Ask people about jigsaws and many will tell you a story. A puzzle on the card table at their grandmother's house. A rainy school holiday spent on a 1000 piece landscape. A box with a missing piece that nobody would throw away.
Jigsaws have been part of family life for generations. Doing one now can bring those memories back.
Pictures from another time
Many of our favourite puzzles are built around nostalgic scenes. House of Puzzles is known for detailed illustrations of village life, old shops and busy high streets. Titles like At The Shops and Appletree Lane capture a gentler pace of life.
Blue Opal, an Australian brand, has a range of vintage garage and roadside scenes. Barrett's Garage and Arizona Tyre Service are full of old cars, petrol pumps and hand-painted signs. They're a favourite with anyone who grew up around cars.
Sharing memories across generations
A nostalgic jigsaw is a great way to get grandparents and grandchildren talking. The picture gives everyone something to point at. Older family members can explain what a milk bar or a service station looked like when they were young. Children ask questions. Stories come out that might never have been told otherwise.
Easier on older hands
If you're buying for an older relative, consider House of Puzzles' Big 250 and Big 500 ranges. The pieces are larger, easier to pick up and easier to see. They're a thoughtful choice for someone who loved puzzles once but finds standard pieces fiddly now.
Starting your own traditions
Nostalgia doesn't only look backwards. The puzzles you do with your family now will become someone else's memories later. Keep a photo of each finished puzzle, write the date on the box, or frame the one that meant the most.
Find a puzzle that brings back memories at Jigsaws Australia.