Jigsaw Puzzle Accessories
70You might not think of jigsaw puzzles as a hobby that really needs any accessories, but if you do enough puzzles you'll understand what I am talking about. After spending so many hours putting together your latest masterpiece of puzzle art, the thought of just tearing it all up again can be painful. So there are products you can find that will help you save your precious puzzle, as well as some to help you do your constructing along the way.
Online puzzle shops like Simple Pastimes or Puzzles USA carry most of these products if your local hobby shop doesn't have them.
Rolling Puzzle Mat
The biggest challenge for most puzzlers is to find the space to spread out your pieces and work uninterrupted. On top of that, you need to be able to leave your ongoing puzzle spread out for days (weeks?) while you put it all together. That isn't always easy. A puzzle mat can be your solution.
You put your puzzle together on a flexible mat, and roll it up when you are not using it. You roll the puzzle up in the mat, around a cardboard tube (usually included with the mat) and the pieces stay intact until you unfurl your work for the next time. Most rollup mats are big enough for a 1000 piece puzzle.
Porta-Puzzle
The must-have accessory for the puzzler on the go. The rolling mat is great when you know you will have a place to roll it out again when you want to work on it, but the porta-puzzle comes with a rigid work surface so you can put your puzzle together when a table is not really available, like on a bed or even in your lap. You can get porta-puzzles for 500 - 1500 piece puzzles.
Puzzle Glue
You don't have to sacrifice your beautiful puzzle when you are finished with it. Granted, the joy of puzzles is the creating, but if you love the artwork, there is no reason why you can't save the puzzle intact. You just need to brush a few coats over your completed puzzle, and the entire thing will hold together permanently. Perfect for storage, display or framing. One bottle of glue will usually do a puzzle up to around 1000 pieces, but check the label to see the coverage.
Puzzle Frames
Once you have your puzzle all stiff and solid, you should frame it up properly. There are 2 kinds of puzzle frames, fixed size and adjustable. If you plan on changing the puzzle in the frame, then an adjustable might be a better choice. Otherwise just get the fixed size to match the puzzle. The 4 sides simply fasten together at the corners around the puzzle, and you have an instant work of art for your wall. Some also come with backer boards for more stability.
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Brenda Hillman says:
3 weeks ago
EMERGING ATLANTA-AREA ARTIST INTRODUCES UNIQUE ETHNIC JIGSAW PUZZLE LINE
-- Addressing a diversity void in the jigsaw puzzle industry offerings, artist Brenda Hillman transitions her limited edition original artwork into puzzles that when assembled, are suitable to matt, frame, and display as treasured wall art. Brenda Hillman Art Jigsaw Puzzles debut November 19-21st at the 37th Annual National Alliance of Black School Educators Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. --
Brenda Hillman, artist
Indianapolis, IN (BlackNews.com) - Creating more ethnic images for jigsaw puzzle enthusiasts to enjoy, talented artist/pencil colorist Brenda Hillman has transformed four of her extraordinary original artwork images into puzzles. Hillman will introduce her Limited Edition Brenda Hillman Art Jigsaw Puzzle brand Thursday, November 19, 2009 at the 37th Annual Conference of the National Alliance of Black School Educators to be held at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. The unique collection of jigsaw puzzles will be on exhibit at the conference through Nov. 21st, during which nearly 4,000 educators, school board members, administrative and educational support staff, and others will be introduced to Hillman's exceptional works of art.
Now available online at www.brendahillmanart.com, Hillman is introducing four beautifully-illustrated puzzles in time for Christmas and Kwanzaa holiday gift-giving and Black History Month observations. Each of the puzzle titles consists of 513 pieces that result in a 15" X 22" image when completed -- $22.99 each. Featured here is "Village Life," one of the four initial puzzle titles to be released.
The Douglasville (Atlanta), Georgia resident has wanted for a number of years to release a puzzle line of her images. "I wanted to use my own artwork to address a void and fill the need for more diversity and availability of African American jigsaw puzzles," said Hillman. "Educators have historically been on the front line of heightening the awareness of accomplishments among African Americans." The artist continued, "They also recognize the need to expand and expose children and youth to ethnically-sensitive learning activities--such as jigsaw puzzles--that foster inclusion among a diverse student population."
Puzzle assembling has long been an affordable family recreational activity. It is also a proven source of enjoyment for senior citizens, and is often recommended by medical professionals in providing therapeutic and rehabilitative benefits to their patients. Hillman envisioned her jigsaw puzzle art form would be utilized in recreational, educational and therapeutic settings -- suitable for retailing in bookstores, art galleries, ethnic product stores, and perhaps soon in mainstream retail outlets.
Hillman's works have been categorized as primitive folk and ethnic fine art, generally focused on the African American female, but also includes the African American male and broad age ranges. Her works include colored pencil renderings, acrylic and mixed media, and are available for purchase as Originals, Limited Editions, Giclees, and now as unique jigsaw puzzles. Once assembled, the puzzles can be matted and framed as wall art, which is transformed into finished works that offer years of family viewing and enjoyment, as well as enhancement to office decor.
After researching the industry, Hillman found only a very few African American puzzles were available in mass retail outlets. The absence of these images in stores opens the door to artists like Brenda Hillman to introduce her artwork to the broader spectrum of puzzle enthusiasts who also appreciate ethnic art.
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CONTACT:
Brenda Hillman
678-715-8181 / 678-521-5245 c
brendahillmanart@aol.com