Our Story
Hello from the Founder and Chief Puzzler,
I founded Playful Pastimes because I love puzzles and wanted to do something positive in the midst of all the negativity during the pandemic. Not only is puzzling a fun pastime, but it relieves stress and is a great way to exercise the brain, so I used our local chapter of Meals on Wheels to get my puzzles into the hands of those with mobility challenges who were unable to visit with family and friends during the pandemic. Charity has always been an important part of my life so to be able to share a favorite pastime and align it with charitable organizations has been a real joy. Playful Pastimes donates proceeds from all puzzle sales to mental health and brain research. You can learn more about the specific charities on our charitable giving page.
Why puzzles? I have always loved ‘working a puzzle’ as we used to say growing up. And with five sisters, there was always someone available to join in, so puzzling, for me, is a social endeavor. My family is now spread out across the US while I live most of the year in Canada, but I still love piecing together a puzzle with a friend or family member from the other side of the country on speaker phone. As a parent and now grandparent, jigsaw puzzles are a part of our weekend recreation, and I wouldn't have it any other way!
Where do my images come from? The images in my collection are a combination of original art and photographic images of my own or those donated. When choosing designs, I am always looking for an artistic image that brings a smile to my face which usually translates into something I would hang on the wall when finished. I love puzzles with plenty of color and have an artistic blend of whimsical and fun.
And when it comes to quality, Ravensburger has always been a favorite brand so everything I did from packaging to the quality of the pieces had to stand up to that gold standard. My 1000-piece puzzles are 2.34mm thick and interlock securely so you can move sections of the puzzle during assembly and the puzzle passes the 'pickup challenge' one handed. And the box is sturdy enough to stand on its own. No box props necessary!
There is such satisfaction that is derived from working a puzzle, my hope is to create beautiful puzzles that satisfy other avid puzzlers and lure newbies into a new pastime that keeps your mind fresh and relieves stress.
Happy Puzzling,
Patty Davidson
Founder and Lead Inspiration