~ Massachusetts

Massachusetts is the 6th State in the Victoria Heart series as it was the 6th colonial state to ratify the federal Constitution on February 6, 1788.  The state flower. the Mayflower was designated as state flower in 1895.  The Black-capped Chickadee was adopted as the state bird in 1941.  The featured specialty stitch ~ The Vault Stitch symbolizes the American Elm Tree, the official state tree and the Partial Diamond Eye Stitches represent the long shoreline which has impacted on Massachusetts history and is a mainstay of the state’s commerce and transportation. The ship at the bottom of the heart represents both the “Mayflower”, a ship which brought the Pilgrims to Plymouth Harbor, and “Old Ironsides”, a frigate of historical repute anchored in Boston Harbor.  The state motto is “By the sword we seek Peace, but Peace only under Liberty”.