I have always been a Gibsons fan. I love the feel of the pieces and the relaxing images of the European views. Of course, not all Gibson's puzzles are of the scenic type, but most have that European flair that makes them recognizable.

A few years ago, I completed Avocado Park and it is still one of my favorite puzzles of all time. Imagine my excitement when I got my hands on Gibsons Sweet Retreat! 

 

Gibsons sweet retreat

 

AHHHH!! I loved EVERYTHING about this puzzle. We have the same amazing Gibsons quality, but something so colorful with hints of humor. I smiled a lot when I did this one!

I love that they always include a poster, and with busy images such as this one, it can make a big difference!

Gibsons
    

Gibsons Sweet Retreat

 

The first thing I did was the border of course, and then I pondered the best way to attack this one.  When I look at the photos of my progress, I laugh, because it looks like total chaos, but it really made sense to me. I left all the pieces in the box and grabbed one piece at a time. Then I scanned the image to see if I could recognize any of the patterns or colors and literally dropped the piece on my board in that general area. Once I went through the entire box, I assembled the sections that went together, even if it was only a couple of pieces here and there. Then I did the same thing again. As with anything, the more you look at the image, the more you remember what you saw, and it becomes easier to place them. The other key thing was that the image was divided into water and beach sand, so I looked for the blue versus the brown background in the pieces.

 

Gibson Puzzles

 

This was so much fun. It is going to be one of my favorites for the year. I loved the color, and I loved the little jokes. The sad ice cream that melted in the sun and had their friend writing in the sand next to them was a silly touch.

I recommend this one highly – grab it and enjoy the happy summer scene!