Puzzle Review

Illustrated Crystallary

Garden Quartz

By Author Maia Toll

By Illustrator Kate O’Hara

Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC

750 Pieces

Publication Date: October 13, 2020

 

 

I had the pleasure of putting together The Illustrated Crystallary Puzzle titled Garden for a review.

This puzzle has 750 pieces and the finished size is 18 7/8” x 26 3/8”. It comes with a mini poster which is 6 3/4” x 8 3/8” so you can use it as a reference. You can even frame it when your finished. 

 

 

This beautiful gemstone puzzle was illustrated by Kate O’Hara. This puzzle is from the book Illustrated Crystallary by Maia Toll. Maia Toll also has The Illustrated Herbiary & The Illustrated Bestiary. 

 

 

I love and collect crystals so I knew this would be perfect for me. My husband set up a card table for me on the side of the living room so I could have enough room to relax and put it together. I put on some peaceful nature sounds and lit my favorite incense called ‘Tree of Life’ and started to separate the pieces. I gathered several small bowls and found all the outside frame pieces first, then I separated the best I could by colors. 

I started putting the frame together it wasn’t too bad. I was so excited every-time I fit a piece together. A couple hours later the frame was complete. I felt accomplished but had to call it a night. 

 

 

The following night I started putting together the corners and both my adult boys joined me. We rocked out on some pagan music, lit another incense and we started putting it together. I couldn’t find a certain piece I was working on so I actually tried each piece but nothing fit. I thought I had to have missed it so I moved on to another area. Ahhhhh yes the wonderful feeling of connecting another piece over and over again. So relaxing and my boys were enjoying it too. I went back to my area but still couldn’t find that piece or the one next to it. I worked on another area near it while I let my son work on that area but no luck.

I know we didn’t drop any pieces, but just in-case, we crawled around on the floor looking but didn’t find anything. “It has to be here,” I told the boys. I was reaching over trying each piece again. Even pieces that we already locked into place just in-case maybe it didn’t really fit. My back was killing me but I wasn’t giving up. Finally my son said he will count the pieces. Oh no 747. Nooooo way!! 3 pieces were missing and all the same color area. We were disappointed but honestly it was really fun and relaxing doing it. Note to self: count the pieces before I start next time, haha!

Mechanic errors, it happens. It happens, so don’t let this review stop you from putting together this gorgeous puzzle.

Maia Toll is the author of the best selling and award-winning Wild Wisdom Series. With over 100,000 copies sold, The Illustrated Herbiary, The Illustrated Bestiary, and The Illustrated Crystallary have inspired a line of puzzles and oracle decks.

Maia also owns several herb shops called Herbiary located in Asheville, Philadelphia, and also an online site. 

Maia even has a new book out which I can’t wait to read called The Night School. It’s a magical course of study for modern seekers and mystics. 

 

Illustrated Crystallary Garden Quartz on Amazon

 

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About the Author:

Sarah Mascorro AKA Pixie Witch. I’m 45 years young and have been married to my soul mate for 28 plus year. We have 2 boys and live in good ole California. I was actually born in England but came to the states when I was 5.

I’m Pagan/Wiccan and have been practicing over 10 years now. I always knew I was different but didn’t figure it out till 2008, that’s when I came out of the broom closet. I’m a Witch and I’m proud of it. When I say different I mean I just didn’t fit in with what others did or believed in. I’m sure you all totally understand that feeling. Now I know though I’m not different, I’m me and there are so many others like me.

I hold rituals at my house with my circle for each Sabbat and we do a lot of witch crafts together. I love to do all types of crafts not just witchy like I make dream catchers, wood burn, make soaps and bath salts. I love to cross stitch and make latch hook rugs. I have a small page on Facebook that I sell my goodies. You can FIND THEM HERE at Pixiewitchcorner.

I love to cook and bake. My mother was a great cook & I picked up her talent. I love to make my own fun recipes and add some magick to them. I mean cooking is magickal right so why not add a little extra to it. I started a Kitchen Witch Group on Facebook over 4 years ago. If your on FB come check it out.

I love to spend my time with my hubby & boys. We love to be out in nature especially the beach & the forest. I belong in the forest, I guess all pixie’s do hee hee. My friends call me Pixie due to my size I’m 5’1 and barely 100 pounds with really long red and silver hair hee hee.

I collect stones like hag stones, labradorite, amethysts, quartz etc… I also collect witch statues, Goddess statues, owls, crows and the Moon. Oh & sea glass I cant forget that. Do tattoos count? If so I have over a 100 of them I’m about 80% covered.

Another hobby is photography. I love taking pictures of nature such as flowers, animals, trees, mountains, the ocean and my favorite of all the Moon.

I love to unwind two ways one is with a great book, usually witchy or paranormal ones catch my attention the most. I do read & research a lot about the human body and diseases due to my families rare health issues. The other is going outside under the stars and Moon. What a great way to end the day looking up at the dark beautiful sky.

That’s pretty much it, you see what you get hee hee. You either love me or hate me. Hopefully you all will love me haha.