turkey feathers

VIRGINIA--Dogwood

 
Here's the next flower block--hot off the hoop. 

 
When the dogwood blooms in springtime, it is a sight to behold.  The showy flowers emerge white, pink, or rosy red, but disappear in summer leaving attractive dark green foliage; followed by berries in the fall and a dazzling display of colorful leaves.  It’s a relatively small tree, reaching heights of 15-20 feet, and maintains an attractive silhouette, contributing to its popularity in home landscapes and city streets.   I found this one in a nearby woodland area last May.  

Another flower, the ‘Virginia creeper’ was also proposed for the state flower, but it was the American Dogwood (Cornus florida), supported by various Garden Clubs, that contributed to its adoption on March 6, 1918--declaring it to be the floral emblem of the Commonwealth.  Despite the title of “state flower” it is most assuredly a tree.  Virginia is the only  state to have the same state flower and state tree.  According to the 'Language of Flowers Almanac', Dogwood represents "durability" even though it looks quite delicate. 

 
The mature bark is also interesting.  It is sometimes scaly or blocky.  Long ago, it was recorded that, a tincture was created by boiling the bark to treat dogs for mange, which may be where the common name "dog wood" originated.   

Though blossoms vary in hue, the legislation does not stipulate a particular color.  Since white is the most common, it's the color I chose to use for my flower block.  The centers are actually more a purplish green, not yellow--as I did them...but, oh well.  We are learning things as we go along. 

 

COLORS:  flowers--cream #3823; inner line on petals--blush pink #758; centers--yellow #744; tips of petals--reddish brown #356; leaves & stems--green #988; letters--smoke gray #645.

COLORADO--Columbine

 
It's springtime in the Rocky Mountains...when the Colorado Columbine (Aquilegia caerules) makes its appearance in the sub-alpine meadows, open woodlands, and along streams.  I LOVE this flower!  There are dozens of different species found throughout the northern hemisphere, as they cross pollinate easily producing natural hybrids and interesting flower shapes that inspire the imagination.  The word 'columbine' comes from the Latin word Columba, which means dove or bird of peace.  Interestingly, the genus name is derived from the Latin word eagle (Aquila), because the shape of the spiky petals were said to resemble an eagles claw.  Imagine, an eagle and a dove to describe this dandy little flower.  There's another variety I like, called, "Granny's Bonnet" that's shaped like a prairie bonnet.

 
So lovely.  Columbine is a fragrant perennial which propagates by seed, growing to a height of about 15 to 20 inches, and once established will stay put without interference, requiring very little maintenance.  It prefers shade, but will grow in full sun in well drained soil, while tolerating dry spells and Zone 3 conditions.   Colorful, nectar-rich flowers attract hummingbirds, provide food for butterflies and caterpillars, and at one time were consumed (in moderation) by the Native Americans as a sweet-tasting condiment.  But the seeds and roots are highly poisonous to humans and most animals, which would contribute to its staying power.

The white and lavender “Rocky Mountain Columbine”  was adopted as the official state flower on April 4, 1899 by an act of General Assembly after Colorado school children voted it as their favorite flower.  To protect and preserve the choice, and possiblly sensing it's demise from over-zealous flower pickers, the General Assembly made it the duty of all citizens to watch over this rare species, passing a law in 1925, prohibiting the removal of the flower from any public land; picking no more than 25 blossoms and stems in one day, and only with the consent of the landowner.   And so, it remains and survives today. 
COLORS:  petals--JP Coats variegated purple; center--light orange DMC #435; stems & leaves--dark green #470; medium green #3348; letters--gray #645.

 

Heads Up Haiku

 

A pause between storms --  a lovely surprise awaits. 

 
We take a few cuttings for the breakfast table.

 

Look -- a rainbow!

 
Another rainbow -- inside. 

A garden of color -- waiting to be stitched.

And I realize -- I need more purple. 

 

MASSACHUSETTS--Mayflower

 
The sun has been playing peek-a-boo and suddenly there is light!  This can be a good thing when one is trying to take pictures of finished flower blocks, as I am attempting to do here.  But illumination into dark corners is also a wake-up call for that dreaded activity known as: 'Spring Cleaning'.  I admit, it's always a bit of a shock when I realize how many cobwebs I've been living under...sending me into a flurry of activity. 

But let's talk about flowers instead, shall we?  Oh yes, let's do!

 
Today we have the slow growing, shade-loving Mayflower (Epigaea repens), a Massachusetts native, and our state flower quilt block number 28.  It does seem rather appropriate, don't you think, that the Mayflower was chosen to represent this state, as it bears the same name as the ship that carried the Pilgrims to its shores in 1620.  It's also known as the "gravel plant", trailing arbutus, and ground laurel--giving insight into its growing habit, as it spreads on the ground in sandy soil in woodland areas where oak leaves and pine needles contribute to the acidic soil conditions it thrives in. 

