Puzzled about gifts for music fans?

I’ve felt a little disjointed lately.

I love puzzles, especially if they have something to do with music. (Yeah, I’m coming out of the geek closet. Quick, find a role for me on Big Bang Theory.)  I found a cool site that’ll make a puzzle out of any photo. I haven’t figured out how to make it a gift, except for myself. Here’s what the photo looked like before:

photo by Woodland Willow

There are lots of sites online that offer puzzles you can play on your computer or phone. I like to get away from the digital world, though. Maybe you’re like me and a more conventional puzzle is what you or your music fan might prefer. You can go to a brick and mortar store and suffer through lots of puppy and flower puzzles, or you can visit a couple of online stores I found.

Simple Pastimes

This site has lots of music-oriented puzzles. Just click on the music and dance link on their home page. I like their artwork and it looks like these are a challenge, but not impossible. Here’s one of my favorites:

I’m a country music fan – there, I’ve come out of that closet, too. It’s a great present for anyone who likes country music. There’s lots of detail and includes a ton of classic artists like Dolly Parton and Minnie Pearl. Get it here.

I also got a kick out of this one:

Geezer rock at its best. Notice the woman on the stairs, looking at them with a hint of irritation? It’s available here. What I want to know, though, is where are the women musicians?

Puzzles are very affordable, at $11.95 and up (not including shipping).

Uncommon Goods

This site also has some groovy puzzles, including this one:

At first glance I thought, hey, this won’t be too hard. I envisioned lighting a fire in the fireplace on a cold winter day and sitting down next to it with a card table, and a whole afternoon to leisurely put together this puzzle. Then, I ordered it, received it (in just a week – great for shipping from the states to Canada) and took another look at the cover. Uh-oh, four acoustic guitars, all the same color, three amps, all with the same fabric cover, and four drums, all with the same heads … then I zoned in on the things that were different, like the keyboard and the lineup of drum sticks, plus the little details, like the guitar capo. Okay, I can start with those and work my way to those pesky guitars. I’m still working on getting it put together, but I know I’ll get there. And what’s extra cool about this puzzle is that it’s a photograph, so you can see the detail and maybe take a little walk down memory lane … my first girlfriend played a guitar like that … that looks like my old drum bass pedal … and maybe your music fan will take that same stroll. It’s a unique gift for under $30 (without shipping) and you don’t have to schlep to a mall to get it. Find it here.

They have another puzzle I found intriguing:

And I thought four of the same guitars would drive me batty. If I had this puzzle, I might wake up screaming in the middle of the night. Or perhaps your music fan likes a bigger challenge than I do. They also have one that features the spines of a row of LPs. If you match up the type on the LP titles, though, it might not be too bad, although I’m sure that cozy fire will burn out long before it’s done.

Want music-oriented gifts beyond puzzles? Find a whole section of those here.

While I’m yammering on about this website, check out their gifts just for women. Lots of great stuff, including musical wine glasses – you fill them up with liquid and run your finger around the edge to produce a musical tone. I’m puzzled by some of the other choices, like the cardboard animal heads, but to each their own, as my mama used to say.

All right, quit puzzling over what to get your musician girlfriend or your cousin who plays the drums, and get them a puzzle. Or go to that first website, make your own puzzle and see if you can get it together. It’s cheaper than a therapist and maybe, more fun.