The eyes have it

And yes, I meant "eyes."

When I had to stop working on this a few days back, it was missing seventeen pieces.  This morning I managed to locate eight of them before frustration set in (and a desire to have breakfast).  As you can see, I am currently dumbfounded by a measly seven remaining inches.

Why is it that the fewer I need, the more I feel like drinking?

Hint:
Try not looking at this too closely.  Leave it small, and move back from the screen - say...five or six feet.