Dimensional Mardi Gras Fleur de Lis

Mardi Gras is in less than two weeks, so it's a great time to make a fun decoration! This project features the fleur de lis, a symbol that is deeply connected to Mardi Gras and reflects the French roots of New Orleans. It's painted in the traditional colors of purple (justice), gold (power), and green (faith). Affiliate links below. 

Dimensional Mardi Gras Fleur de Lis

Materials: 

• fleur de lis pattern (below)
• Bristol Vellum
• Folk Art paint (green, purple)
• Treasure Gold
• Extreme Glitter (green, purple, gold)
• microtip cissors
• paper trimmer with scoring blade or scoring surface
• craft glue
• fishing line for hanging (optional)

Steps: 

Print three identical fleur de lis patterns. I put four of them on one page and used three (yep - I have a plan for the fourth!). 

Give each a base coat of purple, gold, and green paint. When that is dry, add a layer (or two!) of Extreme Glitter to make it sparkle. 

Carefully cut out each fleur de lis, following the lines as best you can. Then score each piece down the middle. I was concerned that the scoring blade might scratch the paint, but it didn't. 

Bend each piece along the scored line. Glue the right half of Piece 1 to the left half of Piece 2. Glue the left half of Piece 1 to the right half of Piece 3. If desired, add a piece of fishing line in the center between the unglued part, then glue it in place. You'll end up with a three-sided fleur de lis. Unless you cut it perfectly, you may need to trim up the shapes a bit.

Hang your fleur de lis. Because it's three-sided, it looks good from every direction. 

You can find the rest of the Mardi Gras crafts I've made over the years by going to my Winter Crafts page and scrolling down to the bottom. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

The Best and the Worst of the 50 State Seals, Part 5

This is my last post rating the designs of each of the 50 state seals. I suggest starting with the first post, which gives the background and explains the criteria I'm using for grading. 

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Rating the State Seals: South Dakota through Wyoming

The state seal of South Dakota was designed before statehood, then modified in 1889 when it became the 40th state. It features scenes of agriculture (farmer, cattle), commerce (steamship), industry (smelting furnace), and natural resources (hills, river). The state motto and the year of statehood appear around the outside. This is an attractive seal. While there are some generic elements, I appreciate the details that make it unique. Question: I'm not a farmer; should he really be plowing furrows that are knee-deep?

Design: 4, Representation 3.5 = 7.5

Tennessee's state seal, most recently updated in 1987, takes a different approach to depicting agriculture and commerce than other states do: the words are literally written on the seal. Images of agriculture include a plow, wheat, and cotton. A riverboat represents commerce. Roman numerals XVI show that Tennessee is the 16th state, admitted to the Union in 1796. I don't like the addition of these words at all. It makes the seal look really crowded. And what is up with the tiny doghouse that is dwarfed by the plow and wheat? I'm assuming it's supposed to be a people house in the background. 

Design: 1.5, Representation 3 = 4.5

The state seal of Texas is two-sided and was updated in 1992. The front features a 5-pointed star in the center, representing the Lone Star State. An olive branch (peace) and a live oak branch (strength), tied together with a ribbon, surround the star. I like the simplicity and symbolism of this seal but it feels incomplete. Adding the date of statehood (1845) or the state motto (Friendship) to the empty portion at the bottom would make this design so much better, both aesthetically and in representing the state. 

Design: 3, Representation 2 = 5

Utah's state seal was adopted in 1896 and features a shield in the center. On it are a beehive (the state emblem), the word Industry (the state motto), sego lilies (the state flower), and 1847 (the year pioneers arrived in Utah). Behind the seal are the American eagle and US flags. The year 1896 is when Utah became a state. Ordinarily, I wouldn't be a fan of having national symbols on the state seal, but with Utah represented in so many ways on the center shield, I don't mind it. It's a very attractive design. The only thing I don't like are the dots on either side of the text. 

Design: 4.5, Representation 4.5 = 9

The state seal of Vermont was designed in 1788, replaced with a (better) design, and then reinstated in 1937. It includes a 14-branch pine tree (Vermont is the 14th state) rising from a forest of much smaller trees. Above the forest are several floating items: grain, a cow, and wavy lines (possibly representing the Connecticut River). Below the forest is more grain surrounding the state motto, Freedom and Unity, plus more wavy lines (possibly representing Lake Champlain). I'll say it - this design is hideous. There are so many things wrong with the design that if I listed them, I'd just end up with a list of everything on the seal. The only thing saving this seal from being the very worst is that it incorporates the state motto and 14 branches (and possibly the water boundaries) that are unique to Vermont. 

