Finding My Way In The Mountains
This quilt began about 6 months before a single stitch was sewn.
I saw an amazing New York Beauty quilt by Chris Jurd in a quilt show and it stopped me in its tracks. In the following weeks it seemed her quilts started popping up everywhere, in magazines, even old ones from the library! One afternoon I popped into my local quilt shop, The Quilt Smith and they'd just posted classes for classes with Chris to make her Mariners Mediallian. I was first on the list.
The class was months away and in the meantime Gbf & I made the big decision to change our lifestyle from Inner City Sydneyites to being Blue Mountains country folk.We timed the move for just after my long awaited class, there was no way I was going to miss it!
The class was great, my first attempt at foundation piecing. It takes a few goes to learn to think upside down and back to front, and to properly sew on the lines, oops, but I managed to go home with the center mostly finished.
I'm the 2nd on the left with the stripey tshirt and big smile
This is the really cool part - It turned out Chris is a Blue Mountains local and taught at the closest quilt shop to where we were moving to. How's that for fate!! Definitely meant to be!! I turned up to the next class there and continued making my quilt. And we haven't looked back, I follow her around like a stalker and she continually inspires me with her amazing quilts and makes me laugh with her great sense of humour.
The quilt waited patiently for nearly 3 years for me to hand quilt it...if only I had the time!! It would still be waiting if I didn't have the good sense to take it to my wonderful long arm quilter Tania Croft who did her usual magic. I wish I could photograph the quilting better.Tania's put feathered rings in the borders, little loopy frills in the triangles, echoed the mini dresdans... it's all wonderful and so perfect.
So here it is... the quilt I started in Sydney and finished in the Blue Mountains... This is the part where you get lots of photos!!!
Pretty peachy fabric by Martha Negley for the backing .
The photos were taken in the gardens of The Norman Lindsay Gallery. Gbf and I acted like we were on a covert operation as we snuck around taking our photos. tee hee... who knows where we'll pop up next...
37 Comments
wow your quilt is beautiful..........I am doing a class with Chris in the next few months.......
ReplyDeleteAwesome quilt......but that is what I expect from you. Absolutely love the first photo of the quilt in the tree. It looks like it evolved from the tree and is waiting to be plucked from the branches.
ReplyDeleteFabulous...truly fabulous! I love the colour palette- reminds me of an autumn day! I'd love a close up of the corner pieces!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this quilt and have wanted to make a quilt like this for a long time
ReplyDeletelove the backing fabric, sooo pretty
I really love the photographs nice to see pictures from other parts of the world
Kathie
Congratulations on such an awesome quilt being finished. I love the story behind it and the great sets that the quilt got to be photographed at. Just make out you're doing some magazine shots.
ReplyDeleteI love your fabric on the border, it suits the quilt and love the backing. In fact, there's nothing I don't love about it.
Bello, bello, bellissimo!!!!
ReplyDeleteIl blocco "New York beauty è fantastico e tu sei stata molto brava!
Forse un giorno anch'io proverò....forse....un giorno....
Ciao
Thanks for the great write-up! Who would have thought we'd become such good friends too.
ReplyDeleteAnd to top it off you've taken your pics at our wedding venue the amazing Norman Lindsay house and gardens! How cool is that.
It's beautiful. I want it.
ReplyDeleteLovely pics too.
BEUW-TI-FUL!!!!! Awesome, awesome quilt. Just beautiful. I think the name is perfect.
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful! I hope it has an important place in your home.
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect setting for your perfect quilt! It just looks fabulous where ever you placed it. Well done, what a treasure that quilt is. I recognized the location too, isn't it the best place to visit :-)
ReplyDeleteBravo! Wonderful quilt Rachael! It is beautiful! I love the quarter compasses on the corners. So well done and the colors are perfect! The mountains seem to suit you...it was meant to be :)
ReplyDeleteHoly cow, Rachael! This is stunning! And I'm so glad you decided to machine quilt it; it deserves to be finished! What a masterpiece! You truly inspire me!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous quilt ! Incredible piecing ! And I just love the autumn colors, in one photo the quilt just blends into the landscape :-)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous!!! Honest Rachael!! It's absolutely beautiful. It's perfect and so is it's name!! hehehe...I could just imagine you and gbf sneaking around the gardens. You two are so cute!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful! I have always wanted to make one but thought it looked too hard.
ReplyDeleteThe name is so perfect,so you!
Absolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteNot much I can say after what has been said!! Stunning!! It's an heirloom guilt for sure!!!
ReplyDeleteI love those circle blocks cant wait for my skills to get better and tackle one.
ReplyDeletehttp://richardquilts.blogspot.com
This is a wonderful quilt story! I love the perseverance, the new skils and new friends, the change of locale. All of it making you better and building your life. Just perfect!
ReplyDeleteWhat a winner, Rachael. The combination of Chris' clever design and your soft florals is so beautiful. Well done!
ReplyDeleteOh Beautiful!!!
ReplyDeletewhat a nice story of change and having such a gorgeous quilt to remember your move.
I love the photography, such a beautiful place to highlight the quilt.
Wow - this one is just stunning!
so fun to see the group shot of the class.
Such a beautiful quilt, and great memories to go along with it!!
ReplyDeleteOh Rachael that quilt...I am drooling....it is super super beautiful...Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteA little story for you about my first quilt...I learnt quilting years ago back in Blackheath...moved to Bathurst then Bungendore...and called it From Blackheath to Bathurst to Bungendore...My journey into quilting started up there!
Stunningly beautiful!! Congratulations on a wonderful finish. Thanks for sharing the story and pictures. What a beautiful setting to take the photos in. Hope to see you in Sydney next week!!
ReplyDeleteGirl, my jaw fell so hard it dropped right THROUGH the floor....what a stunning quilt!!!! I can't even imagine making something like this! It is just so gorgeous, it leaves me speechless!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch an amazing looking quilt! I really love the colours in this, absolutely beautiful!
ReplyDeletex
This quilt is just wonderful. I so admire Chris Jurd and her quilts, how fun to actually be able to take classes with her!
ReplyDeleteWow wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThere aren't enough adjectives to describe how gorgeous your quilt is Rachael. It's completely stunning.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder it took a while- you cant hurry genius!
Ditto to Shay's comment. It's absolutely stunning Rachael. It was worth all the time it took to complete it.
ReplyDeleteOh it's fab, so glad it finally got to be a real live quilt!
ReplyDeleteThis quilt is breathtaking. WOW.
ReplyDeleteYou always leave me going wow!!! some people have natural skill and talent and you my friend have it without a doubt, and love the photos :)
ReplyDeleteThe quilt is is so rich in color. Like the gallery. I'm enjoying your views of quilts in the mountains.
ReplyDeleteOMG, this quilt is sooo beautiful! What a amazing achievement! And I love the name, and the story of how it came to be. Great photo shoot - your quilt looks so perfect with the natural settings.
ReplyDeleteFound your blog through a link at Audrey's Quilty Folk. It is lovely to see another Aussie Quilter! I recognised that beach in the Octopus Garden photos, and these gardens too. Tee hee. Both of your quilts are spectacular. Thanks for showing them off. A friend of mine is currently doing a Chris Jurd quilt in Blackheath, travelling from the Central Coast. That is dedication.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for leaving me a comment. Your kind words encourage me to keep sharing my work and stories.