The final size of my quilt was about 24 x 38 inches (roughly A2 paper size). The background was made of stripes of fabric 24 inches wide and varying in height from one to two inches. Starting at the bottom, the colour changes from browns to burnt orange to yellow to green to light blue to dark blue to sunset red. I mixed solids and patterns -- don't spend to much time thinking about your selection, go with instinct. If in doubt, make it a narrow band. Cut the strips with a pair of scissors, not a rotary cutter and ruler so you get a more organic flow rather than a regimented look when the strips are sewn together. As it was a wall-hanging, I used an assortment of fabrics, including satins and silks which add a lovely sheen. It is, however, easier to sew the strips together if you don't have two "slippery" fabrics next to each other. I used two fabrics from shirts that I wear; only my friends will recognise these.
Now for the tree appliqué. You could appliqué this onto the background and then quilt the top, but then you'll have to sew around all the branches you've already sewn when you appliquéd it. I haven't this much patience -- or time. So instead I chose a busy check fabric for the back (you're looking for something that'll show up the quilting the least), created a quilt sandwich (top, batting, background) and appliquéd my tree onto the sandwich. Two for the price of one!
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