I finished this a couple of days ago. It’s truly the most beautiful puzzle I’ve ever worked on. It was hard, yet at the same time, it was pure pleasure. I’m a huge fan of Klimt. This is Lady with a Fan.
This was one of the puzzles I got when Galaxy Puzzles went out of business – made in Austria. Now, I want to find more Klimt puzzles, as well as a book about Klimt.
We watched the finale of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel last night. Brilliant on every level. This may be my favorite series ever. The concept, the incredibly talented cast, the brilliant design which is so much a part of the show, the locations in NYC, the writing, the writing, the writing. Without writers, we have nothing. Support that strike. It looks like the actors will soon follow.
This last season has been put together like a jigsaw puzzle, a mosaic. Each piece is carefully placed, leading to something else, which leads us back in time or forward in time – in the end, everything answered. We have been stunned by its brilliance throughout the series, but never more strongly than this season.
There are not enough superlatives. I can never use enough. We stayed up much too late talking about the final episode, just as we did last week with the penultimate episode.
We are going to watch the whole series again. Once a week, a night will be reserved for Maisel. It will be the gift that keeps on giving.
Thank you to Amy Sherman Palladino and Daniel Palladino, who are the creators of this jewel.
Side note: the best music/soundtrack ever. Time after time, some obscure song I already loved appeared during an episode. Apparently, Daniel Palladino has a vast collection of what would be now called vintage vinyl – a huge amount of musical theater, lots of artists in the Great American Songbook. I don’t want to give anything away but last night there was an homage to well known and beloved artist who appeared on Broadway in a certain show (one that both Don and I have performed in) and the final scene is another homage that not everyone will get, but we did – immediately,
Anyway, I can’t get it out of my head this morning. What a gift it’s been.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
Elaine in Toronto says
Your puzzle is lovely. I can see why it was so challenging. It really comes through how much you and Dan enjoyd watching “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”. You tweaked my interest. Have a lovely day. The sun is shining here. Hugs, Elaine
Claudia says
Oh, you should watch it. It’s a true gift.
Stay safe, Elaine.
Eileen+Bunn says
Mrs Maisel was a gift. We watched the ending last night. Everything was done perfectly. Truly loved it.
Enjoy your day,
Eileen
Claudia says
The perfect ending. It’s a series that fills me with joy.
Stay safe, Eileen.
kathy in iowa says
sounds like a great tv show! being not tech-y, i don’t yet have a way to see “the marvelous mrs. maisel”, but am glad you do and enjoyed it so much.
did see (in a theater) the movie “woman in gold” about a woman’s real-life legal fight to have nazi-stolen klimt paintings returned to her family. liked it very much. like your puzzle, too. can see why it would take a while to complete. there are several books out there about klimt (taschen books are pricey, but do a great job with art topics). loving nature, i favor one (by a different publisher) about klimt’s lesser-known, beautiful landscapes. related … “the monuments men” book and movie are about efforts to get back what hitler’s army stole and i recommend them, too.
hope everyone has a nice weekend. stay safe in every way!
kathy
Claudia says
Easy to watch on Amazon Prime. You can watch on your computer.
I’ve read a fair amount about the effort to rescue art stolen by the Nazis.
Stay safe, Kathy.
kathy in iowa says
no computer (and no plans to get one) so no amazon prime … but thanks for the tip.
happy friday!
kathy
Claudia says
How do you read this blog, then? If you have an iPad or a phone, you can watch it there. Although a phone would be too small, I think.
If you really don’t have any desire to watch it, then that’s a different issue.
xo
kathy in iowa says
i get here and the internet on my phone. :)
“mrs. maisel” sounds great and i’d like to see it, other series and some documentaries. i have no clue about watching tv shows, etc. on my phone, but will check it out sometime.
thanks, claudia.
xo and happy weekend ahead!
kathy
Claudia says
I think it would be tricky on a small screen (phone). Don’t mind me, I’m just the official cheerleader for one of the finest series ever!
xoxox
kathy in iowa says
: )
Barrie Wilber says
Love that puzzle….and works by Klimt. The series about Mrs. Maisel has gotten wonderful reviews, a glowing one by you! That’ll be fun to see it again! Happy Friday…
Claudia says
You should watch it. It’s funny and touching and beautifully acted and written.
