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Custom Puzzle Craft Maker of Fine Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles |
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July 2, 2009
Thursday 11:34 pm - The Auction for the impressive Carina Nebula puzzle ended with a flurry of hefty bids, setting a new record for the 100 Puzzles Project and the second highest priced puzzle sold by Custom Puzzle Craft (The World being #1). Thank you for the bids. The winner extends his streak to 17! Carina Nebula will ship by Monday at the latest.
While the price is impressive, on a "per piece basis" there are nine others that have done better. Here is a chart of the "per piece basis" for the first 90 puzzles of the project. Note: the three "Compulsory" puzzles (100PP #35, #77 and #87) are set to zero as they each had less than 10 pieces, putting them off the chart.
100 Puzzles Project "Pennies Per Piece" chart.
The first puzzle was auctioned in April 2000. The red bar is for September 11, 2001, my acclaimed puzzle of the American Flag commemorating the 9-11 terrorist attack; all proceeds from this auction went to the September 11 Fund. The blue bars are the Geometric Pattern Puzzles, now auctioned each December. The green bars are for the four puzzles auctioned at Puzzle Parleys, the rest were auctioned on eBay. Puzzle 100PP #65 was the spectacular Shepherdess puzzle (cut in Creative style) and remains the record holder for the highest price per piece puzzle sold within the Project. I high-lighted the numbers for #74 through #90 as these are the ones won by the "winning streak" bidder. Overall, since 100PP #24, the per piece price has been fairly steady. When the Project is completed, I'll have a bunch of graphics and links to the individual puzzle pages, and more graphics, for example, breaking down puzzles by cutting style, artist, paintings versus photographs, etc.
July 1, 2009
Wednesday 11:57 pm - Today I painted the floor of the "computer room" at Mixed Media, first work there since last week. Tomorrow Kim will paint her studio walls and I'll do a second coat in the "computer room". On Friday I'll help Kim move stuff back to her studio if help is needed. On Saturday a bunch of Mixed Media members will get together for a July 4 social and will discuss the additional things that need to be done, particularly the flooring and lighting in the gallery areas.
Auction ends tomorrow evening, local time. After a flurry of bids initially, there have been no bid for five days. Will the holder of the 16 consecutive wins streak show up? We'll see.
Next week I plan to choose a Seewald print for the July eBay puzzle, make the puzzle, with a preliminary goal to launch the auction on Friday July 10th. The puzzle will have from 400 to 500 pieces depending on the size of the image.
June 26, 2009
Friday 10:02 am - I meant to include a picture of a box of the puzzle pieces in #826, Carina Nebula, in the auction but didn't get around to it. Here is a picture:
Puzzle #826, Carina Nebula, disassembled.
June 25, 2009
Thursday 9:42 pm - The 90th Auction of the 100 Puzzles Project has finally been launched. Final puzzle piece count: 1003 pieces!
R.I.P. Michael Jackson - creator of some of the best club dance music ever!
June 24, 2009
Wednesday 6:56 pm - The auction has been delayed again, will launch Thursday for sure. The puzzle is home now and I'm in the process of taking pictures and preparing for the auction. I slept a lot this afternoon, much needed rest after all the effort at Mixed Media.
I spent about three hours there earlier today completing my work in the Computer Room - some sealing, patching and screening of various openings. There is still some work to do in the Common Room but far less than any of the three completed rooms (the bathroom, kitchen and computer room) - this work will be done with others in the coming days. Meanwhile Kim painted a second coat on her studio floor, will take two days to fully dry before things from the Common Room can be moved back to her space, allowing for work in the Common Room. We both agree things have vastly improved.
After the Common room there is the flood damaged flooring in front Gallery room (currently raw concrete), plus a re-do of the flooring in the kitchen. We be hiring someone to do this.
June 23, 2009
Tuesday 6:26 pm - Applied a second coat of tung oil on the back of Puzzle 826 - Carina Nebula. Puzzle is still at the shop; will take official photos, count pieces, launch auction tomorrow.
I spent a good part of the afternoon doing the Mixed Media kitchen. Some of the under-the-cabinets hadn't been cleaned for years. All done now; plumbing holes taped, other cracks silicone sealed, lots of trashy stuff tossed, for example, some moldy playing cards. There was a big box of Instant Sanka packets with an expiration date of November 8, 1995 in one of the cabinets! The place now smells quite clean, zero evidence of new mouse droppings in all the places I previously cleaned. Tomorrow Kim will finish the re-painting of her studio (that's the lower red dot) and I plan to spend a couple hours at Mixed Media patching some pipe holes in the computer room (the right red dot - also meant to include the kitchen area) and sealing a couple holes to the outdoors in the Common Room.
