Deep Dive: Midnight Snacks
Posted by Jasen Robillard on
Artist: Lyndsay WaskoPuzzle Design: Siri Olson
Dimensions: 27.5 cm x 27.5 cm
Piece Count: 252
Difficulty: 2 out of 5
Earlier in 2024, we set out a collective stretch goal to design a surprise Holiday season puzzle. Many puzzle solvers gather around the holiday season. While a larger puzzle is often sought after, we decided to start with Alex Fong's I've Been Waiting and this small puzzle. Our larger holiday aspirations for 2025 are being worked on by Jasen and Keitha McClocklin... More good things come to those who wait.
About the Artist
Lyndsay Wasko is a Alberta-based artist, designer, and author-illustrator. She grew up writing stories and drawing animals and years later, not much has changed. With a decade of experience in creative agencies, including a Design degree from AuArts and a Master’s degree of Library & Information Science from the University of Alberta, Lyndsay brings a unique blend of expertise to a variety of creative projects. Outside of her professional commitments, Lyndsay volunteers her time as a board member of The New Gallery, a not-for-profit artist-run center, and as an art facilitator with the Creative Aging Calgary Society.
Presently, she lives in Calgary with her family and generally aspires to the life of a Beatrix Potter animal: baking, sewing, gardening, and being in nature. She especially enjoys river walks with her dog, Watson.
Links
Lyndsay Wasko's Professional Website
Lyndsay Wasko's Instagram Profile
Siri's Puzzle Design Notes
Lyndsay’s artwork brims with warmth, storytelling and a hint of mischief. This puzzle is about capturing that playful, cozy chaos of the holidays. Every little detail is meant to tell its own story and add to the scene.
Christmas rarely stays picture-perfect for long, and there’s always something out of place, a string of lights to untangle, or something tipped over. In this case, a glass of milk lies spilled—likely knocked over by the curious cat. If you’re looking for an easy starting point, just follow the cat’s nose as it sniffs out snacks scattered across the scene. Our resident mouse has also helped itself to the holiday treats, leaving behind little signs of its snacking.
Meanwhile, the fire crackles nearby, giving off just enough warmth to keep a cup of hot chocolate hot—but a little too much for a melting snowman to stay upright. Santa himself has no choice but to flee the heat, while the snowman, made of three separate pieces, can be rebuilt to live another night.
The puzzle includes nods to some holiday classics like a holiday train inspired by both the Polar Express and the quirky train from the Island of Misfit Toys. In a playful nod to “visions of sugarplums danced in their heads,” you’ll find actual prancing plums here, bringing the phrase to life in the most literal way—something some of us find quite fun to do. The puzzle is packed with little toys and touches as if even someone with a “heart two sizes too small” couldn’t resist this festive scene.
Each piece in this puzzle invites you to imagine its story through your lens, drawing you deeper into a world of that cozy, festive feeling. Discover the sneaky surprises and let the scene unfold piece by piece, hopefully with some midnight snacks by your side.
Whimsy List
- 2x Dancing Sugarplums
- 3x Ornaments
- Train Engine
- Nutcracker
- Dreidel
- Abominable Snowmonster
- Christmas Cracker
- Candle Holder
- Hot Chocolate
- Candy Cane
- Pumpkin Pie
- Gingerbread Cookies
- Glass of Milk
- Gingerbread House
- Rocking Horse
- Mouse Caroler
- Music Notes
- Wreath
- Wind-Up Mouse
Whimwham
- 3-piece Melting Snowman
