THE discovery of a family photo turned into a jigsaw puzzle has become a mystery for Ormiston puzzle enthusiasts Pete and Lorraine Mortimer.
The Mortimers uncovered the unusual find inside another jigsaw puzzle they purchased from a local op shop within the past year, discovering a separate puzzle sealed in its own plastic bag.
“There was no picture to go by, but when we did the puzzle, it was clearly made up from a family print,” Mr Mortimer said.
“We would love to know where this came from and hopefully return it to the owner.”
Once completed, the puzzle revealed a mother with three children, believed to be aged about one, four and seven, pictured in a backyard setting.
“It is a lovely happy photo,” Mrs Mortimer said.
Mr Mortimer said the couple took up jigsaw puzzles during the Covid pandemic and found they already had enough at home to see them through the lockdown period.
Since then, the hobby has continued, with the couple regularly buying puzzles from op shops and returning them or giving them away once completed.
Mr Mortimer said some finished puzzles were even framed and gifted, depending on the theme.
“Our granddaughter is interested in sloths,” he said. And we once framed a Marvel character puzzle, and I made a Marvel quilt for our friend’s grandson.
“The jigsaw is on the wall of his bedroom.”
The couple has tackled hundreds of puzzles over the years, many of them challenging.
“We recently did a 1000-piece one which was an animated tower with guards and soldiers fighting,” Mr Mortimer said. “It was hard to do, but that’s what makes it memorable.”
He said circular puzzles had also provided a different experience, starting from the centre rather than searching for edge pieces first.
Mr Mortimer said they were drawn to colourful puzzles and images of bands and had been fortunate to rarely encounter missing pieces in second-hand puzzles.
“If we do, we mark this on the box when we take them back for re-sale.”
Above all, Mr Mortimer said puzzling was something the couple enjoyed sharing.
“It’s something we enjoy doing together and it keeps us busy.”
