The Bird Watchers puzzle is as challenging as it looks and even more beautiful on the table than in the photo. It is one of those images with colour shades and by that I mean the white areas were really grey pieces. |
As you can see there is a lot of 'white' areas. Then of course, the dark brown and black patches speak for themselves, especially the black cat blending into the black interior window.
Brand: Cobble Hill Puzzle Company Title: Bird Watchers puzzle Artist: Persis Clayton Weirs Pieces: 1000 Size: 48.9 x 67.6cm or 19.25 x 26.625″ |
Overall Experience: Great Cut Quality: Great Board Quality: Firm Shape Cut: random Image Quality: Good Hardest Area: The snowy areas Puzzle Dust? minimal |
Finish Quality: Smooth matte Box Quality: Good and solid Sealed Pieces Inside Box: no Was this purchased new? no, sent to me Price: n/a Recommend Level: Highly if enjoy challenges Time: 18 hours |
I did my usual sorting routine.
It's pretty clear the minimal colour sections on the two images below. There's some red, white, golden brownish, lots of shades of white/grey and then lots of black. That does not leave much to go on other than shapes of the pieces. These puzzles come with a very nice quality poster as you can see in the image to the left and shown with the border completed below. |
I usually start with the most prominent colours and in this case I figured the red birds first, then the lighter brown bird and cat. There was a small area of the black/white cat I could get done due to the difference of shades and visual texture of the white pieces. Next I moved onto the brownish colours under the window sill and picked out the white ledge. I managed to decipher the white curtains from the snow on the trees. On the image directly below, you can see several patches of holes. To the left of the image, you can see the board with the pieces laid out according to their shapes. All those pieces had to be 'feel-fitted' and its fair to say that's about 1/3 of the puzzle, not exactly but close. When you look at the image the colour appear to be white however, such it not the case at all. This last section took just as long as the rest of the puzzle as the process what to take the shape of the only the tips of the puzzle pieces be it a black tip, a grey shade tip or whitish tip. It was a very slow process. |
My sister had seen this image on the Cobble Hill website and instantly HAD to have it. I warned her (as she is a novice puzzler) that it would be extra challenging. Yet she insisted on having it. It was sent to her and she did attempt it and realized it was beyond her but really wanted to see it completed so she asked me if I would do it for her. Mission accomplished so this ones for her! Gotta love those over zealous novice puzzlers ;)
The matte finish is on the Cobble Hill puzzles. are non glare images and they feel so nice when my hands do the 'once-over' upon completion of the puzzles. In this case, due to the immense efforts invested, extra time was taken to admire this beauty. You can see the nice random cut and quality in the close up images below. One thing I know for sure - the artwork in this image is impeccable. This Bird Watchers puzzle is as tricky as it looks but well worth the extra efforts to give you a very high level sense of accomplishment.
I have also had the pleasure of assembling another one of Persis Clayton Weirs artwork in jigsaw puzzle format titled the Christmas Village in which case the Christmas tree is quite testy :)
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