Last night I got home from my trip to Vienna, Prague and Budapest. I have just finished posting photos from the Matthias Church in Budapest, which is an absolute *jewel* of art and patterned design … not only on every interior surface of the building, but also the colored tiles on the roof are in a pattern!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthias_Church

I just couldn't help but think of all you quilters when I walked inside this gorgeous building. There was SO much design inspiration and truly unique color combinations that I was just snapping away like crazy with my new camera. My present to myself for my birthday was a camera with a high quality lowlight sensor, and a combination wide angle and telephoto lens, so I could quickly switch back and forth from taking in a big wide angle scene, to zooming in on a distant detail. (like the patterned artwork on the ceiling of this cathedral!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/luanarubin/sets/72157625476989025/

Take a look on my photo page or my Facebook page and you'll see what I mean. You can't help but see quilt blocks and applique designs when you look at these images!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/luanarubin/

http://www.facebook.com/luana.rubin

One of the colors that really stood out for me on this trip was a deep rich yellow-gold. I was traveling with my friend Beth Hayes (Editor-in-Chief of McCalls Quilting Magazine) and she pointed out that there were so many houses painted this intense shade of yellow, as we traveled through the countryside! We also saw this color all over Sch?nbrunn Palace in Vienna. The color 'Sch?nbrunn Yellow' was a favorite of the Emperor Franz II/I, and so the whole place was repainted this color around 1818. I wonder what the neighbors thought….?

http://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/wissenswertes/tour-of-the-palace.html

http://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/wissenswertes/palace/baugeschichte-iii.html

I will be posting photos all week, so be sure to check my photo/Facebook pages in a few days. Also, if you missed my enewsletter Weds night, check out the photos posted from the Czech Republic.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/luanarubin/sets/72157625545354406/

Sunday, my last day in Vienna, I saw the Lipizzaner horses, Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss", and a Verdi opera at the big historic Vienna Opera House. I'll be adding more Vienna photos later this week!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/luanarubin/sets/72157625419734961/

We're all crazy-busy getting ready for the holiday season, but I know you are all secretly sneaking down to your stash and planning projects for the winter months…so I hope these images will give you some design and color ideas. I have had an absolute blast taking these photos and sharing them with you all!