Catching up
My Simple Squares quilt is finished.
Oh lovely squares!! Easy going, friendly squares. One size to cut and I didn't have to think too much as I sewed them together. I simply quilted in the ditch creating a 4 inch checkerboard of stitches on the back. It's bound in some navy fabric I had in my cupboard. Easy peasy, done and dusted.. or is it ? ... there might be more to this quilt than meets the eye... expect it when you least expect it. :)
Last weekend we had Gbf's sister come to stay with us. It's always a pleasure to show off our beautiful Blue Mountains, especially with a trip to one of my favourite places, Pulpit Rock Lookout, near Blackheath.
To get there you have to drive through a long tunnel of gum trees along a bumpy dirt road. Then there's a pleasant 10 minute walk down stairs made from rock and along a path lined with wild flowers, sculptural trees and pretty orange butterflies. When you come to the clearing you realise you're actually on a ridge sticking out into an amazing canyon.
And these are the views!
It's hard to capture the size of the valley in the photos. This photo might give an indication, the little specks in the center are Gbf and his sister.
The clouds were particularly beautiful!
That was it for photos because my camera stopped working ( sad face). It's been misbehaving for a while now but I've accepted the inevitable and decided to get a new camera ( happy face) and it will be a definite step up from what I've been using ( very happy face!!!). A Canon EOS D600! Hopefully I'll have it by the end of the week and will do a review once I've had a chance to play around with it.
Remember my Swoon Houses?
Sunna from Sunnyquilts blog in Iceland has made a wonderful version with smiley faces in the windows and a big shining center star. Check out her Dream Villiage version at Sunnyquilts blog, and say hello, she's been busy making wonderful quilts. There's a big star quilt I'm particularly drawn to.
Hmm I seem to remember saying I'd get my Swoon Houses quilted by April, boy this year sure is flying by, I'd better get onto it, no more dilly dallying!
31 Comments
I just love a simple 1 patch. It's fun easy and can be very effective with the fabrics you used! Those views are beautiful, are you afraid of heights?
ReplyDeleteWhat made you decide on that camera?
What a delightful post! I wonder whether there is some big stitch hand quilting in your future? And another Swoon Houses? How lovely! And the Blue Mountains are a real treasure aren't they?
ReplyDeleteGreat finish Rachael...love it! Oh my those views are absolutely stunning....made me a little homesick thinking of Blackheath!
ReplyDeleteGreat fabrics in your squares quilt. Didn't give it the your SIL?
ReplyDeleteMust get to pulpit rock one day too. Looks beautiful.
Love all the views!! Quilt views, landscape views...all fabulous and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how simple squares can make us so happy.
Fabulous stitching, as always. The Blue Mountains are so beautiful, every time I visit I'm filled with awe.
ReplyDeleteLove the blues in this quilt ... What a lovely part of Oz you live in :0)
ReplyDeleteI love the simple square quilt! But Rachael! I never realized how amazing your Blue Mountains are! They remind me of the Grand Canyon but more lush! Gorgeous! Great post and, YAY, on the new camera!
ReplyDeleteI just love your quilt! And I spied several daisy fabrics. Where do you find them? I have a hard time. My sister loves daisies and I plan on making her a daisy quilt, and I can't seem to find real daisy flowers on anything!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Wow! What an amazing place you live. Congrats on the new camera. I expect you'll do quite amazing things with it. Can't wait to see!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blue mountains :-)
ReplyDeleteYour Simple Squares are gorgeous as they are. I wonder what is coming??
ReplyDeleteStunning scenery - of course you should show it off!
Good luck with the new camera.
I always LOVE your photos! I'm intrigued with your Simple Squares quilt. What have you done I wonder? You must post again soon!!
ReplyDeleteThe Blue Mountains are spectacular! We only got to Katoomba a couple of times (but I wasn't long off chemo then so I wasn't up for much!). Thanks for sharing the pics, and cute quilt!
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ReplyDeleteyour quilt is amazing as always!
The way you told that story, I felt like I was with you all on your trip to the beautiful canyon....WOW !
what incredible views! I love to hike and those stairs look quite a hike up and down.
ReplyDeleteIt amazing how different your landscape is - just gorgeous.
Sunna's block is so cute!
Yea for your squares quilt! What a delightful mix of fabrics. It must be so satisfying to make a top, quilt it, and bind it all in one go. I'm impressed and inspired to try that sometime! ; ) Lovely tour. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSweet quilt and great shots ! You'll love the canon and we'll be camera twins - I've got the same one !!
ReplyDeleteOoohhhh....you’re a big tease! Now I’m practically holding my breath waiting to see what else is going to happen with this quilt! It’s so pretty just the way it is that I cant even imagine what you;re going to do next.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. The Blue Mountains are one of the most beautiful places in Australia. And fabulous news about your new camera.
yes, now I'm curious, too.
ReplyDeleteThe quilt is already beautiful as it is.
And your photos are breathtaking .
Delightful quilt, spectacular scenery and the optimistic promise that a new camera holds for us all. This post has it all. Enjoy playing with it.
ReplyDeleteOooh, oooh, I've been there! the quilt and the location :oD and if you need any help with the camera give me a shout.
ReplyDeletePS, Nikon number Dxxx, Canon number xxxD
Che immagini spettacolari!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place you live near and I enjoyed seeing the photos. I wish I could see it in person, my kids too. Maybe someday! Too bad your camera stopped working, but I'm sure it will be fun to upgrade:)
ReplyDeleteI think you are going to lurve your EOS 600! I have the EOS 650 and quite happily lug it around with me because the pictures it takes are wonderful. I have yet to utilise its full capacity. There is a great magazine (from the UK I think) that is all about the Canon SLRs. I bought it a few times and it was great read.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice showing our family around where we live. Those views are amazing.
Single patch quilts are so utterly charming.
I Loooove your pretty blues in this quilt. My favorite quilts are simple quilts of squares -- they let the fabrics really shine!
ReplyDeleteAnd those Swoon Houses!!!! LOVE!!!!
The year of finishes continues . Love this one and the tours are always great.
ReplyDeleteLove your simple squares - all those summery blues! And of course, yes, I do remember your Swoon block! From the flattest county in England, I am feeling dizzy just looking at your tour pics! xCathy
ReplyDeleteI will wait patiently for the reveal of the finished quilt as I figure something wonderful has yet to be done with it. Not that it needs any more done, it is truly beautiful in it's simpleness. If you can call so vivid and happy quilt simple.
ReplyDeleteWow, your Blue Mountains are so magnificent. Thank you for this tour and the many earlier around your country, you take such a wonderful photos. I have Canon EOS 1000D and am sloooowwwwly learning to use it, not a very good photographer though and never giving myself the time to simply stop and take photos of interesting sights.
I was pleasantly surprised when I read to the bottom of this post. Thank you very much for your lovely comments.
My read through is not completely done, I found out this morning that some of your posts have been hiding from me. That's my story and I'm sticking to it although it might be said that I didn't pay enough attention to the fact that some months don't fit on one "page". I will though admit to being confused when I hadn't seen some of the posts you were referring to.
I really love simple one patch quilts. They're just classic quilts and your bright fabric choices adds a zing to the quilt. Congrats on your new camera! What an awesome place to visit-it looks like it would be a great place to camp if that's something that you like to do.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your Swoon Houses! One of my favorites EVER.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for leaving me a comment. Your kind words encourage me to keep sharing my work and stories.