Puzldme
What's your name?
Grace T
Where are you based?
Sydney, Australia
Tell us about what your ordinary day looks like.
I’m a multi-passionate freelance interior designer so everyday is different for me! With each day being unique, I try to have a routine of starting & ending my days unplugged with mindful quiet time - sometimes I puzzle, go for a walk/run, do yoga or spend sometime tending to my little garden.
How did you get into the world of puzzling?
I’ve loved jigsaw puzzles ever since I was a toddler. One of my fave childhood toys was an Aesop’s Fables mini suitcase floor puzzle that went everywhere with me as a kid. I went through a period of time where I didn’t puzzle as much but during the pandemic lockdowns I rediscovered the joy of puzzling in a big way. Being able to connect with a wider community of puzzlers online and in person through speed puzzling and meet up events has really grown my love for puzzling in a deeper way.
What makes you keep puzzling & how often do you puzzle?
In a world that often feels complex, chaotic and noisy to me, puzzling is my way to find small moments of calm and order. Some weeks I’ll zoom through puzzles, completing several a day while other weeks I may choose to focus on other pursuits and have a puzzle laid out to work on slowly in my spare time. I love that puzzling is such a versatile hobby - I can vary the complexity, type of puzzle, length of time, location (I sometime puzzle outdoors too!) and time of day pursuing this hobby to suit my day.
What is your favorite type of puzzles?
Colourful, fun, original artwork puzzles are my absolute faves to puzzle. My sweet spot is a 500 - 1000 piece puzzle. I also really love exploring unique puzzle cuts, wooden puzzles, and puzzles with a twist (e.g. mystery/magic puzzles, finding hidden characters - like the hidden Nina characters in Soonness ‘Forest Life’ puzzle!).
During puzzling sessions, do you listen to anything or puzzle in silence?
I often have music playing while I puzzle. One of my fave things to do is to pair my music playlists with the theme or mood of the puzzle I’m working on. I’ve made a few ‘Puzzle Music’ playlists on Spotify filled with my good to puzzling tunes. Here are the lists:
Puzzle Music #01 (Feels like a Sunday)
Puzzle Music #02 (Low Key Grooves)
Puzzle Music #03 (Late Night Jazzy Dreaming)
Puzzle Music #04 (Morning Grooves)
If you were to describe what puzzling means to you, what would it be?
Puzzling is my meditation - it reminds me that it is always the small pieces that make up the big picture.
Tell us about your other interests & joys.
My hobby is.. collecting hobbies! I love hiking, skiing, swimming, travel, coffee, food (!!), reading, drawing, illustration, photography, growing a tiny edible garden, pottery, yoga, creative writing, anything diy or craft related…. If it sparks wonder & joy, I’ll likely adopt it as a hobby at some point :D
Do you have anything you want to share?
A place is only as good as the people in it - I’ve met so many amazing people in the puzzle community. The kindness, generosity, support and acceptance I’ve experienced amongst puzzlers is one of the best things about this hobby and I’m so grateful for it. I’m looking forward to connecting with and collaborating with more people in this puzzling community all over the world!