Thanks to social media I have connected with a successful App builder at  http://www.fivelakesstudio.com.  They have launched over 10 mobile casual games for the iPhone and iPad.  A selection of my picapix puzzles are now available to be played on Picross HD, their picture puzzle game free on the Apple App Store.  How cool is that?  One of my New Year’s resolutions was to find an App for my puzzles.  What should I do next month?

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November 2013 issue cut off bottom 5 rows of grid, so here it is for your pleasure:

Westerly

#Picapix #Puzzle

The post Westerly first appeared on Learn Pic-a-Pix.

I can remember as a kid how much pleasure I had coloring in my coloring books.  I remember coloring for hours, taking great caution to stay within the lines.  Coloring as neat as possible was very important to me.  It was a great way to spend time with friends or siblings.  Then I grew up and forgot all about this pastime, until I had children of my own.  I found I couldn’t resist sitting down with my children and coloring one page while they colored the page beside it.  Now my kids are growing up, and again, the pastime of coloring in coloring books has been put on the shelf. 

But then I started solving Picapix puzzles and discovered eraseable pencil crayons were my choice of tool for this task.  For someone who has always enjoyed solving puzzles of most common types, this was an enormous discovery of great proportion!  It became my meditation as it calmed my nerves and eased my mind.  There is actually positive psychology in coloring.  It works as a relaxant, because it allows the mind to let go of momentary thoughts.  Accessing creativity allows you to refocus your energy and attention away from problems which might be causing you distress.

So you see coloring isn’t just for children.  Adults seeking to relax their mind and body need only find themselves a box of crayons, although solving my picapix puzzles may add a degree of challenge to that peacefulness.  Still it is an added element to that feel-good-feeling in your head!  For more information about coloring pictures for the elderly, I suggest this article:  http://www.boomers-with-elderly-parents.com/coloring-pictures.html .  And for coloring and solving some of my picapix puzzles, try these free printable ones: http://learnpicapix.com/free-puzzles/ .

Thank you Crayola – Diane Baher, author of 2 Picapix Books

The post Meditation by Coloring first appeared on Learn Pic-a-Pix.

I must apologize for the technical difficulties you may have experienced when trying to connect via email or through my website during the past two weeks.  I always say the best time to fix something is as soon as you become aware that it needs fixing.  That being said, this morning I realized my last email was 2 weeks ago so I knew something was up.  So within 24 hours from now everything should be up and running.  Again I do apologize for this and it is definitely my loss and I surely do miss the communication that didn’t make it and was returned undeliverable.

http://learnpicapix.com/ Diane Baher, author and puzzle creator

The post Technical Difficulties first appeared on Learn Pic-a-Pix.

What an admirable job the Chamber of Commerce in Claresholm, AB did in running this weekend’s events (Feb. 1&2).  I’ve been in numerous markets before, but this was my first real Trade Fair as a vendor.  I enjoy introducing my picapix puzzles and books to new audiences, and I even sold a few to a number of curious and happy puzzlers, but I came out of there feeling extra special.  You see, yesterday I was totally awed to meet in person a woman in politics, someone we all know as Premier Alison Redford.  I found her to be personably quiet but friendly, exuding underlying wisdom and confidence that she so obviously has.  I guess that’s why she is in her present leadership role.  But keeping politics aside, my experience was such a positive feeling, to connect with such an amazing person!  I think the word is “Honored”!

Besides all the excitement her visit brought, there were numerous other medias present at this Trade Fair, so keep your eyes open, you might spot me in the Claresholm Local Press; or maybe on a U-Tube video done by MDC Production; or find me on the brand new Chamber of Commerce website under member listings….  The list goes on, all the wonderful connections made during the 2-day event.  I actually felt like a celebrity when it was all over.  Many thanks again to the people of Claresholm, the Chamber, you have an amazing little town!  Where the Wheat Fields meet the Rangeland!  And where some were fortunate enough to discover this “pumped-up” brain activity I’m promoting. 

Diane Baher, Author/Creator of Picapix Puzzles  http://learnpicapix.com/ 

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There are no guarantees for the prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias, but research shows there are steps we can take towards a healthy brain.  Remember this word:  IMAGE!

I is for I love a challenge!  Challenge your brain with new activities, such as using your less dominant hand to do simple tasks.  Play brain games, such as Pic-a-Pix, or other puzzles, learn a new language or learn to play a musical instrument.

M is for Mind your stress levels.  We all know that stress isn’t good for the body, so try to make time for yourself.  Keep friends and family close for their support, and get plenty of rest.

