Our annual December Quilt Group Gift Exchange is MY favorite meeting of the year...it's so fun to see what everyone brings to give!  This year the gifts were top notch, as usual.  We started our exchange 20 years ago and we had a limit on the cost of the gift - that soon went out the window because how to do put a limit on something that is hand-made and wonderful?  Yours truly didn't have time to make anything this year so I purchased something - which met our rules...hand-made or store bought, as long as it's sewing/quilt related.  Feast your eyes on these fabulous gifts!

Barbara made this snowman pillow and it has down filling so it is squishy and soft - not sure who took this one home, but lucky them!

Marsha made these blue and yellow Christmas kitchen towels and hot pads and she also made her delicious bag of toffee, which for me would be the real gift!  I think Barbara went home with this gift!

Diane made this snowman pillow - so many pieces!  And those buttons are the cutest!  I think Jenny grabbed this gift!

Stephanie is peeking above her gift, made by Kareena...can you guess what it is?  It's a selfie Christmas quilt...You stand in front of it, under the mistletoe and take your own picture...hilarious!

This is part of the gift I received, a sewing basket ornament, from Jenny.  It's already on my tree and I love it!

This is the other part of my gift - a teddy bear that was made from pieces of a Civil Way quilt.  Jenny found him in Maine during their Great Family Adventure!  I will treasure this - and it's currently on my Teddy Bear tree!  Thank you Jen!

Janet made this fabulous pillow - not sure who took this one home, maybe Denise.  When I said how much I loved it Janet told me I was with her when she bought the pattern and I bought one, too!  Now if I could just find it and some time...

I don't know who brought this, it's been more than 24 hours so don't judge!  Darling hand-stitched towel, a jar of jam and a really cool seam ripper!  I also don't know who got this!  Oh well, I do know they were happy!

Helen made this super cute log cabin house - it is SOOOOO her!  Not sure who ended up with this little beauty but they will love putting it out every year at Christmas!

This was the gift I picked and opened and held in my fat little hands for about 30 seconds before it was stolen from me.  Such a dastardly deed!  Oh well, easy come - easy go!  Because it was stolen I was lucky enough to get the teddy bear!  I think it was stolen a few times before Denise ended up with it!  Terry made it, she did such a beautiful job!

This was the gift I brought...I found this cute little bag and filled it with an old spool wreath (not shown), a yard of fabric quilt labels, a glass Singer sewing machine ornament and a gift certificate to Spoonflower for $25!  Spoonflower sells amazing fabrics, designed by people like you and me...and artists who turn their designs into fabric.  If you haven't visited Spoonflower, you should!  Helen went home with my gift.

Stephanie served us a wonderful soup, salad and great appetizers and desserts - which many hands helped with - it was all so delicious!  I waddled out the door!  Here's some pics of Stephanie's wonderful Christmas home...

My quilting friends sang happy birthday to me and Kareena - and Marsha made this white chocolate cake - so yummy!  Diane brought a cheesecake with cherries on top and she covered it with candles for me and Kareena to blow out...Kareena's birthday was last week - so it was a fun way to celebrate!

I'm glad they didn't put ALL of the candles on the cake - it would have been like a solar storm!

Stephanie's home was so beautifully decorated - it just feels like Christmas should feel!

Oops!  I'm not drunk, I promise!  I don't know how these pictures get in here sideways and what's worse, I don't know how to fix them!  Oh well, turn your head and enjoy - Stephanie's tree is adorable!

Hope these pictures give you a big dose of Christmas Spirit!  Thanks to my quilting friends for another great year of  F U N  and to Stephanie for hosting our annual party - it was amazing!