Puzzles for Passionate Puzzlers
All About Puzzl-a-ware
In 2000, whilst searching for a novel gift for my crossword loving friend, I discovered that unless you bought crossword books there was little in the way of gift lines for crossword lovers. So began my quest to establish a business whereby crossword lovers could openly display their passion for the puzzle, and where their friends and relatives could go to get unique gifts for crossword lovers. This site is the result!  But there is more to Puzzl-a-ware than being the only Australian business offering these crossword lover's gifts. Puzzl-a-ware actually started with the compiling of crosswords following the birth of my first daughter in 2000. I've been into solving crosswords most of my life, thanks to my grandmother who was a keen crossword and jigsaw puzzle solver, but I'd never really thought of compiling crosswords. I would read New Idea as I fed my newborn daughter and when they prompted readers to send in a puzzle, and win $100 if it was published, I jumped at the chance. After my first submission was printed, I decided to see if any newspapers would be interested in my crosswords. As fortune would have it The Examiner Newspaper in Launceston were looking for a new large weekly crossword to appear in their Sunday Examiner. I didn't know if I could compile a large crossword EVERY WEEK! Still I took the chance and haven't looked back since. 
Over 2000 of my crosswords have been, (and continue to be) published by several papers in the Rural Press network including The Examiner, The Canberra Times, Armidale Express, Wellington Times, Ballarat Courier, Port Macquarie News, Murray Valley Standard (Murray Bridge in SA), and the Maitland Mercury. They also appear in Geraldton Newspapers' Midwest Mail, the Country Courier in Tasmania, and in Puzzle People's 'Crossword Mixture' books.
It has become a great 'job', and one that I'm fortunate enough to be able to work around my two young daughters. Now with the expansion into gift lines, Puzzl-a-ware has grown into a full-time business. The Puzzl-a-week Diary is our leading gift-line. It is an Australian first, and is receiving considerable interest. Click on the Puzzl-a-week Diary button for more on the Diary or to purchase a copy. It is also available from Newsagents Australia-wide. We have plans to expand the Puzzl-a-week Diary range to include a Find-a-word Diary and a Puzzle Mix Diary. 
Other gift lines on the drawing board, and due for release in the New Year include a crossword umbrella, socks, and an expansion of our mug range.
Thank-you for your interest in our business. If you've got any ideas on how we can improve, new products, or any comments...we'd love to hear from you. Kind Regards, Katrina Coleman |