June 22, 2009
Monday 6:04 pm - There has been concern about my working in a rodent infested area. Fortunately the problem is not directly affecting my shop. Here is an incredibly detailed satellite picture of Mixed Media I obtained from Google. The picture is about a year old and some things have changed, but the building layout is the same.
Custom Puzzle Craft is in a separate building at Mixed Media. It is the light brown rectangle pointed to by the arrow from the words "Custom Puzzle Craft". The main areas of rodent infestation are at the red circles all within the main building - the Common Room and within parts of the "Studios" section. The circles in the "Studios" section are now almost completely cleaned up, and some work remains to be done in the Common Room.
Puzzle 826 - Carina Nebula - preliminary picture
Monday 11:09 am - The auction for Carina Nebula will start late tomorrow afternoon and I'll have a write-up by then. The puzzle is excellent although I would have make it with a plain border if I had to do it over again, the border is "too busy". The puzzle is at the shop, needs a second coat of tung oil, will do that late this afternoon.
Meanwhile great progress has been made at Mixed Media. The results of my cleaning effort last week has made the place a lot better. Kim was there yesterday, removing very icky mouse affected carpeting from her studio closet and painting her studio floor. There is still a lot cleaning / maintenance work to be done overall, but the urgency of the situation has lessened dramatically, so I will pace myself more, going forward.
In the Puzzle Queue, I swapped the July and August eBay puzzles, the July puzzle will be the easier of the two (it will be the last Seewald puzzle within the 100 Puzzles Project), then August will be the ambitious "famous painting" Creative style puzzle.
I have decided that I will re-open for business, for Marriage Proposal puzzles only, in October, for one or two weeks, accepting up to a maximum of five orders. Custom Puzzle Craft will then re-close to new orders until the 100 Puzzles Project is finally completed in April 2010 (the date assumes I don't miss any months during the remainder of the project). After the project is completed, I'll re-open for business on a very limited basis, yet to be determined.
June 21, 2009
Sunday 6:59 pm - Puzzle #826, Carina Nebula is done, will have more info tomorrow.
June 20, 2009
Saturday 7:10 pm - Put in about six hours at Mixed Media today. Today, the room I cleaned yesterday smelled quite good relatively speaking! I noticed the bathroom still had "that smell", and I decided to investigate as Kim had cleaned it earlier. While scrubbing the floor I noticed three holes in the wall where plumbing had been repaired, one hole almost 6" across, the smell was wafting in from the holes. I then cut some puzzle wood and "Gorilla Taped" them over the holes, as a temporary solution. I'm now sure this is how the rodents got in to Kim's studio while she was gone, basically there was clear sailing from the bathroom holes, to the hall, to the large space under her door just a couple feet away. Shortly before I left, the odor in the bathroom was practically gone.
For completeness, I also checked the workings under the refrigerator and found a mummified mouse (mostly fur and bones) which I removed along with some other gross stuff which I cleaned.
I did get in some cutting this afternoon, doing about 160 pieces. I have "just" 230 or so to go and as I have nothing else planned for the day tomorrow, I should easily get the puzzle done. Cutting still going very well.
Puzzle #826, Carina Nebula, in progress
I'm going to have a write-up about this nebula when I auction the puzzle, there are many very cool things in this picture, with some pictures on the web showing far more details of small areas in this picture.
Extreme detail off to the right of the top photograph (this is a separate photo)
Just a couple puzzle pieces in the puzzle
The doomed star, Eta Carina, with different coloration - a phenomenal explosion!
Just one puzzle piece in the puzzle!
Shows up in the puzzle as a white bright star on the far left, will have documentation later.
Saturday 9:02 am - I promised an emailer a link about a web entry about marriage proposal / romantic puzzles, here it is.
June 19, 2009
Friday 7:11 pm - I was at Mixed Media for almost 10 hours today, about the first 2/3 of the time was spent on the rodent crisis, as I decided the "computer room" needed to be dealt with immediately. I removed all items except the refrigerator, cleaned and disinfected the floor and some other surfaces; I also purchased a lamp for the ceiling (the room has always been dark and gloomy) and installed it. I think with this effort, prospects are a lot better. My "rodent" work is now done until early next week when I'll help others with some tasks. There are numerous openings in the walls by which rodents can get in from the outside - the building is not "household" grade - all openings need to be sealed.
As for the puzzle, I'm now about 60% done, cutting going well. I still expect to complete the puzzle by the end of this weekend. Need a nap now.
June 18, 2009
Thursday 6:51 pm - Got all tasks done, plus with a couple hours to spare, managed to get in some cutting late this afternoon. Now about 45-47% completed and a lot more likely I'll get the puzzle done by the end of this weekend. I'm planning a long day of cutting tomorrow.
