The Piece Fits: Crystal’s PuzzleTwist Back at Minnesota State Fair
If you like jigsaw puzzles you may have heard of PuzzleTwist.
If you don’t know about PuzzleTwist jigsaw puzzles Tony Nelson would be happy to tell you. He created the unique puzzles, which feature a small twist from what you see on the box. For example, you would be surprised to see that a puzzle that features Canal Park in Duluth on the box’s cover actually has runners finishing Grandma’s Marathon in Canal Park.
“So all our puzzles have a twist where the image on the box cover is going to be a little bit different that the puzzle you build. And the intent is to make the jigsaw puzzle experience more engaging and more fun because you have little surprises you uncover while you’re doing it,” said Nelson.
Tony Nelson is passionate about puzzles and debuts a few new puzzles at the State Fair each year.
Tony Nelson is the creator of PuzzleTwist.
There is a PuzzleTwist following
“You have to think more about what the puzzle’s going to be. It’s not just looking at the picture and finding the piece. You’re very active. Ok, this isn’t exactly right, but where does it go? It makes it a little bit more complicated which I like,” said Alan Torkelson, who was at the Fair purchasing new puzzles.
He along with his wife, Michelle, have done several PuzzleTwist puzzles and are searching for more.
Nelson and his wife always thought it impossible to get a spot at the State Fair. That is until Tony’s wife Candace submitted an application on a whim in 2019.
“Well then we got a call and we got in in 2019. And we did well then. Obviously we didn’t have a State Fair last year. But we’re happy to be back this year,” said Nelson.
New Puzzles
“This is “Color me Minnesota.” It’s the State of Minnesota and it has a ton of detail,” said Nelson.
They enlist many different Minnesota artists creating Minnesota themes.
“This one is called Nordic Love and its by Cindy Lindgren,” said Nelson.
Also brought into the creative design process; a Minnesota baker.
“This one here is by Dani Daniels and its called “Holiday Cookies from Minnesota.” And the twist here is mixed up where all these cookies will be on the puzzle. They’re just going to be rearranged on the cookie sheet,” said Nelson.
PuzzleTwist is in the Merchandise Building and they have a puzzle for just about any interest you may have. Tony said they even take suggestions for future puzzle themes from customers.
