About Us

The story behind our wood puzzles.

It’s hard to believe we’ve been making and selling wooden puzzles for over 40 years!  There are so many aspects of the business that we love: working with wood–it’s such a wonderful and forgiving medium, meeting customers and other craftsmen at the many Art & Wine Fairs we’ve participated over the years, hearing feedback from pleased customers and providing a well-crafted educational toy at a reasonable price are only a few of pleasures we’ve experienced.

Ed the Puzzle Man

Time has passed, and Ed, The Puzzle Man passed away in September of 2019. I am still making the puzzles myself after retiring from teaching in 2021. But I know there will come a time when I will have to pass this business along…

The Next Generation

Fate has it that our nephew has had his eye on our business for a while now!  Brian spent lots of time on the farm during his childhood and grew up on our puzzles.  He’s worked in the shop with me and also helped with farm chores.  He has always loved to work with his hands and is familiar with the wonderful lifestyle the business has provided for us–being able to work at home and creating our own schedules, being involved in a creative reality–and both he and his wife were drawn to the idea of it.

Brian fishing on the farm

He approached us several years ago and told us that he would love to learn to make puzzles and someday–when we were good and ready–to take the business over and keep it growing.  His wife, Kate, is a web designer and between the two of them they have lots of ideas on how to grow the business–including some new puzzle designs!

So, over the next couple of years, Brian and Kate will be working with us to learn the craft of puzzle making. We are thrilled that business will continue on, and we know that our new partners will bring new energy and ideas to keep The Puzzle Man growing.

Brian and Ed working on puzzles

Even though you won’t be seeing us at craft fairs anymore, but be sure to check out our Facebook page to stay connected with everything we have going on with our wooden puzzles!

– Suzanne, the Puzzle Man’s wife