Mixed Media members: the paving in front is done.
June 17, 2009
Wednesday 5:08pm - Puzzle marathon today, was at the shop for more than nine hours, mostly focused on cutting #826, Carina Nebula. Today I made good progress, cutting about 350 pieces, with about 600 to go. The puzzle is going to be quite difficult to assemble. The picture from a distance looks dull, but close up, the Carina Nebula is spectacular, full of complex formations. A picture may be seen here.
I won't be doing any cutting tomorrow as a dentist appointment, dance lesson, need to ship a poster to Russia, and other things will take up most of the day. Cutting will resume Friday and run through the weekend, possibly into early next week.
There is still a lot of work to be done at Mixed Media regarding the rodent situation and the aftermath of the plumbing disaster which took place earlier in the year. Progress is at a standstill, dependent on others. I've been doing a lot of work to keep the place together, today was the first day thoughts occurred to me that the place will fail.
Trapped
In more ways than one?
June 16, 2009
Tuesday 10:08 pm - Due to the road paving I arrived at Mixed Media super early - turns out the road paving was pushed back to tomorrow. I stayed there about nine hours, switching between working on #826, Carina Nebula and helping out with throwing a lot of rat contaminated items from the main area (for example all food in all cupboards). No more mouse bodies. As for the puzzle, I completed the border of 124 stars, finished the initial cutting with the board now cut in about 20 sections, then started detail cutting with about 45 pieces including the figurals and the signature piece.
I plan to get up super early again tomorrow, most of the day will be focused on the puzzle. My goal is to get at least 300 pieces done.
June 15, 2009
Monday 8:11 pm - Got off to a late start, was at Mixed Media for about four hours. The initial cutting is now about half done, with 61 of the 124 border stars done. This is the first and last puzzle I'll ever cut this way, the stars take a long time! Tomorrow at 7am the road that goes by Mixed Media is going to be closed for "slurry sealing", so I'm going to get there super early and be "trapped" there all day - I should make major progress tomorrow.
The rat / mice infestation continues, I found and removed another dead mouse, and with mask on, did a lot of unpleasant cleaning and throwing out trash and junk from the little "computer room". There are still some areas that need to be addressed, I'm determined to turn the corner regarding this situation.
June 14, 2009
Sunday 6:07 pm - Cutting of #826, Carina Nebula is underway. I was at the shop for over five hours, about half the time working on the puzzle and the other half focused on the dire state of Mixed Media, cell-phoning a couple regular members. We have a rat / mouse infestation, I had to remove two dead mice today, won't go into some of the dreadful details of the situation at this time. My shop is unaffected. The resurrection of Mixed Media is going to happen, I plan to be pretty involved this coming weekend helping with a cleaning, disinfecting process, meanwhile I plan to develop "pert diagram" outlining a plan for the resurrection.
As for the puzzle, I did considerable initial cutting, nothing down to individual pieces. The border is going to be a bear, but this is what I have decided I want for this puzzle: 124 stars! I did five of the stars today.
Puzzle #826, edge design
June 13, 2009
Saturday 4:25 pm - The previous entry corrected to "8:36 am" from of "8:36 pm". The border design for #826, Carina Nebula is complete, trick edges designed, and the figural set printed. All is now ready for cutting. Cutting will start tomorrow.
Saturday 8:36 am - Wheel of progress continue slowly, and progress is being made for #826, Carina Nebula. I printed the large print on Thursday, took over an hour to print at super high resolution, missed a dance class. Yesterday I mounted the print, and due to some warping, left the mount in the press overnight. Came out this morning nice and flat and the image mount is perfect. I've decided that the border is going to be a fairly complicated string of star shapes, the final design work is going to take quite a while as I want it to be very precise. I expect to complete the design work today, and I'll get some cutting in tomorrow. The puzzle will have just a few previously design figurals (Telescope, Shuttle and a Twirl Star) as well as a few intricate Creative style pieces mixed in with the Swirl Curl.
Interestingly due to the good prices I have received for my puzzle auctions and the fact that I recently sold a bunch of old comic books, eBay upgraded me to a "Bronze Power Seller". This will be my tiny claim to eBay fame, as the rate in which I have to continue selling (over $1000 a month) is not going to happen now the the comic book auctions are coming to an end.
Sunset, Thursday June 11, 2009
June 10, 2009
Wednesday 10:58 pm - Things have been delayed. I got the board prepared Tuesday morning - the puzzle will be large about 29" x 14". Tomorrow I'll print and mount the image, design the border and the figural set. Cutting currently scheduled to start Friday.
