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It seems that this adventure into wooden jigsaw puzzles is a continuous journey into a most fascinating , pleasurable, sometimes frustrating, always expensive, and totally addictive landscape. It is like walking through a lovely forest, seeing beautiful colors, smelling fragrant flowers, having the dappled sun playing on your shoulders. Then, suddenly, the path changes and you find a new direction with new and surprising sights. Every time you think you begin to have a sense of the environment, it changes-you change-expectations change…

I have seriously evolved since the beginning of this escapade. I have learned much, tried and experimented a lot and have found my tastes and preferences changing again and again.

Two factors have influenced my journey: the Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles Facebook page and the Puzzle Parley.

The FB page has introduced me to a community of people who are in various stages of this same endeavor: from newbies who are just discovering the difference between cardboard and wood, and seasoned professionals who design and cut puzzles for a living. This is the nicest group of people I’ve ever encountered and they have been super generous with their time to help me understand this sometimes overwhelming and confusing arena. I find that they are patient with my sometimes stupid questions and seem always happy to explain things that I am sure they are asked repeatedly. I have tried to pass along that mind set and it has been a major factor in deciding to write this blog.

The second influence was the Puzzle Parley. This a gathering that happens every 2 years of wooden puzzle enthusiasts and professionals. I am not able to travel, but I was able to see videos, photographs and communications that gave me a more in- depth understanding of the field.

Together, the Parley and the FB page have launched me on a quest to try different companies and private cutters. It has been thrilling to get puzzles made by the people I have talked to on the FB page and seen in the Parley videos and photographs. It puts a new dimension on the joy of these puzzles that makes it feel personal.

And some of the cutters I’ve worked with have been wonderfully willing to design and cut pieces that will work for my issues. Many of these are not much more expensive than laser ones, although the prices can get astronomical. My experience is teaching me that price does not equate to enjoyment. Yes, high quality hand cut wooden puzzles deserve to be priced accordingly, but I have gotten expensive ones that were not fun at all and others costing much less that are so perfect for me that I do them again and again.

Everyone is different and what works for me-what I like and don’t like is not true across the board. I think I am able to make certain assessments based on my particular aging issues, but even then, they are only my opinions-others may have a vastly different experience.

That being said, here are a few things I have discovered that decide if I buy a puzzle or not:

-First, I urge anyone getting into this hobby to join Hoefnagel Wooden Puzzle Rental Club. It may sound expensive, but you will save a lot of money in a short amount of time while discovering a vast array of companies and cutters. Only you can decide what you like in terms of color, cut, design, manufacturing style and puzzle type. (yes, there are a number of different types)

-A really good laser cut company is preferable to a really bad amateur hand cut one. Before trying a number of specialty places, I just assumed hand cut was always superior. There are many passionate, skilled cutters doing excellent work, but there are also some seriously inferior ones as well. And price is not always a determining factor.

-The advent of laser technology has meant some really inferior companies taking advantage of the growing market. Some of these are trash-worthy.

Good laser cut companies can be so well done that it is difficult to tell them from hand cut (and I have made that mistake a few times. There are some wonderful, passionate laser cutters around right now who are doing amazing work.

-And then there are some very well meaning companies that just are not quite up to snuff on quality. They may be headed by very passionate people, but they just don’t have the skill level yet to cut a great puzzle.

There are lots of ways in this life to spend one’s money: clothing, jewelry, cars, etc etc. For me, while this is an expensive activity it is one that not only brings me joy, but also helps my cognitive functioning, my visual-spatial coordination and my hand mobility. I’d say that beats having a new bauble-smile…