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Norwich, Vermont - January 8, 2010

Step into Stave Puzzles in Norwich and you'll hear the buzz of saws slicing through wood, guided by the skilled hands of a bank of busy crafters.

"I've never liked a job so much before," puzzle crafter Samara Cary said.

Look closely at the workers-- their ponytails, their earrings-- and you'll see the staff here is all women.

"It's like a bunch of sisters," said Jennifer Lennox, the production manager. "It's really fun. It's a good feeling."

There have been men who've worked at cutting out jigsaw puzzles over Stave's more than 35-year history, but for one reason or another they don't last.

"It's just the way it's worked out," worker Paula Tardie said. "It's all women: a great staff!"

Many of the women have logged 10, 15, or 20 years of service. Stave says they seem to have the best eye for color and detail and the patience it takes to do this intricate work.

"I did some sewing," Lennox explained. "The movement-- it's a lot like sewing on a sewing machine. Moving the fabric around is like maneuvering the wood. So that lends itself to being a good puzzle-cutter, I guess."

"I'm an artist as well outside of working here. So I think if you're an artist, it's easier to pick up the saw," Cary said.

Stave Puzzles has 24 women and just 1 man, the company owner, Steve Richardson. He was on vacation when we visited, but his employees tell us Richardson doesn't mind being the only guy around. He just wants his employees to make their puzzles as difficult to put together as possible.

Stave Puzzles started working in cardboard but switched to five layers of wood at a customer's request.

Crafters can spend four or more days just one puzzle by hand, even customizing them with people's names or dates.

"You just sit at the saw and play!" Lennox said.

Stave specializes in excruciatingly complex designs-- some trick puzzles even have several possible solutions.

The craftsmanship and limited editions make the designs the Mercedes Benz of jigsaw puzzles with price tags from $100 to $21,000. Most sell for around $500. The cost rises with the number of pieces.

"Every puzzle is crafted specially for the customer. One piece at a time, one puzzle at a time. The same crafter from the beginning of the process to the end of the process," Tardie explained.

Stave counts Microsoft founder Bill Gates, author Stephen King, and Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim among its worldwide customers, saying the recession hasn't splintered sales, since consumers see these as heirlooms they'll spend countless hours on.

"As long as people want a puzzle -- we'll be here!" Tardie said.

And she expects she'll still be leading a team of mostly women as Stave Puzzles continues challenging its customers with these Made in Vermont brain-teasers.

"I'm definitely proud to work at a company that's so unique," Cary said.

Jack Thurston - WCAX News - Made in Vermont