June 9, 2009
Tuesday 6:07 am - Up early! I plan to start work on the June eBay puzzle today, preparing the board, printing and mounting and designing the border. Cutting will start tomorrow.
Ever since that weather front went through last week, we've had impressively clearly visibility, and yesterday a pretty nice sunset. Also of local note, for the first time in several months, I can see a construction crane from my apartment, hopefully a good sign about the economy.
Sunset yesterday
New crane
June 3, 2009
Wednesday 6:35 pm - Since the winter rains ended a couple months ago, there have been no skies of interest from a photographic perspective. Today, however, a late season front moved through with one clap of thunder, but no rain. There were thunderstorms well to the north.
Upper level front, moments after some thunder
Currently planning to start work on the next puzzle on Tuesday, June 9th.
June 1, 2009
Monday 7:09 pm - June already! I continue to gain strength from a strong bronchial flu virus, now off all meds. For all I know, the flu could have been that new virus as apparently 50% of the cases of flu around here are of the newer variety. I've been feeling quite good this past week.
Mixed Media member, Kim, has returned from Europe after a six month break. I will be going to Mixed Media tomorrow with her and perhaps her husband to discuss future plans.
This past weekend I had a rather intense workshop (12 hours) with Jorge Torres one of the top Argentine Tango dancers in the world, quite an experience! Such a deep field of knowledge.
Currently, I'm expecting to start the next puzzle for the 100 Puzzles Project, Carina Nebula, in about a week.
May 23, 2009
Saturday 8:15 pm - I've made an excellent recovery from my recent illness. However I will continue to rest through the holiday weekend. I have been taking evening walks the past few days.
In about two weeks I'll start the next puzzle, #90 in the 100 Puzzles Project, and the #826th overall, Carina Nebula.
I have now broadly defined five more puzzles in the 100 Puzzles Project all the way through #96 and have updated The Puzzle Queue accordingly. Included are the last Michael Seewald and the last K. Chin images to appear in the project. Also included is another "famous painting" puzzle which will be cut in my elaborate Creative cutting style. None of the images have been decided upon at this time. I also plan to make a "Tricky Eggs" puzzle for the Project. This will be a major plain wood Creative style puzzle with five Tricky Eggs. I have made ones with one, four and six Tricky Eggs for customers. December will see the final "Geometric Pattern Puzzle" for the project. Assuming I don't push any puzzles into next year, that will leave just four more, to be done in the first half of 2010. I have not decided what these will be at this time.
Rather than renaming this journal to John's "Weekly" Puzzle Journal, versus "Daily" or "Almost Daily", I've changed the name to simply "John's Puzzle Journal".
In Balboa park this evening under the airport landing flight path
Pair of rabbits
May 17, 2009
Sunday 10:55 pm - I've been feeling run down the past week and yesterday was diagnosed with "atypical viral pneumonia". The cure is rest.
With my reduced puzzle activity, I need to change this journal to "John's Weekly Puzzle Journal" or something like that. When I've recovered I'll likely do that and decide what day of the week the update will be.
I've decided that the June eBay puzzle (number 90 of the 100 Puzzles Project) won't have color line cutting - this is because the image is a cool celestial space shot and one of the things that makes the image interesting is the contours of the various nebulae. Cutting along the color boundaries will defeat the image. I plan to cut the puzzle in the first half of June. My goal is for the puzzle to have a 1000 pieces! The puzzle will be about 30" x 14.5" in size.
May 8, 2009
Friday 11:45 pm - Two last second bidders brought up the price substantially. Thank you for the bids. Puzzle will ship Monday.
Friday 5:37 pm - The Auction is nearly over. Due to an upcoming Tango Nuevo class I won't be monitoring the close, will update late this evening.
May 7, 2009
Thursday 10:14 pm - The Auction ends tomorrow. So far bidding has been very light, with the current price per puzzle piece at just 35 cents.
On Tuesday I went down to the Embarcadero to look at the giant cruise ships in the harbor, many more have been docking than usual, as the cruise ship
companies are avoiding Mexico due to the Swine Flu. Totally irrational as there have been more cases in San Diego country than all of Mexico's Baja California, in fact none in Mexico's resort areas. I also toured the fifth incarnation of the "Urban Tree" sculptures. Long time readers here will remember The Puzzle Tree installed in the first incarnation of the "Urban Tree" sculptures in 2003, yes that long ago. I spent over two months on that project along with Bob Archer.
Ugly sculpture exactly where the Puzzle Tree used to be
Alfred Hitchcock would be home here
Giant cruise ship in the background
May 1, 2009
Friday 7:07 pm - Auction launched - rest of website to be updated later, late for a dinner!