Stowe, Vermont - October 3, 2011
Putting together puzzles is a past time for many people and one Vermont company is hoping to keep that spirit alive.
Jerry Freidlander likes a challenge, and really likes to challenge others. He and his son, Aaron, create puzzles. The two started The Weekend Puzzle Company over a year ago, making custom puzzles to order -- anything from a picture to a loved landscape.
"We love it -- it's colorful, it's bright," Freidlander said.
But some of that brightness is missing in their newest product -- color your own puzzles for kids. "It's just going to be a disaster. This blue, they'll be doing this (scribbling) so we kept it as simple as possible, so when they're done they wont say, look at the mess I made," he said.
These are not custom, but meant to be customized. The Stowe business uses designs by a local artist -- there are ten images in all. Friedlander thinks he's hit on a unique idea.
"No one's ever done it in the history of the puzzle industry," he said.
After printing, Friedlander's son glues the puzzle and makes last minute adjustments before it heads downstairs for the final cut.
"Basically, the pressure of this roller pushes down on the rubber so the blades come out. it's almost like a cat, you squeeze its paws and out come the claws," Freidlander said.
While the customers get to put it all together, Freidlander has to take it all apart. "Believe it or not, this is the longest part of the puzzle -- is taking it off the board and putting it in a bag," he said. Along with the puzzle comes a suggested color sheet and a 10 pack of markers.
A made in Vermont business laying down a challenge.
