Heather’s Puzzle Story:

Heather (she/her) is from Plymouth, Minnesota, and serves as an official USAJPA volunteer, providing support for the monthly newsletters and Puzzle Club. Casually puzzling her whole life, Heather particularly enjoys the “Zen” of which puzzling provides. Her puzzle table is her happy place!

She found competitive speed puzzling in 2018 and is a member of the 4-person team, Puzzle Moms, who took first place in their division at the 2022 St. Paul Winter Carnival! At www.puzzlemoms.club, they share their speed puzzling experiences and list ways in which you can speed puzzle too. On Instagram, Heather started a “puzzle-gram” documenting current competitions, sharing a 2023 puzzle journal, and posting fun puzzle timelapses. And as a way to find new homes for the puzzles that team Puzzle Moms complete throughout the year, she created an online used-puzzle shop. With Minnesota’s six months of winter, you can imagine how many puzzles they go through!

Heather also competes in monthly 500-piece contests through SpeedPuzzling.com, and looks forward to the Minnesota State Championship in July!

Q&A Time:

What do you enjoy most about the puzzle community?

“It’s so nice to have friends that understand and share in that same passion.”

Do you have a favorite brand, type, style, subject of puzzle?

“I am 100% a fan of ribbon cut puzzles. I love Ravensburger, Clementoni, and Trefl. I find my inner piece in sky images and love to put a good gradient puzzle together too.”

What is your best advice for someone who wants to improve their speed puzzling abilities?

“As an active participant in trying to improve my speed puzzling abilities, I can tell you it takes practice, determination, and quick hands. You have to constantly tell yourself, you are not looking for Zen right now, you are not casually puzzling. You are racing. That mindset is crucial and I’m still learning it."

Connect:

Heather can be found through Instagram at @mnpuzzlemom, and at The Puzzle Moms shop at www.shop.puzzlemoms.club.