Matin doré, Carole Barraud (1000 pcs)

Golden Morning opens the door to a sun-drenched neighbourhood bakery, the kind of quiet morning everyone wishes for. The storefront, tiled in soft pink, sits under a purple and white striped awning topped by a bold red "Boulangerie" sign. Behind the window, shelves overflow with golden croissants, braided breads, colourful tarts and neatly arranged pastries, while a tall tree with an orange trunk spreads its green leaves just above, cradling a cozy nest where two little birds keep watch. At the foot of the trunk, a few flowers push through the grey sidewalk near a metal grate, and a black, white and blue checkered tile pattern lines the ground in front of the shop. Seated at a small bistro table on folding green chairs, a customer in a hat and plaid pants sips a coffee while reading the newspaper, as two cats watch the scene from an upstairs window and a festival poster adds a splash of city life to this warm little street corner.

This 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle relies on precision-cut pieces of varied shapes that snap satisfyingly into place, along with a matte finish that keeps glare away while you build. The thick board used for every piece makes for a sturdy puzzle that feels good to handle from start to finish. It is also a chance to slow down: piecing together such a detail-rich image takes patience, but plenty of studies link puzzling to a calming activity that helps unwind everyday stress, a fitting echo of the seated customer's own little pause in the scene.

The artwork is signed Carole Barraud, an illustrator from Lyon who works with markers, watercolour and digital media to capture the small pleasures of everyday life in vivid colour and with a good dose of humour. Her colourful, lively style also appears on At the Market, another Holiyay puzzle that instead captures the bustle of a neighbourhood market, for fans of lively street scenes by the same artist.

Dimensions: completed puzzle: 50 cm x 70 cm / 19.7 in x 27.6 in (1000 pieces)