Cutting elegant jigsaw pieces is hard work!

[oldjohnevans]

Thank you for all your thoughtful responses to my questions. This is sort of like fishing. I toss out a few wormy ideas and then wait for some bites. I know that what I am doing is baffling to many of you, and that you doubt my sanity, but please believe me when I say that I know what I want to do but I don't yet know how to do it. That is called research, something I am good at and have fun doing.

To Carter I say that patterns are emerging as one of the most important features of my puzzle making. It may take as long as a week to get a pattern that I like, but once made I can use it any number of times. Since I do not attach pictures before cutting, the shape and elegance of every piece is important to me. I will send a few pictures of some of my patterns sometime soon.

Also to Carter, I am amazed at how nice your fingers look. If I were cutting as fast as you do, without a guard on the saw, I would have sliced off all the ends of my fingers.

Carter you seem to worry that I am setting my expectations too high and will end up frustrating myself. The activity is interesting because I set high expectations. George Bernard Shaw wrote "Aim high, any fool can hit the ground,"

[will8989]

It seems puzzles & kids toys are the way to go this year. A few years ago, about 4 or 5, somene in here posted a website to a puzzle maker who make puzzles that looked like quilted material. Anyone know what I'm talking about? Those were truly fascinating!! The color was fantastic and he even had stitch marks in the "material". At least I think it was puzzles. Anyone know?

Betty

[Carter Johnson]

John, I look forward to some pictures of the "patterns" you have in mind. From this distance, I still can't imagine what you're shooting for. By the way, who do you see as the end user (assembler) of your finished product?

As far as cutting fingers, with the 2/0 blades it is almost impossible to cut yourself on the moving blade. I can touch it while it's moving with a pretty heavy touch and it won't puncture the skin unless I push rather hard and sustained. That's why cutting puzzles is pretty darn safe for youngsters.

And Betty, isn't the link to the "X-man" in the previous posts the puzzle maker you're looking for?

Have phun and keep us informed.........Carter

[BobD]

John actually sent me one of his puzzles...and it blows my mind. I can see why he's having trouble describing it with words...and even photos! It's mind boggling. As soon as I can fully process it (things like this I have to allow my subconscious work on for a couple days before I try to present it) I'll try to put it into words...

Bob

[iohonnes]

Originally Posted by oldjohnevans

To Carter I say that patterns are emerging as one of the most important features of my puzzle making. It may take as long as a week to get a pattern that I like, but once made I can use it any number of times. Since I do not attach pictures before cutting, the shape and elegance of every piece is important to me. I will send a few pictures of some of my patterns sometime soon.

Even though I favor freehand puzzle cutting, I will concede that some types of puzzles require patterns - just take a look at Stave puzzles (http://www.stave.com). His trick (and teaser) puzzles have to use a pattern to achieve the type of effects he is looking for.

But I will say this again - if you are having trouble designing (i.e. drawing) interlocking pieces, I think that more time cutting pieces freehand will help you find the "rhythm" of how puzzle pieces interact. That can only help you when it comes to designing patterns for your specific ideas and concepts (I assume you are still working on the shaping shift puzzle!).