Design: 0.5, Representation 2.5 = 3

The state seal of Virginia was designed in 1776 and standardized in 1912. It is two-sided; I'm focusing on the front. It features Virtus standing on a man representing tyranny, whose crown has fallen off his head. She's holding a spear and a sword. The tyrant is holding a broken chain and a whip. The state motto (Thus Always to Tyrants) appears below the fallen tyrant. OK, I get it: this was designed immediately after the Declaration of Independence, when vanquishing the king was at the top of everyone's minds. But that was not unique to Virginia then and it certainly isn't now. Other than the state name, the state motto is the only thing that says Virginia. There is another problem with this design. 

Design 1.5, Representation 1 = 2.5

Washington's state seal, designed in the 1850's when Washington was still a territory then updated in 1889 with statehood, features a portrait of the state's namesake. This seal is distinctive, if boring. I wish the natural beauty of the Evergreen State was featured as well (or instead). 

Design 2, Representation 2 = 4

The state seal of West Virginina was adopted in 1863, when it became a state. It features a boulder with the statehood date. Two men, representing agriculture and industry, lean against the boulder. In front are crossed rifles and a liberty cap. The state motto ("Liberty out of Fidelity") appears at the bottom. Two thoughts: The miner looks like a skeleton. There are periods after State of West Virginia and Montani Semper Liberi. Why? 

Design: 2, Representation 2.5 = 4.5

Wisconsin's state seal was redesigned most recently in 1881. It features a shield with a plow (agriculture), pick and shovel (mining), arm and hammer (manufacturing), an anchor (navigation), and the US Coat of Arms. Above there is a badger, the state animal, and the state motto. Below, a cornucopia (abundance) and 13 lead bars (mineral wealth and the 13 original colonies). There are 13 stars below that. (Wisconsin is the 30th state.) I love that there is a badger and the state motto on this seal. Other than that, meh. 

Design 2.5, Representation 2.5 = 5

The state seal of Wyoming was revised in 1921. It features a statue in the center with the banner "Equal Rights" as Wyoming was the first to give women the right to vote (in 1869, while still a territory). Other banners highlight livestock, mines, grain, and oil, four of Wyoming's major industries. A rancher and miner stand on either side of the statue. At the base is an eagle and a star with 44 printed on it, as Wyoming was the 44th state. The two dates represent the organization of the territorial government (1869) and statehood (1890). This is a very nice seal. It's aesthetically pleasing and does a good job of representing Wyoming's history. 

Design 4, Representation 4 = 8

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Here are the results! For the states that are tied, I've listed them alphabetically. 

1st (tie): Arizona, Minnesota

3rd: California

5th (tie): Ohio, Utah

6th: Kansas

10th (tie): Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming

16th (tie): Delaware, Hawaii, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota

19th (tie): Colorado, Nebraska, North Carolina

24th (tie): Florida, New Hampshire, Missouri, New York, South Carolina

27th (tie): Maine, Maryland, North Dakota

31st (tie): Iowa, Michigan, New Mexico, Rhode Island

35th (tie): New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin

37th (tie): Tennessee, West Virginia

41st (tie): Kentucky, Louisiana, Indiana, Washington

45th (tie): Alabama, Georgia, Massachusetts, Vermont

47th (tie): Illinois, Virginia

48th: Mississippi

49th: Arkansas

50th: Connecticut

This was a fun (if incredibly time-consuming) exercise. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Let me know if you agree with my rankings or if yours are completely different!

The Best and the Worst of the 50 State Seals, Part 4

This is the fourth post (of five) rating the designs of each of the 50 state seals. I suggest starting with the first post, which gives the background and explains the criteria I'm using for grading. 

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Rating the State Seals: New Mexico through South Carolina

The state seal of New Mexico was adopted in 1913, the year after statehood. It features a "Mexican eagle" holding a snake in its beak and cactus in its talons, based on an Aztec myth. It's shielded by the "American eagle" that is holding arrows in its talons. This symbolizes that the state holds onto its Spanish, Mexican, and Native American traditions, while being protected by the US. A scroll has the state motto, translated to "It goes as it grows." Snake, eagle, cactus, motto, date - there are some good elements here, but they desperately need a redesign. Everything about the banner bothers me: the font is hideous, the spacing horrible, and the banner itself oddly asymmetrical. New Mexico has such a beautiful and distinctive landscape. Ristras are practically synonymous with New Mexico. I'd feature those, with the current elements placed more naturally and less paternalistically.   

Design 2, Representation 3.5 = 5.5

New York's state seal was updated most recently in 2020. It features a center shield with two sailing ships on the Hudson River, symbols of inland and foreign commerce. A rising sun (with a face) casts light on the river. Surrounding the shield are Liberty, Justice, and an American eagle standing on a globe with Greenland directly below its talons. The primary and secondary state mottos ("Ever Upward" and "Out of Many, One") appear on the banner that Liberty and Justice are standing on. Once again, we have a Phrygian cap. This is an attractive enough seal, well-balanced and pleasingly symmetrical, but it feels very old-fashioned and too similar to the others that have eagles, Liberty, and Phrygian caps. I would base the entire seal on the scene that is on the shield, minus the face on the sun.  

