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Solving the puzzle(s) of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway

Posted in commodification, tagged , , , on Saturday 21 January 2023| 1 Comment »

There seems to be an endless supply of jigsaw puzzles that include a connection to Virginia Woolf.

Well, the supply is probably not endless. But every time I think I have exhausted all avenues in my Woolf puzzle search, a new puzzle appears.

This go-round, I found two. And both connect to Woolf’s 1925 novel Mrs. Dalloway.

Mrs. Dalloway 1

I discovered the first thanks to a Facebook post by Ben Hagen, president of the International Virginia Woolf Society.

It featured a panoramic puzzle from the New York Puzzle Company that measures  39″ x 13″ and depicts an imaginary street scene populated by characters from the novel. The cost of the 1,000-piece “Mrs. Dalloway” is $25.99 on Amazon. But you can buy it for $16.50 on the puzzle company’s website.

Mrs. Dalloway 2

The second “Mrs. Dalloway” is a lithograph and looks much more difficult to complete, as it is made up of words — the words of the novel.

The only image is the profile of a woman’s face superimposed over the text. It comes in two versions: 500 pieces and 1,000 pieces and a variety of colors. The cost of each is $39.

However if puzzling is not your gig, you can purchase the same image — words and all — as a tote, a T-shirt, a blanket, a scarf, a pillow, and more from Litographs.

More Woolf puzzles

For more on Woolf puzzles, visit these posts:

  • “Doing jigsaw puzzles with Virginia Woolf,” which Includes

    “Jane Austen’s Book Club” puzzle by eeBoo

  • “A puzzling question: Why is Woolf depicted as a blue-eyed blonde?,” which includes a link to eeBoo’s “Jane Austen’s Book Club” puzzle.
  • “Two more to add to your stash of Virginia Woolf puzzles, which includes
    • A take-off on the iconic 2008 Barack Obama “Hope” poster featuring Woolf. However, it is no longer available. I was able to obtain the puzzle before it went off-market and completed it this week. It is pictured below.
    • Edward Gorey Book Covers.  It includes the cover of From Beowulf to Virginia Woolf by Robert Manson Myers. It has 1,000 pieces, 20″ x 27″ and is priced at $22.95.
  • “Two more for your Virginia Woolf puzzle stash,” which includes:
    • The Re-marks Famous Authors Postage Stamp Collage Puzzle. 1,000 pieces, 26 5/8″ L x 19 1/4″. $17.99. Features a full-color portrait of Woolf as a stamp.
    • Essential Book Covers Puzzle. 1,000 pieces, 27.5″L x 19.7″. $25.99. Features the Vanessa Bell cover of To the Lighthouse. The puzzle is described as including the covers of the “50 Best Classic Books.”

      A Woolf puzzle no longer available that mimics the look and theme of the iconic Barack Obama poster from his 2008 presidential campaign.

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Polish your nails with colors inspired by Virginia Woolf

Posted in commodification, tagged , , , on Friday 6 January 2023| Leave a Comment »

Just a bit of whimsy today — a collection of nail polish colors inspired by Virginia Woolf.

One is called “The London Scene” and is described as “rich medium grey with a distinct urban feel revived by a multi-chromatic blazing hologram.”

The description for the vegan polish, which is part of A England’s Moments with Virginia Woolf collection, quotes Woolf’s The London Scene:

The grey stone, ancient as it is, changes like a live thing under the incessant ripple of changing light

Another polish is simply named after the author and is described as “dark garnet red bursting with blazing hologram.”

More about the Woolf collection

The website describes Woolf’s interest in color this way: “Colour was central to Woolf’s writing, allowing her to seamlessly enhance imagery and represent characters and settings.”

Here are the other colors in the Woolf collection.

  • Mrs. Dalloway
  • Orlando
  • The Waves
  • To the Lighthouse
  • Shakespeare’s Sister

Of the six Woolf-inspired nail polish colors listed on the company website, only two seem to be available for purchase. “The London Scene” is priced at £5 and “Virginia Woolf” at £11.50.

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Two more for your Virginia Woolf puzzle stash

Posted in commodification, tagged , , on Monday 5 December 2022| Leave a Comment »

Even though I wasn’t looking for puzzles that include Virginia Woolf, my search for a Christmas puzzle led me to two more puzzles that do.

Years ago, Cecil Woolf sent me an envelope with this canceled Virginia Woolf stamp.

As readers of this blog know, I have written about Woolf puzzle finds several times before — in May of 2020,in September of that year, and  just last month.

Today I share a puzzle that features a Woolf stamp, although I cannot find any evidence that the stamp of Vanessa Bell’s portrait of Woolf, was actually produced. The other puzzle features Bell’s cover of To the Lighthouse.

Two latest finds

Woolf puzzles from the past

The Woolf stamp is in the second row from the bottom, third from the left.

