Welcome to Bella Puzzles.
I’m Lara, and puzzles are my thing.
Here’s what makes me tick: Give me a puzzle or problem that interests me and I will work full-time on the solution. If I need to learn a new skill to do it, so much the better. See a puzzle. Solve the puzzle. Do it well. That’s what I like to do.
Here’s my background: You might assume that a puzzle artist has a degree in art. Not at all. I have a Master’s degree in Anthropology and I seriously contemplated degrees in medicine, public health, and library science. I studied art and literature all through college and grad school – they were my favorite classes in fact – but I never considered art as a possible career. Art was a guilty pleasure I enjoyed on the side.
Here’s how I became a puzzle artist: I’ve played with jigsaw puzzles all my life and am a very good puzzler. My all time favorite puzzles are wooden jigsaw puzzles.
Traditional wooden puzzles are particularly satisfying and addictive to play with. They have a nice feel and weight in your hand, and make a great sound when you put each piece in its place. In 2005 I was playing with one of my vintage wooden jigsaw puzzles…and right then I decided I would learn to make wooden puzzles.
Here’s what I’ve learned: Being a bookis person I turned to books for help at first. Those books, and a few emails with puzzle makers I met online, got me started in the right direction. Soon I had a saw and a lot of know-how.
Two years later, at the invitation of some of these puzzle makers, I attended a Puzzle Parley for collectors, dealers, and makers of wooden jigsaw puzzles. Puzzle-making is a rare talent these days, so the events are small and infrequent. I thought these people needed an online forum for continuing their discussions, so I create a Google Group called PUZZLEMENT. To my surprise, most of the puzzle collectors and makers in the U.S. have signed up for and participated in this group. It has been a tremendous source of information, inspiration, and encouragement.
Here’s how I started making guest book puzzles: Shortly after I started cutting puzzles, my father asked if I would make one for his retirement party. The image would show various ad campaigns his graphic design firm had produced, and the back of the puzzle would be signed by party guests. My first puzzle guest book was a big hit.
After that I made puzzle guest books for friends and by customer request. I originally sold them with my art puzzles in my BellaPuzzles shop on Etsy. I soon decided the wedding puzzles needed a shop of their own: BellaPuzzlesToo.
Within a month of opening my shop featuring puzzle guest books, top wedding bloggers found and wrote about my puzzles. At the same time, style editors at three bridal magazines including Martha Stewart Weddings requested puzzles for their spring 2011 issue.
Here’s why I love my job:
- Everything about it is fun.
- I take great pleasure in conversing with my clients and designing their puzzles.
- I take even more in doing my job beautifully, professionally, and with originality.
- I love coming up with new ideas for puzzles.
- I enjoy thinking about the reaction of the client when they open the puzzle box for the first time, as well as the reaction of the wedding guests when they see the puzzle.
- The feedback I get from clients is fantastic.
- My puzzles are now in countries all over the world and in homes all across the U.S..
Here’s where I’m going: I’m perpetually thinking up new ideas for puzzle guest books, and would love to work with you on a unique puzzle. Check back here often to see if there are new puzzle offerings, or be the first to know by joining the Bella Puzzles email list. My puzzles will soon be for sale on this website. For now, all five types of puzzle guest books I make can be purchased through my Etsy shop.
Here’s how to get in touch:
Got a question? Can’t wait to order? Let’s start talking about your puzzle.
Want to learn more about what makes a puzzle maker tick? (Top guesses are chocolate, sawdust, and books.) Connect with me on Twitter.
Want to see pictures of recently created puzzles? “Like” Bella Puzzles on Facebook.
I also have an email list for the latest news and offerings from Bella Puzzles.
I look forward to working with you.
All my best,
Lara Braithwaite | BELLA PUZZLES, LLC
