with this time of year, featuring those bright leaves you love, pumpkins and even Halloween scenes.

Autumn Market - Cobble Hill

1000 pieces. Finished size: 19.25” x 26.625”. $15.99.

 Blue Jay and Friends - Cobble Hill

1000 pieces. Finished size: 26.625" x 19.25". $15.99.

 Pumpkin Patch - Buffalo Games by Artists Persis Clayton Weirs & Lesley Harrison

1000 pieces . Finished size: 20" x 27". $14.99.

 Little Farmers Market – Sunsout by artist David Rottinghaus

1000 pieces . Finished size: 27" x 20". $14.99.

 A Bridge to Unity – Sunsout by artist Dave Barnhouse

1000 pieces . Finished size: 16" x 34". $14.99.

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Try a Wolf Jigsaw Puzzle For a Howling Good Time

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The air is crisp, the pumpkins are displayed on the porch, the witches are flying in the sky…just in time for Halloween…have a howling good time working a wolf jigsaw puzzle!

Wolves have been a subject of fascination for years. Known for their thick coats, long, sharp teeth, intelligent eyes, and mostly for their piercing howl, wolves continue to pique our interest. Maybe it’s their tendency to live as a family (wolf packs) that we identify with, or the way they nurture their young. Perhaps it’s their resemblance to our beloved domestic dog. Whatever it is that appeals to us the most, wolves continue to play a major role in movies, TV shows and in artwork. Often depicted in folklore and history, some have believed the wolf to have magical and spiritual characteristics as well.

We certainly can’t forget to mention the legendary wolf-human hybrid, the werewolf. Recent popular books and movies have brought the mysterious character back to the forefront in pop culture.

It’s no surprise then, that the wolf is depicted in many forms in jigsaw puzzles. Both in photograph and illustrated form, wolves are shown braving the elements and howling on a dark night or even as little wolf pups playing with their mother. There are also beautiful depictions of wolves in Native American settings. With wolf jigsaw puzzles ranging from 24-1500 pieces, you’re sure to find one to enjoy.

Celebrate Halloween by choosing a wolf jigsaw puzzle as your next puzzling project. It’s a great way to connect family and friends on a spooky night of fun.

A Halloween Jigsaw Puzzle is a Treat

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Pumpkin Patch, Halloween jigsaw puzzle

If you are looking for a new and different way to enjoy Halloween with your family or students, here’s a fun idea: put together a Halloween jigsaw puzzle! Putting together a Halloween jigsaw puzzle is a very fun family or classroom activity. It’s a great way to get everybody in the spooky Halloween mood if you begin it a week or so before the holiday.

Even the busiest group can do this. If you don’t have time to all sit down and do the puzzle together, then try putting the puzzle out where everybody passes by on their way in and out. That way, each person in the group can put in a few pieces whenever they feel like it. Everyone who comes along later can see and enjoy what’s been done, and it also provides a topic of conversation.

You might want to have a little contest for who places the most pieces, with special Halloween treats for prizes. If you have relatives such as grandparents who live far away, buying matching puzzles, putting them together at the same time, and sharing pictures of your progress is a wonderful way to share the holiday with them.

It’s so cool to see the way everyone’s excitement grows as the Halloween jigsaw puzzle nears completion, and the holiday itself approaches. As you dress up your home or classroom for Halloween, make the completed puzzle one of your decorations. One great idea is to place the jigsaw puzzle under the glass on top of a table for an instant, spill-proof Halloween ‘tablecloth’.

Or you could pull the puzzle apart again and re-use it as a party activity. If you decide to do this activity this Halloween, just be sure to choose a jigsaw puzzle that has subject matter everyone will enjoy (nothing too scary for kids, and no tiny pieces for very young children). Also, be sure the puzzle is age and skill appropriate for all participants.