To the Lighthouse is the book cover in the top row, second from right.

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Two more to add to your stash of Virginia Woolf puzzles

Posted in commodification, pandemic, Woolf sightings, tagged , on Thursday 17 November 2022| 1 Comment »

Today I have two more Virginia Woolf puzzles for you — just in time for the holidays. This news may be welcomed by members of the VWoolf Listserv, as one recent discussion thread focused on Woolf puzzles.

But first some background on my search.

Woolf puzzling background

In the spring of 2020, when many of us found our outings and activities limited due to the Coronavirus pandemic, I wrote about two jigsaw puzzles that included Virginia Woolf or her novels and another that featured her.

By September, I had discovered a 1,000-piece eeBoo puzzle titled “Jane Austen’s Book Club” that included Woolf. She, along with Austen, Mary Shelley, George Eliot, and Zora Neale Huston, are pictured sipping tea, alongside some of their famous titles. I wrote about that, too.

Today I share my two new puzzle discoveries.

From HOPE to WOOLF

The first, a take-off on the iconic 2008 Barack Obama “Hope” poster, depicts Woolf in the same way Obama was shown, but with her last name, “Woolf,” replacing the word “Hope.” It comes in two sizes.

11/19/22 Note: The above two puzzles are no longer available.

Among Edward Gorey covers

The second features Edward Gorey book covers, including From Beowulf to Virginia Woolf by Robert Manson Myers. It is 1,000 pieces, measures 20″ x 27″ and is priced at $22.95.

 

This puzzle features Edward Gorey book cover illustrations. The one related to Woolf is at the far right in the third row from the top.

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Christmas shopping with Virginia Woolf

Posted in commodification, tagged , , on Saturday 18 December 2021| Leave a Comment »

If a Virginia Woolf fan is on your Christmas list, here are a few gift suggestions — from a pricey purse to a Woolf society membership — that might bring pleasure. Even if that fan is you.

To the Lighthouse in a stamp print

To the Lighthouse is featured in the stamp in the top row, far right.

Stamp Book: Modern Classics, is a print that turns 42 modern classic books into an oversized sheet of collectable postage stamps, including one for Woolf’s To the Lighthouse.

Each stamp features a graphic inspired by the book and the date of publication in book form. The four-color prints measure 80cm x 60cm and are litho printed with an additional silver foil.

From Dorothy, it is available to purchase for £35 each from wearedorothy.com

The Waves Strapped will strap you

For the tonier among us, there is The Waves Strapped pocketbook at a price of 1.180,00 € from Olympia LeTan.

Constructed of cotton, wool, and silk, this book-shaped bag hinges open, closes with a brass clasp, is lined in a floral print, and includes a shoulder strap. It is a limited, numbered edition and can also be personalized.

Orlando-inspired Fendi fashions

Also out of our price range, but fun to look at anyhow, are designer Kim Jones’s first collection inspired by the Bloomsbury Group, specifically Virginia Woolf’s Orlando. Created for the luxury fashion house Fendi, the spring 2021 fashions are priced comparably to luxury cars.

Virginia Woolf in needlepoint

Winter is a great time to cozy up indoors with a needlework project — and Appletons Virginia Woolf Tapestry Needlepoint Kit may be just the ticket.

Available from Liberty, the $73 price includes all materials, plus shipping. Mine arrived in the four to five days noted on the website.

Once completed, the tapestry can be framed or stitched into a pillow. It is part of a collection that pays tribute to the luminaries of British and Irish literature.

I haven’t started mine yet, but the kit looks pretty cool displayed in its classy black box on my bookshelf.

Puzzling Woolf won’t break the bank

“Jane Austen’s Book Club” puzzle by eeBoo

My last suggestion — and one that is the most cost-effective — is a puzzle that includes Woolf or something related to her.

The EuroGraphics Famous Writers 1000 Piece Puzzle features Woolf smack dab in the middle of 75 other famous writers. Its finished size is 19.25″ x 26.5″ and the cost is $20.32.

Second, there’s the Re-marks Bestsellers Panoramic 1000 Piece Puzzle, which includes covers of many best-selling books, including two of Woolf’s — Orlando and Mrs. Dalloway. It measures 17″ x 9″ and the cost is $28.99.

Third is a 1,000-piece eeBoo puzzle titled “Jane Austen’s Book Club.” Woolf, along with Austen, Mary Shelley, George Eliot, and Zora Neale Huston, are pictured sipping tea, alongside some of their famous titles. It’s 11″ x 11″ and is $23.99.

Gift a society membership to yourself or a friend

International Virginia Woolf Society logo

The most practical and appreciated gift of all may be a membership to one of the Virginia Woolf societies.

Besides developing friendships with other Woolf scholars and common readers, memberships may include subscriptions to publications, access to Zoom events, invitations to in-person events, and other perks.

Get more information at the following links:

 

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