Little Pieces Everywhere
What's your name?
Anya
Where are you based?
California, USA
Tell us about what your ordinary day looks like.
My days typically involve balancing my work as an attorney with spending time with my kids and taking them to their various activities. I generally puzzle at night, after the chaos dies down and I have some quiet time to myself.
How did you get into the world of puzzling?
I've been doing puzzles for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, I was the only one in my family who was interested in puzzles, and I would do any puzzle that happened to make its way into our house. I remember slogging through a 2000-piece puzzle that was mostly sky, just because that was what I could get my hands on!
As an adult, life got busier and I would do maybe a couple puzzles around the holidays. It was my kids who reignited my interest. After they graduated from floor puzzles a couple years ago, I started giving them more challenging puzzles to keep them busy. As I shopped for them, I discovered the whole new world of amazing puzzles out there--a far cry from what I had grown up with--and started snagging more and more for myself.
What makes you keep puzzling & how often do you puzzle?
I keep puzzling because there are so many incredible puzzles I want to do. Although the U.S. has its share of great puzzle companies, many of my favorite brands come from other countries. Canada in particular has terrific puzzle options! Although I try to puzzle at least a couple times a week, my wishlist and to-do pile seem to grow by the day--there really are so many puzzles and so little time!
What is your favorite type of puzzle?
My favorite puzzles feature original, interesting, and/or beautiful artwork, combined with high-quality pieces. I love exploring the details of an artist's work through the process of puzzling, and there's something very soothing about placing pieces and watching them melt into the rest of the image.
While I usually do 1000-piece puzzles, I'm happy to do lower (or higher) piece counts if I'm drawn to the image. I've also gotten really into mini puzzles--there are some wonderful ones out there, and sometimes that's the perfect quick fix when I'm short on time.
During puzzling sessions, do you listen to anything or puzzle in silence?
I normally listen to podcasts or audiobooks while I puzzle. I can justify spending more time on puzzling if I'm multitasking!
If you were to describe what puzzling means to you, what would it be?
There is something so satisfying (and perhaps metaphorical) about transforming a disorganized pile of pieces into a complete and cohesive image, sometimes in a matter of minutes or hours. Puzzling is the perfect combination of relaxation, problem-solving, and using my hands (so that they can't scroll on my phone).
Tell us about your other interests & joys.
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, traveling, and exploring new foods and restaurants. When I can find the time, I also like to knit and play music (in a former life I was a classical violinist).
Do you have anything you want to share?
I started posting on Instagram as a way to log my puzzles. I never expected that anyone would be interested in my photos or that I would encounter such a wonderful community of puzzle-lovers. I also didn't realize that I would be exposed to such a wide variety of art and artists. Puzzling has been an unexpected way to explore amazing art and connect with people all over the world.
