Framing jigsaw puzzles a rewarding venture

Beautiful picture frames are quite common in several homes but there is something different in the frames hanging at the Moratuwa residence of Sarah Dias - they contain jig-saw puzzles!

This much-liked game among children as well as adults is now turning into are- warding business venture for her -picturesque scenes and famous landmarks in jigsaw puzzles have been put together, framed and offered for sale.

Ms. Dias has transformed her hobby of solving jigsaw puzzles into an interesting business venture. "No more splitting hairs to solve jigsaw puzzles - it's all done and framed and ready for you," she said. She has been indulging in her favourite pastime for many years but started her business venture only recently. "I have already sold a few frames to some of my friends and received a few orders as well," she said,

She is able to complete a thousand-piece puzzle and frame it within six weeks or less. Special care is taken when framing in order to make sure that the puzzle is done properly. "All you need is patience;" she said. "It becomes very interesting once you get started," She added. The cost of a completed framed puzzle varies depending on its size and picture.

The pieces of the jigsaw puzzle are first placed on a large piece of plywood. "The edges of the puzzle are put together and then 1 slowly move to the middle," she explained while engrossed in solving a 2,000- piece puzzle. "You have to concentrate and fix the right pieces together," she said. Enraptured we also joined in the little adventure.

A few puzzle frames that have been completed are the Taj Mahal, the Big Ben and beautiful waterfalls, She receives these puzzles from her eldest son (Snehath) who works in Singapore.

She has a few framed puzzles for selection by her clients. The clients would have to pay an advance if they choose an unsolved puzzle to be completed and framed, she said.

Explaining her reason for venturing into this game of skill she said simply, "I wanted to keep myself occupied." Being a housewife she had some spare time so she started with jigsaw puzzles not knowing that someday it would turn her into a businesswoman. She also intends to promote her business on the Internet, "Many are purchasing various items on the Internet," she said. "In this modern world it would be the best way to sell,' she added.

Ms. Dias is a Singaporean and a nurse trained in England. She has been in Sri Lanka since 1982.
