I completed the Sydney block as an applique block rather than using paper piecing. I used a sunset fabric background which I painted last month. I used a buttonhole stitch around the white applique pieces of the Opera house in Sydney. 
I used straight line quilting and a walking foot on all the 8 completed blocks. I plan to complete 3 or 4 more applique blocks and make a smaller quilt than the original pattern (60″ square). My finished quilt will be about 45″ square. I had a smaller place to hang the finished quilt so I decided to make it smaller.
Keep having fun sewing and quilting. Donna
Quilting Sisters Unravelled 