Retail Therapy: A round-up of great puzzles

It’s been quite a while since I’ve done a shopping post! I try to keep my spending within reasonable limits… and yet, I just can’t resist when it comes to gorgeous books and puzzles!

Jigsaw puzzles may not be for everyone… but if you have someone in your life who loves puzzles, here are a few that I’ve loved recently and highly recommend.

I’m a picky puzzler: I look for engaging, lively designs. I prefer lots of color and details. Monochromes, too much background, an overabundance of sky/trees/mountains — none of these really appeal to me. Of course, it’s all down to individual taste, but I gravitate toward colorful illustration, and pretty much never pick up something photo-based or with abstract designs.

Beyond that, I look for reliable, high quality puzzle makers. I want that satisfying snap when the pieces fit perfectly together. Pieces that seem like they could fit in more than one place are deal-breakers for me. I also want good materials, nothing flimsy or that peels apart.

My go-to reliable puzzle companies are Ravensburger and Eeboo. Ravensburger probably needs no explanation; for those unfamiliar, Eeboo is a woman-owned company that supports and highlights artists, and offers gorgeous, one-of-a-kind designs.

I’ve also done quite a few of the Laurence King literary-themed puzzles, such as The World of Jane Austen, The World of Frankenstein, and many more. Great designs, perfect for book lovers, nice level of detail, and very good quality pieces! I also tend to enjoy Cobble Hill puzzles, and have done White Mountain puzzles as well (although their piece shapes and images don’t always appeal to me from an aesthetic point of view).

I do branch out… with caution. As I said, I’m picky — so before I try a new-to-me puzzle company, I scour the reviews and look for deal-breaking comments.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you click through a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Here are some favorites — puzzles I’ve enjoyed recently, that check all my boxes for what makes a puzzle great! (I mainly do 1000-piece puzzles… but all of these companies have a variety of piece counts to choose from).

Midnight in Barcelona, from the Cities at Midnight series by KI Puzzles. I was so drawn to the colors and artwork that I took a chance on an unknown-to-me puzzle company — and loved the result! This puzzle was intricate, really fun to assemble, and just beautiful to look at.

Paris in a Day from Eeboo — No surprise that I loved an Eeboo puzzle! This one was especially appealing, with such vibrant colors and interesting patterns.

Here are a few more Eeboo puzzles I have my eye on:

Next up: Some Cobble Hill favorites:

Gardener’s Calendar: Tiny details and great quality — loved this one!

Save the Bees: Tricky but so satisfying!

I’ve also done Cobble Hill’s seasonal gardening puzzles, which are lovely:

I’ve done a few Pomegranate puzzles from their Charlie Harper national park series, and they’ve proven to be excellent, both in terms of design and piece quality.

Rounding out this batch of great puzzles… here are a few from Ravensburger that I’ve loved recently:

But wait! There’s more!

I know people seem to really enjoy Gallison puzzles too. I haven’t tried any yet… but did just acquire two through a puzzle swap, and I’m eager to start them! I’m also highly tempted by a few New York Puzzle Company designs… which I may break down and buy next time I’m ready to treat myself. Like this one…

Of course, there are plenty more companies selling beautiful, high quality puzzles… and some come with quite a high price tag as well! I ended up on the mailing list for Puzzledly, which sells puzzles I haven’t found anywhere else. Some are gorgeous! Alas, the ones that have really caught my eye are above my (self-imposed) price limit, but they do have special offers and discounts from time to time, so I may indulge at some point! Here’s one that’s really calling my name:

One more thing to note…

Buying puzzles isn’t the only way to add to your collection and get nice new puzzles to enjoy! I recently found a local puzzle swap group, and have traded five of my gently-loved puzzles for five new-to-me puzzles. What a treat! You may have a puzzle swap group near you. I found mine on Facebook (thanks to a friend’s suggestion), but I’ve also seen a bunch of options via Reddit and elsewhere. Take a look! You never know what you might find.

2Aug2025

Retail Therapy: Sun protection with style!

Posted in Fun and Whimsy, Real Life by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

This is going to be a rare non-bookish post… because I just have to share a new find that I’m a little bit in love with.

Note: See discount code and purchase links at the bottom of this post!

This past week, I treated myself to this adorable hooded top from Farmers Defense:

This lightweight UV hoodie comes in men’s and women’s sizes, with a variety of colors. I couldn’t resist the monarch butterflies!