Design 3.5, Representation 3 = 6.5

The seal of North Carolina was modified most recently in 1983. It features Liberty and Prosperity looking toward each other. Liberty is holding her pole and cap, as well as the Constitution. Plenty has grain and a cornucopia. There are hills and a three-masted ship in the background. Two dates appear: May 20, 1775 marks the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and April 12, 1776 is the date of the Halifax Resolves. The state motto ("To be, rather than to seem") is at the bottom. I'm getting tired of Liberty and her friends appearing on seals, but I'm not going to penalize any state for repetition, only not representing themselves in a way that's unique. At least there's no eagle. The design is pretty good and between the ship, ocean, hills, dates, and motto, there's an acceptable amount of representation. 

Design 3, Representation 4 = 7

North Dakota's state seal was redesigned in 1987 using all of the elements of the original seal, including: a tree with three bundles of wheat at the base (representing three branches of government); a plow, anvil, and sledge (representing agriculture and a strong work ethic); a bow with three arrows and an Indian on horseback chasing a buffalo toward the setting sun (representing Native American culture and the history of the Northern Plains); 42 stars (chosen because they originally expected North Dakota to enter as the 42nd state - it's actually the 39th); the state motto; October 1 (when voters approved the state constitution); and 1889 (when North Dakota gained statehood). Overall, the seal is fine. Not great, not bad. I don't love all the little stuff littered toward the bottom of the seal. They're not necessary. I really don't like that the arrows are pointing at the person, nor that he's riding into the setting sun. And why on earth didn't they didn't change the number of stars to the correct order of admission when the seal was updated? 

Design 3, Representation: 3 = 6 

The state seal of Ohio was most recently updated in 1996. It features a sunrise over Mt. Logan in Chillicothe, Ohio's first capital. (Fun fact: You can see this view at Great Seal State Park.) The sun has 13 rays, representing the original 13 colonies. In the foreground there is a bundle of 17 arrows (Ohio is the 17th state) and a sheaf of wheat. This is a beautiful seal and I love that it depicts a real place. I would make one change, and that is to add the date of statehood (1803) to the blue ring. 

Design 4.5, Representation 4.5 = 9

Oklahoma's state seal was adopted at statehood in 1907. The main star contains the seals of the Five Civilized Tribes: Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole, all of whom have a major presence in Oklahoma. The center of the star holds the territorial seal. There are 45 smaller stars on the seal, representing the first 45 states; the largest star is Oklahoma, the 46th state. I love the concept of this seal, honoring five native tribes as well as all of the states that came before Oklahoma. However, the seal is quite busy with six seals and 45 stars fighting for attention. 

Design 2.5, Representation 5 = 7.5

Oregon's state seal was designed in 1857, two years before statehood. It has an American eagle sitting on top of a shield. The shield includes the sun, mountains, an elk, trees, a covered wagon, agricultural and mining tools, and the Pacific Ocean. A British ship is sailing away and an American steamboat is arriving. There are 33 stars, representing Oregon's place as the 33rd state. There is a lot going on in this design, but the tone-on-tone keeps it from being overwhelming. I'd remove the eagle, and the 'The Union' banner to give the other elements that are more specific to Oregon a bit more space. I'd move the 33 stars to the outer ring and fix the weird spacing of the words. 

Design 3, Representation 4.5 = 7.5

The state seal of Pennsylvania was adopted in 1791. In the center is a shield with a sailing ship (carrying goods from the state around the world), a plow (representing natural resources), and wheat (representing fertile fields and symbolizing the state's weather of human thought and action). The shield is surrounded by Indian corn, an olive branch, and an eagle. It looks to me that the eagle is standing on a either a surfboard or carrying off a baguette, but it is actually part of the wreath that appears on the state's coat of arms that was removed for the seal design. I don't hate this seal, but it could be so much more focused on what makes Pennsylvania unique. The Liberty Bell seems like an obvious choice, as does a keystone. Or Independence Hall. I'd like to see the date of admission, or two stars marking Pennsylvania as the second state, in the place of the surfing/thieving eagle or the paisley pattern at the bottom. 

Design 2.5, Representation 2.5 = 5 

Rhode Island's state seal was modified in 2020 when the state officially changed their name. It features a large anchor and the word HOPE, which is the state motto. 1636 is when Rhode Island was founded as a haven for religious freedom. I tried to determine if there was symbolism behind the odd shapes around the anchor, but they are apparently just asymmetric filigree. I'd rather see 13 stars, as Rhode Island is the only state that can put 13 of something to represent both the original 13 colonies as its own status as #13. 

