Maker Spotlight: Villager Puzzles - Designed by Canadian Women, Puzzle by Puzzle

Villager Puzzles was founded by Kelly Striemer, a working mom of three from Comox, BC, on Vancouver Island. A self-described "puzzle snob," Kelly started the company after struggling to find puzzles that met her own standards, and set out to build something better: thick, satisfying pieces, a matte finish that cuts glare, and sturdy boxes nice enough to display on a shelf. She later pitched the brand's expansion on CBC's Dragons' Den.

What really sets Villager apart is who makes the art. Every single design is created by a Canadian woman artist, never AI, and each artist earns a royalty on every puzzle sold. It's a small detail that adds up: some of Villager's artists have earned well into five figures from their designs. The puzzles themselves are built with recycled blue paperboard and a magnetic closure box, so even the packaging is made to last.

Villager's mission is simple: puzzle more, scroll less. In just a few years, the brand has grown to more than 800 retail locations across Canada.

Shop our full Puzzles collection, featuring designs from coastal BC and prairie sunset scenes to cozy cabin and city-life illustrations.