Fragrant waxy-pink blossoms appear from March to May, fading nearly to white.  The dark green oval leaves are leathery, growing from hairy rust-colored twigs.  It was adopted as the official flower of the Commonwealth in 1918; and has been on the endangered list since 1925, when the over collection of its leaves for wreath making nearly led to the plants complete destruction.  It is still illegal to remove or dig up this flower from its natural setting.  The Language of the Flowers gives ground laurel the label of "perserverance" and for good reason it seems.

SIDE NOTE:  Speaking of perserverance, the Japanese people are certainly in our prayers as they endure the most trying of times.  If you want to help, funds can be donated directly through the American Red Cross.  Also the Asia Disaster Relief Fund donates 100% of gifts directly to the needs--nothing is spent on administration or other expenses.

 COLORS:  Petals--rose #962; pink #818. Flower center--yellow #3822.  Stems & veins--reddish brown #632.  Leaves--dk green #3346.  Lettering #645.

Next up, the Colorado Columbine. . .

 

MISSISSIPPI--Magnolia

 
At the hint of spring, our magnolia bush is one of the very first flowers to make an appearance.  Today, the large downy-covered pods are about to unfurl into a delicate dance of pale froth right on cue, as spring officially arrives. Hurray for spring!  I hope you are seeing hints of it in your backyard, and feeling inspired, renewed, and refreshed. 

 
This glorious show is somewhat short-lived though, which makes it nice to have the 'magnificinet magnolia' as part of our state flower quilt.  Actually, there are two blocks--as it is also the flower choice for Louisiana.  So we will be stitching it again--reversed next time, and with the same colors.  I think these these soft, subtle colors add balance to the more saturated ones.  I snuck in some peachy-pink around the edges to give it a little "lift" off the background. 

 
COLORS: cream petals #3823; pink petals #754; center--light orange #728; leaves & stems #471--472 range.  Letters #645.   

Mississippi flower facts:  An election to choose a state flower was held in November 1900.  Among the contenders were the cape jasmine and cotton flower, plus 42 other varieties, but it was the  magnolia (magnolia grandiflora) that won out after it received half the votes, from nearly 24,000 school children.  In 1938 the magnolia was also selected as the state tree.  But the state flower wasn't officially designated by legislature until February 26, 1952.  (I'm not sure why they waited so long.)

My box of colored floss (from JoAnn's) arrived yesterday and I got back to work--my needle is flying.  More flowers coming soon!

Rhode Island--Violet

 
Hello Ladies...OK, here we have #26 for the State Flower Quilt project.  I'm having no trouble at all stitching these up, as they are small and easy to do, but lately, I seem to have very little time for blogging.  My darling 13 year-old "office assistant" has volunteered to do the research for the flowers so that will most definitely help me out time-wise, and I'm hoping this will keep the project moving along more quickly. 

So.  Today we have the last  Violet (viola soroia), for Rhode Island this time--the last state to officially adopt a flower.  In 1897, the school children voted it in, but it was not legislated until 1968.  (And I don't know any more, cuz that's all I have on my 3 x 5 card.)  See?  We are moving along quickly!  

But anyway...what can I say about the dear little violet that hasn't already been said here?  If you missed the other three posts, you can find links to them on the  State Flower List  page and find out all about them.  I find myself going back to this page time and again whenever I need to find one of the blocks for someone.  It gets updated with a new blog link as I finish each flower--please check that out if you are looking for info about a particular flower.

COLORS: Blues this time-and oh how I adore a blue violet!  Used the J&P Coats varigated floss again--love that stuff--which makes such a pretty effect on the petals.  The green is DMC#3349.  To get the pattern for RHODE ISLAND click on the image or go to the pattern page HERE.  Enjoy!

 

A Mixed Bag

 
Farewell February -- hello March!  March has a reputation for being a month of mixed weather as it transitions from one season to another.  Wind, rain, snow.  That, "IN like a Lion, OUT like a Lamb" theme often rings true.  We had a winter snow storm last week that felt like real winter had finally arrived--with temperatures dipping into the teens--but then it left just as quickly.  I'm noticing signs of spring as I look out my studio window today.  Flocks of red robins are swooping in and covering the lawn, hopping and hunting worms in the rain.  The Canadian Geese have also returned to their wetlands resting spot, but seem to be circling--maybe undecided about whether or not to forage north just yet.  Perhaps a sign that winter isn't quite over up there.  Or anywhere else, for that matter.  There is just no predicting the weather, even for the geese, it seems.  And no end to the discussion of it. 

 

From my backdoor, I spy spring!  Even though the tree is gone, the bulbs continue to perform their magic.  A few small daffodils are starting to poke their heads up, and other small creatures are slowly coming out of hiding after the long dark months.  Spring does seems to be right around the corner.  

 
These were just some of the things that I took back to my drawing table for inspiration as I worked on the March Bonus Designs.   Yes, a "mixed bag" for sure! 