Their website has this description:

✔ UPF 50+ Sun Protection – Blocks 98% of harmful UV rays, keeping your skin safe from sun damage.
✔ Scratch & Rash Defense – Shields your arms from scrapes, thorns, and skin irritants while outdoors.
✔ Recycled Fabric – Made from REPREVE® eco-dynamic material, designed to wick away moisture and keep you cool.
✔ Sorbtek Catch-Move-Release Tech – The moisture control technology that actively wicks sweat and keeps your cool

How is it in reality? Short answer: Wonderful! I hate having to layer on sunscreen every time I step outdoors. This hoodie is comfy and light, not at all bulky, so it’s suitable even for warm days. I ordered a women’s XL, because I like my tops big and roomy, but I think a slimmer, tighter fit would be cute too.

Farmers Defense has lots of products geared toward garden enthusiasts, including gardening sleeves, aprons, gloves, and hats. I’m not a gardener myself, but I could see the sleeves and hats as being good choices for any sort of outdoor time where you want protection (and a bit of flowery flair).

Purchase info:

Want a discount? If you purchase through my affiliate link, you get a 10% discount!

Or, visit the site (Farmers Defense) and use my code (LISA11425) for 10% off your purchase.

Farmers Defense products are also available on Amazon.

Note: Links above are affiliate links. When you click through a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Another option:

I’ve worn (and loved) items from REI’s Sahara Shade hoodie collection, which you can find here, with lots of color options and in men’s and women’s sizes. (I’ve found these occasionally on EBay/Poshmark as well!)

I’m looking forward to wearing my butterflies on lots of upcoming outdoor adventures! If you find something you like via Farmers Defense (or have other recommendations for tops with UV protection), please let me know!

8May2025

Retail Therapy: Puzzles for Book Lovers (part 1)

Posted in Fun and Whimsy, Real Life, The Reading Life by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

We booklovers tend to spend most of our “just for me” shopping dollars on books… but sometimes, it’s fun to branch out and consider book-adjacent little treats. So today, I’d like to share some of my favorite jigsaw puzzles, which are great in their own right, but also, especially great for book lovers!

Before the pandemic, I probably hadn’t done a jigsaw puzzle in over 10 years (or more). But during the pandemic, I got totally hooked, and ended up doing about one per week (and probably would have done even more, except I tend to get a bit obsessed when working on a puzzle and had to set myself some limits).

I’ve slowed down since then, so now it’s much more of an occasional hobby than a continuous activity — but I’m still always on the lookout for a great puzzle, especially when there’s a book-related angle to it!

For today’s Retail Therapy round-up, I’m focusing solely on bookish puzzles — and in fact, this is only part 1! I have so many bookish puzzles to share that I’ll just focus on one publisher this time around, and will be back with a part 2 in another week or so. I’ll also be sharing yet another post on non-book-related puzzles that I’ve found especially pretty or interesting or unique. There are a lot!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you click through a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Onward: Puzzles for Book Lovers, part 1!

Here are some favorites. Why not see if any appeal to you as well?

The puzzles below are all from the world of Laurence King Publishing. They make high-quality puzzles filled with intricate details and eye-catching designs.

The World of Jane Austen

Purchase links: Amazon – Bookshop.org

The World of Shakespeare

Purchase links: Amazon – Bookshop.org

The World of Dracula

Purchase links: Amazon – Bookshop.org

The World of Frankenstein

Purchase links: Amazon – Bookshop.org

The World of Charles Dickens

Purchase links: Amazon – Bookshop.org

The World of the Brontës

Purchase links: Amazon – Bookshop.org

The World of King Arthur

Purchase links: Amazon – Bookshop.org

The World of Bridgerton

Purchase links: Amazon – Bookshop.org

These are just a few of their puzzles — they’re all amazing. Each puzzle has a lot of details from the world it portrays, and comes with a fold-out poster than includes a guide to all the places and characters hidden (or not so hidden) in the illustrations. The puzzles themselves have cleanly cut pieces with a satisfying snap, and are high quality and sturdy.

Keep in mind, there are plenty more from this “World of” series to choose from! Of the others I’ve found so far, some are related to books that I don’t particularly care for (The Great Gatsby), some are from worlds/series/books that I just haven’t read in-depth (or at all) yet, and some are on my maybe/someday list. Whether or not I’m interested in the actual subjects, the puzzles themselves look great!