Wooden Waldorf Medium Picture Puzzles

Material: Original watercolor paintings, digitally printed on birchply wood and sealed with non toxic waterbased varnish. Supplied with a small cotton storage bag.

Size: 240cm x 180cm x 1cm

Why Our Puzzles are Different:

Whole-Piece Characters: Animals and people remain intact, allowing them to be taken out of the puzzle frame and used for independent, imaginative storytelling.

Pedagogical Value: Because there is no printed picture underneath to guide the way, children naturally develop fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and visual memory through repetition and problem-solving.

Hand-Painted Artistry: From classic fairy tales to vibrant landscapes, the tactile warmth of the wood and the beautiful artistry make each puzzle a unique keepsake.

The Legacy of Wooden Waldorf Picture Puzzles

A 45-Year Journey of Craftsmanship and Play It started over four decades ago with a fret saw, a piece of plywood, and a spark of inspiration. As a student looking to earn extra money, Pam Chanarin discovered traditional German wooden jigsaw puzzles. Captivated by their unique concept and visual beauty, she began experimenting with fine saw blades, sandpaper, and watercolors. After hours of learning and crafting, Pam took her very first wooden puzzles to a local Waldorf Kindergarten. The teachers were delighted, purchased every single one, and the journey of Picture Puzzles officially began.

A Family Affair As demand grew, making a single puzzle by hand took days. Pam’s husband, Saul, stepped in to help cut the wood. What started as a small project blossomed into a thriving family business that produced puzzles, rocking horses, and tumblers, reaching markets and shops across South Africa and even exporting to the UK. Eventually, as life evolved and full-time teaching took over, production was paused.

The Revival and a Full-Circle Moment Six years ago, during retirement, Pam and Saul returned to the workshop. The response at local school markets was overwhelming. Parents were thrilled to find durable, handcrafted gifts, and adults shared fond memories of playing with those exact puzzles when they were children.

The story truly came full circle at a Christmas craft market when Pam found herself at a table next to a thriving business called Envirokid. The founder, Tessa, happened to be one of Pam’s former kindergarten pupils! Tessa's deep love for the puzzles and her desire to see the legacy survive sparked a new partnership. Today, we are proud to work together to ensure these heirloom, educational toys continue to spark joy and imagination for the next generation.