Tracy Hall draws interiors with a lot going on, and Collie Wobbles takes that to its logical conclusion. The scene is a kitchen that has been thoroughly investigated by a pack of border collie puppies. They are in the washing, on the shelves, tangled in each other, and generally treating the room as their personal obstacle course. It is the kind of illustration that makes you look twice before you start puzzling — and then again every time you sit back down.
Hall is good at hiding things in plain sight. The more time you spend with this illustration, the more you find — a pup wedged behind a pot, another one eyeing something on the counter, a third who has clearly just knocked something over and has no regrets. The kitchen itself is fully realised: crockery, shelving, the particular clutter of a working room. There is a lot of detail here, and the puppies make it worth every piece.
How it assembles
The illustration works well as a puzzle because Hall separates her colour zones clearly. The kitchen background gives you warm timber and ceramic tones to sort from. The border collies themselves — black, white, and tan — read as a distinct palette that stands apart from the room around them. You are never short of a section to work on, and the dogs give you specific objects to hunt for once you have the kitchen sketched in.
The scene is busy without being overwhelming. Beginners will find the strong colour contrast between the dogs and the background a useful starting point. Regular puzzlers will appreciate the detail packed into the corners — Tracy Hall rewards the kind of close attention that the later stages of a puzzle naturally bring out.
Build quality
Made in the UK from FSC-certified board, with House of Puzzles' uniquely shaped pieces throughout. No two pieces are the same shape, which means fits are definitive — if it clicks, it belongs. The finished puzzle measures 48 x 69 cm.
As a gift
An easy decision for anyone who owns a border collie, has ever owned one, or simply has strong feelings about dogs in general. The illustration is specific enough to feel personal rather than generic. At $34.99, it is a gift that will get a reaction when the box is opened — and then again over the several evenings it takes to finish.