Thanks to Wal-Mart

Yesterday I was handed some good news for the world of jigsaw puzzles (especially my contributions to that world). Wal-Mart has ordered an assortment of one of my puzzle series. Since I only make puzzles with a concept behind them, this really supports this 'specialty jigsaw puzzle' category and gets it in front of a lot of new people. Incidentally, this will be the second puzzle of mine that will debut this year on Wal-Mart shelves. Right now I can't say much more than this, but I will post information here when they've shipped. Maybe they'll post an entry on the Wal-Mart Blog too...but I doubt it.

It has been a struggle to get puzzles that have more than just a picture into the mass market stores like Wal-Mart. I hope that these programs will validate this whole category. It'd make jigsaw puzzles a lot more interesting.

Sometimes, you just don't feel like writing about Jigsaw Puzzles

As this is one of my few public forums, I'm including here a bit of troubling personal news. It will be brief. On Saturday, my good friend Darren Chiacchia was injured competing at the Red Hills Horse Trials near Tallahassee. Darren is a Bronze medal winner at the 20004 Olymics, a public fixture both here in the Buffalo area and in Ocala, Florida, and a dear friend to me, my wife, my sister, and countless others. He was airlifted to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital where he remains unconscious and in critical condition.

Thoughts, prayers, and general good will sent his way are greatly appreciated. More information can be found online and this is his website which has updates to his progress.

Guess what? I won another award!

I haven't posted anything for a while...busy, you know? Still, I'm returning to blogdom to tell the world about a new toy award that I've won. Dr Toy reviews toys, games, and puzzles. I knew that one of my items (the Connect'em puzzles) had won a Dr Toy award in some category, but couldn't remember what it was. So, I visited the site and what did I see? Well, not only was the Connect'ems listed but right next to it was another award for the Beatles edition of my PuzziSphere jigsaw! This spherical puzzle features artwork from the Beatles Anthology album covers. Other editions feature Elvis, a globe and soccer art. It's a cool puzzle and one that makes a free-standing sphere. Both the Connect'em Series and the PuzziSphere are produced under license (from me!) by The Canadian Group, who makes a great line of puzzles under the brand Sure Lox. Their Circles series, which features unique circular pieces also picked up a Dr Toy mention.

Anyway, thanks go to Stevanne Auerbach, the woman who calls herself Dr Toy. She recognizes innovative ideas like these and rewards them with her unique and I believe independent accolades. Her annual "Smart Play/Smart Toys" guide is a great gift giving resource, especially if you need to buy Christmas and birthday gifts for kids (even if some of those kids are adults!).

It's funny about jigsaw puzzles. Mostly, they don't get nominated for awards, considered for awards, and certainly don't win awards. I mention this mostly as a curiosity, but I guess I must be doing something right. I'm going to do an article on toy awards some day. Anyway, hope to get back to my regular blogging schedule soon - sure beats working!