T is for Twentieth Anniversary

Hi, everyone!  Won't you join me for (virtual) tea today?  In addition to the cookies above, I offer you a taste of the season...

Image source: http://alteredbooklover.blogspot.com

...not tea, but wassail!

My wassail is probably quite different from traditional English wassail.  Mine is just a mix of apple, orange, and cranberry juice, simmered together with cinnamon sticks and a clove-studded tangerine.  The wassail shown above has been chilled, but it's also good when served warm, straight from the simmering pot.

Now that we're all settled with a beverage and treats, I'll show you the project I have to share today.  It's a present that I recently gave to some relatives on their twentieth anniversary.  This couple loves camping, so I decided to make a decorative banner for their camper.  Now they can go "glamping!"  :)
 

(click to see a bigger photo)

Actually, here in Minnesota we go more for the "northwoods" look than the "glam" look, so my banner has a cozy, homespun vibe.  The pennants are made of wool felt, the motifs are from evenweave embroidery cloth, and the gingham accents are from lightweight cotton flannel.  I also used some beads, plus a button upcycled from old clothing.

In keeping with the homespun look, I used a casual running stitch, and I didn't turn under the edges of the appliques.  The bird, heart, and pennant shapes are all of my own design. 

Some of the inspiration for this banner came from personal taste and northwoods style, and the rest of the inspiration (especially the idea for love birds, as well as the running stitch) came from the Needle~Thread~Cloth October challenge.  Yes, October...I've had this banner finished for awhile, but I couldn't show it on my blog until I had given the anniversary present...which I did this past weekend.  I'm glad that I could finally share the photos with you.  Thanks for stopping by my blog today!