The First Annual FRMQG Christmas Scrap Swap

Last Christmas, I saw a piece of art at my LQS that really caught my eye. It was a canvas, like you buy at Michael's or any hobby store and paint on, but it had strips of green fabric stitched onto a neutral background, then attached to the canvas to make it look like a Christmas tree!

Fast forward a year, to the Christmas Scrap Swap we had in the Front Range MQG, and I decided to make something similar for Beth. We each received a baggie full of Christmas scraps from our partner in September, and we were encouraged to make something for their kitchen. Well, I made her a few things, but I knew I wanted to make this scrappy Christmas tree, no matter what else I made her. :)  I did catch a bit of flack for all the things I made her, but that's okay. She loved them. :)

For her kitchen/dining room, I made a table-runner:

That's the only kitchen thing I actually made her. :) It seemed SO much bigger when I was binding it than when she held it up. Oh well. She liked it, and that's all that matters. 

Then I took some small strips of fabric and made her a little spool tree:

If I do it again, I'll figure out a way to make a little stump so the "tree" stands up off the base a bit more, but heck, it was my first try.

And, best of all, I made her my version  of the Scrappy Christmas Tree:

Strips sewn on, but there is batting involved, and I quilted some snow around the tree. Then I added pom-pom garland for that extra-special touch. Maybe over the top, but check out her reaction...
I expect her to shoot me for sharing this picture, but I love it too much to keep it to myself. :)

(I'm working on writing a tutorial for how I made it, so check back in a day or two.)

When it was my turn to open the presents, Kate gave me a giant bag, and I was quite intrigued. :)

She took my incredibly random bag of scraps, (I gave her some Alexander Henry Main Street fabric, and a bunch of other stuff that kinda went with it. Sorta.) and made me a really cute wreath! She said she knows I don't like to spend much time in the kitchen lately (hah! or EVER?!), so she chose an anywhere decoration instead.

I have it hanging backwards here, but you can totally see how cool it is with the dangling trees! Love it!

She also made me a little kitchen towel. I don't have a better picture of it than this, and I really  want to finish this post tonight, so take a little of this, and add some imagination, and you'll get to see the whole thing. :) It's really cute.

(gratuitous baby bump shot)

SO...that's me and my give and take from the FRMQG Christmas Scrap Swap. From everyone's reactions, I think it was a big hit, and we'll do it again next year.

Now, please excuse me while I go to bed. I have visions of quilt blocks dancing through my head. :)