My Story

Below is the story behind Arcadia Puzzles

My name is Tammy and I am the founder of Arcadia Puzzles.

If you had an opportunity to pick up the phone and chat with yourself from a decade ago, what would the conversation be like?

Ten summers ago, I was a fresh graduate from university. Though I had an advanced degree, the naïveté in me yearned for acceptance from others. Deep inside, all I wanted was just to be loved, for who I am. When I couldn’t find that, I settled for the next best thing - security. A stable job, a predictable, modest life that I could wield some control over.

I grew up in a single parent family. My dad and mom separated when I was at the tender age of three. I perceived a momentous change observing my mother’s emotions. She valiantly tried to keep it all together. Still, I felt as if any semblance of my home was shattered into pieces.

My childhood had an unmistakable, profound void. From the darkness, I turned to puzzle sets, a most dependable, loyal companion. It was a much needed escape, albeit momentary. I started with 100 pieces, quickly progressing to 300 and other complicated designs. The Tammy who had always craved approval, the Tammy who tended to flee in fear of challenges finally found a quiet refuge away from the harsh realities of life. Furthermore, the satisfaction of completing a puzzle was a de-stressor like no other. Owning a puzzle store slowly became my dream.

Ten years ago, when I was drowning in my own insecurities, I sought after what little I could control, never daring to venture beyond the comforts of mere ideas and thoughts. If I had an opportunity to phone myself for even a moment, I would tell her, even if you are shouldering burdens beyond what you can bear, do not cast doubt on your passion. But more than anything, I would love to hear the fascination and wonder from my former self, how proud she is of my current self. How far I’ve come along this journey of life, from being a jittery, anxiety-ridden individual, to someone who’s confidently pursuing a lifelong dream. 

From creating my first puzzle to the second, from design to manufacturing to marketing, I freely admit none of this is easy for me, but I have proven to myself that I can overcome my inmost struggles.

​Arcadia Puzzles seeks to create high-quality jigsaw puzzles that provide you with the best puzzling experience. We cultivate exclusive designs illustrated by independent artists from around the world to bring vibrant artwork that you can re-create from the comfort of your home. 

We hope that our unique jigsaw puzzles will allow you to spend some quality time enjoying the simple pleasures of building puzzles by hand and seeing your work come to life!