Stay safe, Barrie.
Wendy T says
That is a beautiful puzzle, Claudia. What do you do with puzzles you e already completed? I bought a lot of puzzles for my Mom during the lockdown period. She usually doesn’t do them again after having assembled them once, so there are some “okay” puzzles I’ll like to donate.
Claudia says
I donate them to a community charity, Wendy.
Stay safe.
Shanna says
We loved Mrs. Maisel from the first five minutes! We’ll watch the finale tonight…but don’t want it to end! Oh, that wardrobe and those sets. Wish it could go on forever.
Claudia says
Me too. I’m officially in mourning. Truly.
Enjoy and stay safe, Shanna.
Marilyn Schmuker says
I love the puzzle. That would be a nice one to put a backing on and frame. Not sure you have a good place to hang it though. I did that with a puzzle my daughter gave me that was a picture collage of our granddaughters. It hangs in our ‘office’.
I maybe the only person who doesn’t have Amazon Prime so I’ve not watched Mrs Maisel. Maybe I should reconsider. Not sure if it would be worth it to us though.
Michigan weather looks perfect for the weekend and Memorial day.. no rain. Hope you and Don have a great weekend.
Take care
Claudia says
Well, all I can say is the reason we got Amazon Prime in the first place was for Mrs. Maisel. Worth every bit of it because there’s so much other content on the video and free shipping on any Amazon orders.
Have a great weekend, Marilyn.
Stay safe.
maria dalessio says
Just checking in on Mockingbird hill cottage….and you never fail to impress. Beautiful puzzle. I too enjoyed Mrs. Maisel…..LOVED the fashion, the characters and SUSIE. The ending was perfection. Now what should we watch……there is a void. I went to the garden center and a bag of potting soil ripped and I have to go now and vacuum the trunk of my car or plant something in it.
Have a wonderful week end…..Enjoy .
Claudia says
I’d choose vacuuming it!
Susie was WONDERFUL!
I have no idea what to watch next, Maria. I’m in mourning.
Stay safe.
Dee+Dee says
I’m also in a jigsaw puzzling mood. I had one which I passed on last year that was Klimt ‘The Kiss’, really difficult with all the gold pieces.
I need to start watching Marvellous Mrs Maisel as I love the style and the clothes. I also like the title graphics especially the shape of the stars, really evocative of the era.
Happy Friday
Claudia says
Oh, those stars are perfection. I’ve never seen a show with such superb art direction. Impeccably done.
Stay safe, Dee Dee.
jeanie says
That’s a beauty and a toughie. Well done! I love Klimt too — just bought a friend a “Woman in Gold” puzzle for her birthday. I was able to see the Klimt show at the Atelier des Lumineres in Paris in 2018 and it was the most magnificent art experience I’ve ever had, hands down. It’s like that current Van Gogh that’s been touring — immersive. Here’s the link to one of the videos I did. I’m no videographer, that’s for sure, but basically I more or less stood in one place and the video took care of itself. (When it goes black for a second, it’s transition.) No editing here — the dissolves are in the “production.” https://youtu.be/bQ9IgNyUmK8 I wish you could have seen it!
Claudia says
Oh, I wish I could have too!
I was in Paris in 2018, but I don’t know if the show was running when we were there.
Thanks, Jeanie!
Stay safe.
Kay in SE WI says
Hi Claudia,
I too am sad Mrs. Maisel is ending. Loved every minute of it and am planning to re-watch. Sure would love to come across some of Midge’s wardrobe in a resale shop. Sad also next week the final Ted Lasso ep drops. I did not expect to love a series about English football. The characters, just like Maisel, pull you in they’re so wonderfully written how they grow and evolve and change. And who can resist Ted and his optimism? I’ll be re-watching to catch everything I missed the first time.
Take care,
K.
Claudia says
It’s so sad when a favorite series comes to an end. I’m still depressed about Maisel, Kay.
Stay safe.
Kay in SE WI says
To me they recreated the fifties and early sixties better than any other series or film I’ve ever seen. And I’m not just talking clothes and cars. The actors cast and the culture portrayal always rang true in every season.
Claudia says
I absolutely agree. Every detail, whether in set design or performance, was perfect.
xoxo