I've picked up my stitching again, and one of my "stitching goals" for 2011 is to wrap up the State Flower Quilt project by the end of spring or early summer. But with about 30 blocks to go--I'm going to have to step it up a bit-- so next here we have #19: the Hawaiin Hibiscus.
The Hibiscus is probably most associated with Hawaii, but I saw these tropical flowers everywhere growing up in southern California, and they can be found in other regions where the climate is warm and humid. The colorful blooms are big, bold, and beautiful, but interestingly, their glory is short-lived as they tend to shrivel almost to nothing and drop off after one day. I know. Sad isn't it?
It's believed that there are only five species of Hibiscus that originated from Hawaii, and that others came from various Pacific Islands. The yellow hibiscus (brackenridgei), also called, "pua aloalo", is original to Hawaii though and was adopted as the official Territorial Flower in the 1920's before becoming a State in 1959. In 1988 yellow was the color officially defined as representative of the State--before that, and when this State Flower Quilt pattern was originally printed sometime in the 1960's-70's, any flower color was generally accepted, which is why the original directions call for a "terracotta" colored flower. I colored mine "sunny yellow" reflecting the current choice and added a bit of bright red in the center to define it.
DMC Colors: Are your choice as always; I used #307 for petals; #743 for center; leaves #470, and #645 for lettering.
NOTE: I often get requests for information about this project, so I made a new page for quick reference with all the links gathered into one place--so you no longer have to search the archives to find them. The link to the new page is accessible in the right sidebar and will contain all the info needed to download the patterns and other things, so I won't be repeating it all here anymore with each new addition. Whew!
Aloha!
This is cheery flower, and so sweet to see when I am thinking fondly of some aloha memories.
Posted by: Natalie VV | January 18, 2011 at 02:59 PM
A very ambitious project. I'm enjoying seeing each block as you post. Good luck with 30 more to go.
Posted by: Linda | January 19, 2011 at 06:05 AM
Hello.
If anyone can get them done...it will be you. Now you having me want to use the word "pua aloalo" in a silly accent today. :)
Posted by: gina | January 19, 2011 at 06:10 AM
Thanks for the "warm" flower during this cold season. Hawaii...sigh...
Posted by: Mom Wald | January 21, 2011 at 02:25 PM
brrr.r.r.
Yes, I'd like to be there myself right now!!
Posted by: vicki haninger | January 22, 2011 at 08:31 AM
Saturday, January 29, 2011 is the sesquicentennial (150 years) of Kansas statehood...I think it would be appropriate to post the Kansas block on that date. We Kansans are quite proud of our state. I hope to make sugar cookies in the shape of the state with my kids on Kansas Day, and give them Kansas coloring sheets to color. I am trying to think of other things to do for a party--we need to eat some good Kansas beef--a large portion of the beef sold in the US is slaughtered and packaged in Kansas, even if it may not be raised in-state. I have a wheat-head design cast iron pan (for corn sticks, but why would you put CORNbread in a WHEAT pan?!?!) I will have to come up with some more ideas today.
Posted by: Christina | January 25, 2011 at 07:50 AM
Hisbicus is a national flower in Malaysia. Not only beautiful but also they have some health beneficial too
Posted by: kkgoh | January 25, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Hi, I've just discovered these beautiful series. Can you please tell me how I can save them to my computer? The Flickr site says "The owner has disabled downloading of their photos". Maybe I am wrong and aren't the patterns for free?
Greetings, Anita
Posted by: Anita | January 25, 2011 at 12:05 PM
What a wonderful suggestion, I am going to do just that! Thanks for the info.
V.
Posted by: vicki haninger | January 26, 2011 at 11:12 AM
oops...is that what happened? I was wondering why people were asking me how to download...somehow the default got reset when I wasn't paying attention. It's fixed now--I hope. I'm not sure what happened there. You should be able to download everything now.
Enjoy!
V.
Posted by: vicki haninger | January 26, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Lovely! What type of health benefits?
V.
Posted by: vicki haninger | January 26, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Thanks Linda!
V.
Posted by: vicki haninger | January 26, 2011 at 11:16 AM
Oh yeah, tropical islands and warm sandy beaches sound wonderful right now!
V.
Posted by: vicki haninger | January 26, 2011 at 11:17 AM
I must visit your information page because I've forgotten how I was saving these. I love this hibiscus done in my favorite color. And the rhododendron above is terrific, too, even if it only received 53% of the vote.
Posted by: Vee | January 26, 2011 at 03:02 PM