Frugal laser-cut puzzles from an American company; Seaside Cottage and Bottles Glasses & Grapes by anonymous artists, and Monet’s Apples and Pears (about 5000 words; 38 photos)
Well done, Bill! I especially enjoyed the approximately "first third" of this posting in which you gave detailed information about the Whimsy company. Jeff Campbell sounds like a really interesting character with a very special combination of interests. Maybe you could have a custom order from him delivered to a US address, where you could pick it up when you next travel into Washington State, say, or to one of those film festivals you've attended with Wendy. I'm not trying to send you into the States, of course; I'm just betting you'd find a reason to go south sooner than I would.
When you got to the actual three-puzzle comparison, the one that captured my affection was Apples and Grapes. I will add, though, that I agree with you that, in general, I'd lioke to know the name of the pictorial artists. You see, I might actually have said that I liked Bottles and Grapes best if I'd had an artist's name to ponder/savour to go with that puzzle. It's a little like my feeling that I enjoy poetry more when I know who wrote it. As won is pondering/savouring anything creative, it's nice to at least have a nail or a hook where you can "hang your hat."
Thanks, Greg. There are a lot of Small American wood puzzle companies that do not ship internationally, at least partly because e-commerce for small businesses is still in its infancy and the Post Office rates favour large-volume shippers. As far as I can tell, to get the best deal for international customers small businesses need to buy shipping from a broker who buys it from the US Post Office at a volume discount (e.g., try.easyship.com and pirateship.com) and re-sells it at up to an 80% discount from the retail mailing cost. Is that crazy or what?!? Most proprietors don’t have the time or knowledge to deal with that.
Hopefully either the e-commerce system or the US Post Office will mature. But as it is now, shipping to Canada from the UK is cheaper than from the States, and shipping from China is much much cheaper!
As you can tell by the research that often accompanies my reviews, I agree about wanting to get to know about the artists. I don’t know why the companies that act as brokers for commercial artists keep them anonymous.
Well done, Bill! I especially enjoyed the approximately "first third" of this posting in which you gave detailed information about the Whimsy company. Jeff Campbell sounds like a really interesting character with a very special combination of interests. Maybe you could have a custom order from him delivered to a US address, where you could pick it up when you next travel into Washington State, say, or to one of those film festivals you've attended with Wendy. I'm not trying to send you into the States, of course; I'm just betting you'd find a reason to go south sooner than I would.
When you got to the actual three-puzzle comparison, the one that captured my affection was Apples and Grapes. I will add, though, that I agree with you that, in general, I'd lioke to know the name of the pictorial artists. You see, I might actually have said that I liked Bottles and Grapes best if I'd had an artist's name to ponder/savour to go with that puzzle. It's a little like my feeling that I enjoy poetry more when I know who wrote it. As won is pondering/savouring anything creative, it's nice to at least have a nail or a hook where you can "hang your hat."
Thanks, again for today's posting. Cheers, Greg
Thanks, Greg. There are a lot of Small American wood puzzle companies that do not ship internationally, at least partly because e-commerce for small businesses is still in its infancy and the Post Office rates favour large-volume shippers. As far as I can tell, to get the best deal for international customers small businesses need to buy shipping from a broker who buys it from the US Post Office at a volume discount (e.g., try.easyship.com and pirateship.com) and re-sells it at up to an 80% discount from the retail mailing cost. Is that crazy or what?!? Most proprietors don’t have the time or knowledge to deal with that.
Hopefully either the e-commerce system or the US Post Office will mature. But as it is now, shipping to Canada from the UK is cheaper than from the States, and shipping from China is much much cheaper!
As you can tell by the research that often accompanies my reviews, I agree about wanting to get to know about the artists. I don’t know why the companies that act as brokers for commercial artists keep them anonymous.