They came to support the new La Conner Swinomish Library and they did not disappoint.
One-hundred-two people attended the 4th Festival of Tiny Trees last Saturday at the Swinomish Yacht Club.
A silent auction featured 21 tabletop trees decked out to represent a range of themes: nature, the winter solstice, forest friends, owls, holiday baking, wine, spirits, coffee, fairyland, travel and even the “little library that could.”
Alexa Robbins and her sister Tina Everitt’s “Christmas Under the Big Top” featuring a sumptuous circus theme of handmade decorations and tree skirt, a bucket of treats and wooden train set, won the People’s Choice Award, voted on by guests during the evening.
Robbins has designed a tree each year, as have Sally Cram, Lynette Cram/Balance Point, Amy Green and her team from the Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum, and Margaret Hillard and the La Conner Senior Center at Maple Hall. First-time business participants in town included Stompin’ Grounds Coffee, Enchanted Locks Hair Salon, La Conner Marina/Port of Skagit, Washington Federal, GLDN, La Conner Dental and Gail Harker Center for Creative Arts.
A tall pencil tree decorated with 16 4” x 4” painted canvases featured local artists Dorothy Bird, Rebecca Bolstad, Jennifer Bowman, Margaret Carpenter-Arnett, Lily Carter (teenage daughter of Chamber of Commerce director Heather Carter), Sharon Curran, Dee Doyle, John Ebner, Gary Giovane, Amy Green, Jack Gunter, Ria Harboe, Meg Holgate, Mel Raddatz and Maggie Wilder. Swinomish carver Kevin Paul donated “Raven,” a 40 inch by 6 inch yellow cedar carving.
The event raised more than $13,000, including ticket sales, $3,090; the tiny trees silent auction, $4,365 ($855 above value); live auction of local, original artwork, $5,225 ($175 over value); and raffle, $370. The silent and live auctions this year raised $3,090 more than last year’s event.
In kind support was provided by Swinomish Yacht Club, Christianson’s Nursery, Tillinghast Postal, Random Acts of Food and Skagit Crest Winery & Vineyard.
Raffle items were donated by Two Moons, Ben Mann and La Conner Tea Company.
Proceeds will help outfit the new community program and meeting room in the new La Conner Swinomish Library.
Groundbreaking is slated for next summer.
Susan Macek directs the La Conner Library Foundation.
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