As I was growing up, cooler fall temperatures meant more time indoors and more time for one of our favorite activities – puzzles! There’s just something about puzzles that makes me feel nostalgic and cozy. Some puzzles we would do individually and others we would do as a family, including even the grandparents. From an early age, I remember being taught to start with the corners and edges and then fill in what you know. (I think there’s a life lesson hidden there, but that’s another blog post!)

Now that I have my own children, I’ve helped with many a number/ABC/block puzzle, but it has been awhile since I got my hands on a 500 piece work of art. I jumped at the chance to attend Witchfest at Gardner Village and be able to meet world-renowned folk-artist Eric Dowdle.

Eric Dowdle was highly entertaining telling us not only about his latest Gardner Village Witchfest Puzzle, but also about his recent ventures in Kenya. I love hearing someone share what they are passionate about. From growing up in Wyoming with 11 siblings to becoming a world-traveling artist, Eric Dowdle has created over 250 paintings. What I enjoy most about Dowdle’s paintings are the exquisite details unique to each location. Dowdle expertly captured the Halloween excitement and quaintness of a night at Gardner Village’s Witchfest by including fun details such as the witch who flew into the silo.

As soon as my family finishes putting the Gardner Village Witchfest puzzle together, I plan on framing it and including it in our Halloween decorations each year.  Taking the children to Gardner Village with their cousins is a long-standing tradition in our family and the puzzle embodies our nostalgic memories perfectly. If you haven’t visited Gardner Village yet, be sure to check out Eric Dowdle’s Youtube videos like the one below to see how much fun it is!

Thank you Gardner Village, My Craft Channel, and Dowdle Folk Art for an exciting Halloween evening!

If you have puzzlers in your family – be sure to check out the many fabulous puzzles available at Dowdle Folk Art! The BYU Football Stadium puzzle may be making its way under our Christmas tree this year!

How many puzzles does your family do during the holiday season?

What location should Eric Dowdle make into a puzzle next?

This post is not sponsored, but I did attend a fabulous event in exchange for a blog post.

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