WISCONSIN--Violet

 
And here we have...drumroll please....the 25th block--and we are halfway home with more lovely violets!  Four states share the violet as their offical flower, making Wisconsin the third one to be stitched so far--soon to be followed closely on the heels by another (Rhode Island) next.  To see the first two, go to Illinois and New Jersey.  I'm varying the colors a bit to add variety to my quilt.  Petals have all been filled with Satin Stitch--and oh, how they shine! 

 
Here's a bit of the history for those who are interested and keeping track...On Arbor Day 1909, the school children of Wisconsin selected a flower to represent their state.  The wild rose, trailing arbutus, and white water lily were in the running, but it was the common wood violet that won hearts and twice as many votes.  But even though it was the sure winner, it was not made official until 1948, when the Youth Committee of the Wisconsin Centennial Commission, discovered that the violet had never been designated as such.  Without wasting time, a bill was prepared, and by an act of legislature the wood violet (Viola papilionacea) was adopted forty years later, on June 4, 1949.  Better late than never, I say.

COLORS:  J.&P. COATS variegated lavender six-strand cotton floss for petals; DMC#3822 flower centers & #3349 for leaves and stems.  Satin-stitching done with 3 strands; French Knots with two; Outline with three.

BRILLIANT IDEAS:

•  Due to changes on Flickr, it was brought to my attention that some people were not able to print out the patterns due to incompatible issues with certain browsers.   By changing the liscensing on my pattern images, everyone should be able to download and print them out now.  If anyone is still having problems please let me know and I will keep trying.  Patterns are HERE.

 

• The advantage of saving images to a file is that you can reverse and print them out quickly if you plan to use a transfer pen to trace them.  Use tracing paper rather than tracing on printer paper--ink soaks in and bleeds and lines may not be as fine as you want them.

 

• There are many means and methods for transferring embroidery designs directly to cloth--and here is one that someone sent me recently.  If you have a glass coffee table, place a small lamp under it and turn it into an instant "light table".

SOUTH CAROLINA--Yellow Jessamine

 
And s-t-i-t-c-h-i-n-g right along...here we have the next in the State Flower Quilt series, popularly known as the "trumpet flower" (as well as a host of other names).  It has been added to the growing number of finished blocks--number 24 in fact, and that means we are nearly reaching the halfway mark.   This block went quick with just two colors, and may seem dull in comparison to some of the other blocks, with more going on, but the simplicity and single shot of yellow is the perfect counterpoint to the pinks, purples, and blues around it.  Colors I used were golden yellow DMC #3822; stems and leaves #3349; with four strands throughout, with the exception of lettering which was 3 strands. 

The yellow Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) was designated the official state flower of South Carolina on February 1, 1924, not only for it's fragrance and beauty, but because it is indigenous to every nook and cranny of the state.  It is said, "that its delicate flower suggests the pureness of gold; it's perpetual return out of the dead winter suggests the lesson of constancy, in loyalty to and patriotism in the service of the State."  (This is an actual quote from the SC legislature).  Over a hundred years ago, Mrs. Teresa Strickland of Anderson, SC penned it this way in a poem she wrote for the Dixie Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy--since disbanded, entitled Legend of the Yellow Jasmine:

"No flower that blooms holds such perfume,

As kindness and sympathy won.

Wherever there grows the sheltering pine,

Is clinging a Yellow Jessamine Vine."

The fragrance is beyond compare--the essential oils are used by the perfume industry because it's difficult to reproduce synthetically.  But all parts of the plant are extremely poisonous, especially to livestock if eaten.  Preparations made from the roots and rhisomes have been used as a central nervous-system depresssant, febrifuge, anodyne, and antispasmodic.   The spring blossoms, however, are a source of nectar for butterflies, and deer often browse on the vegetation for food without ill effect.  Knowing deer, I am guessing they only nibble the sweet nectar filled flowers.  The jessamine grows in other regions as well, from the coastal plains, Virginia to South Florida, and west into Arkansas and Texas.  

I am again, streamlining the flower block posts to save time from gathering links, etc.  You can find the South Carolina--Yellow Jessamine block and pattern here.  (For more general info about the project---click on the State Flower Quilt Project link in the side bar.) 

OK...onward we march to Wisconsin!  Number 25--halfway home!!  Woot!

 

 

Love's Sweet Gift

 
I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day.  Our house was humming with excitement, as dear friends of ours welcomed a new little bundle of LOVE (Henry!) into the world 4:30 Monday morning---at home.  Pictures were sent out soon after, and this was one of my favorites.  Baby feet.  I ask you, how can anyone resist them?  Grace was busy knitting booties for the last couple of months, one pink pair and one blue pair---since the baby's gender was a surprise---although a "hunch" had us leaning toward blue...so BLUE it is!  She worried that the booties were going to be too big, but looking at these feet, um, don't think so. 

 
I've been stitching away too--taking time-out for teddy here.  A fun little project.  Baby gifts are the most fun to make I think.  I always seem to have yards and yards of fluffy white flannel in my stash, which really comes in handy for so many things.  There was the scarf last month, and now a swaddling blanket, and quilt--which is backed with it too.  See what I mean?  Handy.