A is for Activate your social life.  Stimulating for the brain, socializing is an important aspect of brain health.  What better excuse to get together with an old friend!

G is for Get your numbers.  This is about a healthy lifestyle for your body as well, visit your doctor and stay on top of those medical risk factors.  Keep yourself informed about health.

E is for Exercise.  As well as keeping your body healthy, exercise increases brain health by “feeding” it more blood and oxygen.  Sports helmets protect your head from brain injuries and risk of damage.  As well, a healthy brain can withstand illness better.

More about this Healthy Brain IMAGE can be found online at the Alzheimer Society of Calgary. 

Diane Baher, author of logic puzzle books.

The post January is Alzheimer Awareness Month first appeared on Learn Pic-a-Pix.

A zine – pronounced zeen – derived from magazine – is an independently or self-published booklet, … more at Wikipedea .  I have created my own zine in order to provide a little taste of my pic-a-pix puzzles:  ZinePicapix  is a two-page pdf file which only requires folding and stapling after printing.  One page will fit inside the other, as the page numbers indicate.

Why a puzzle zine?

Shelf Life Books of Calgary, an independent bookstore, suggested I create a zine to accompany their display of my first Japanese logic puzzle book titled “Pic-a-Pix the Latest Puzzling Fix”.  I agree that it would be a great introductory tool for those curious puzzle-types, you know the ones that have an eye out for something new and challenging.

Hope you enjoy it and/or share it with somebody who will.  Thanks for your time.

Diane Baher, Creator of Pic-a-Pix Puzzles

The post Zine for Pic-a-Pix Puzzle first appeared on Learn Pic-a-Pix.

Pic-a-pix puzzles originated in Japan back in 1987, that’s only 25 years ago.  That’s pretty young for a puzzle if you think about it, but in that timeframe, it has been spreading throughout Europe and is now spreading throughout North America.  I recently met a lovely young lady from Israel who was promoting body products containing minerals from the Dead Sea.  She told me that she has been solving this kind of puzzle from a newspaper back home.  It made me realize the extent of the popularity of this puzzle; and as long as you understand the concept of the grid and what you do with the number clues, it really is language-independent.

Transcending Boundaries

A pic-a-pix fan of mine has been blogging about myself and my book.  She relates her experience with travel and how certain things abroad don’t necessarily have a language barrier.  See her article called  Transcending Boundaries .  The major appeal of Japanese logic puzzles is attributed to their simple rules and the use of logic without special knowledge of words or math.

And of course the benefits of doing brain teasers are numerous:  satisfaction with solving and completing something difficult, increased brain health (use or lose it), development of new logic skills, and last but not least, pure enjoyment.

To learn how to solve Pic-a-pix puzzles, visit my place.

Diane Baher

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And what does Pic-a-Pix have to do with it?

It has always been my understanding that one of the logic skills used to solve pic-a-pix puzzles is called spatial reasoning, but a good portion of us don’t know what it means.  A person who has it is good at dealing with relationships between objects in both two and three dimensions. 

For example, parallel-parking – some of us purposely avoid it while others perform the maneuver every day and never hesitate to do it.  It has something to do with the space available and visual acuity or reasoning, but the good news is that it can be learned and developed with practice.

Pic-a-pix puzzles have number clues for the columns in a grid, and number clues for the rows of the same grid, or in other words, clues for vertical and clues for horizontal directions – two dimensions.  Your brain has to jump back and forth between these two. 

Another way that you will utilize spatial reasoning is if, for example, the number clue is 6 and the grid is 10 squares, you can safely deduct that the two middle squares of that row can be colored in, because regardless if that block of 6 is to occupy the space farthest to the left or farthest to the right, those two squares will be used in either case.

For more information on spatial reasoning see this article.

Diane Baher, creator of puzzle book:   Pic-a-Pix the Latest Puzzling Fix

The post Pic-a-Pix and Spatial Reasoning first appeared on Learn Pic-a-Pix.

Grid Puzzle Good News

Can’t believe it’s been a year and a half now that the Gateway Gazette Newspaper has been featuring my picapix puzzles.  And if you haven’t heard their good news yet – they  just launched their new format of Digital Newspaper, with fresh ‘Good news only’ every day now.  Congratulations!

This is such good news for myself as well, since a new puzzle of mine is featured every other Wednesday, see Fun Stuff page.  These are a great way to practice and learn how to do picapix puzzles.

A Picture to Puzzle Over was great promotion for me.  Great stories from a great newspaper!

Diane Baher, Pic-a-Pix the Latest Puzzling Fix    

The post Thank You Gateway Gazette first appeared on Learn Pic-a-Pix.