Design 2.5, Representation 3 = 5.5 

The state seal of South Carolina was adopted in 1776. It contains two ovals, linked by branches of the palmetto tree (the state tree). The scene in the left oval represents the June 28, 1776 battle against the British. The words on the trees translate to "Who will separate us?" and beneath that is "Having fallen, she has set up a better one" with the date of 1776. The bottom of the oval says "Prepared in mind and resources." The oval on the right has Spes, the Roman goddess of wisdom. She holds a laurel branch and the sun is rising behind her. Above, the text translates to "While I breathe, I hope" (the state motto).  I find the idea of having two different scenes on the seal interesting. I don't like that you have to search for the state name, nor that there is so much text, but it deserves a nod for being unique. 

Design 2.5, Representation 4 = 6.5

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Here are the rankings so far: 

Arizona (10), Minnesota (10), California (9.5), Ohio (9). Kansas (8.5), Alaska (8), Idaho (8), Montana (8), Delaware (7.5), Hawaii (7.5), Nevada (7.5), Oklahoma (7.5), Oregon (7.5), Colorado (7), Nebraska (7), North Carolina (7), Florida (6.5), New Hampshire (6.5), Missouri (6.5), New York (6.5), South Carolina (6.5), Maine (6), Maryland (6), North Dakota (6), Iowa (5.5), Michigan (5.5), New Mexico (5.5), Rhode Island (5.5) New Jersey (5), Pennsylvania (5), Kentucky (4), Louisiana (4), Indiana (4), Alabama (3), Georgia (3), Massachusetts (3), Illinois (2.5), Mississippi (2), Arkansas (1.5), and Connecticut (1). 

Tomorrow I'll look at the final ten seals.

The Best and the Worst of the 50 State Seals, Part 3

This is the third post (of five) rating the designs of each of the 50 state seals. I suggest starting with the first post, which gives the background and explains the criteria I'm using for grading. 

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Rating the State Seals: Massachusetts through New Jersey

The Massachusetts state seal was modified most recently in 1900. It includes the coat of arms of Massachusetts, which depicts a Native man holding a bow and an arrow pointing down. Above his head is the state crest, a disembodied arm holding a sword; this is controversial and is the primary reason Massachusetts is developing a new seal, flag, and motto. The banner below the coat of arms loosely translates to "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty," which is the state motto. The text around the seal translates to "The Seal of the Republic of Massachusetts." I am very glad to see that Massachusetts will have a new state seal. All of the choices are much better than this existing one, which depicts two weapons and little else. 

Design: 1.5, Representation: 1.5 = 3

The state seal of Michigan includes the state's coat of arms. On a dark blue shield, there is an image of a man standing by a lake with the sun rising behind him. His raised hand represents peace and the gun the ability to defend his rights. Tuebor translates to "I will defend." Around the shield are a moose, an elk, and a bald eagle. The other banners include the US motto ("Out of many, one") and the state motto ("If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you." The date at the bottom (1835) is the year the seal and coat of arms were adopted, two years before statehood in 1837. I'd prefer that the date referenced statehood, but using the coat of arms for the seal is not a bad choice. It's too busy for my taste and there's a lot of Latin going on, but now that I've taken a careful look at 21 other state seals, I can say with confidence that I've seen a lot worse. 

Design: 2.5, Representation: 3 = 5.5

Minnesota's state seal is the newest among the 50 states, adopted in 2024. It features a loon (the state bird), wild rice (the state grain), pines (the state tree), the North Star (representing the state motto, "The Star of the North"), and water representing the many lakes and rivers in the state. The phrase above the loon comes from the Dakota people and means "Land where the water reflects the sky" and is the origin of the name Minnesota. There are 98 golden bars around the outside edge, representing the 87 counties and 11 federally-recognized tribes of Minnesota. I love everything about this seal. The design is near perfection, as is the symbolism. This is the gold standard of state seals.  

Design 5, Representation 5 = 10

The state seal of Mississippi was adopted in 2014 and features a bald eagle holding an olive branch (representing a desire for peace) and arrows (representing the power to wage war). A shield with 11 stars and stripes is on its chest. "In God We Trust" appears under the eagle. While this is an aesthetically pleasing design, it's hard to ignore the similarities between it and the US Great Seal. Other than the word "Mississippi" there is literally nothing about this seal that represents the state in any way. They could have included their own state motto instead of the national one, or put their own flag on the eagle's shield, or put the date of statehood - anything. 

Design 2, Representation 0 = 2

Missouri's state seal was adopted in 1822. In the center is the Missouri coat of arms and the US coat of arms, surrounded by "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" on a belt. The crescent represents how Missouri grows in population and wealth over time, and its status as the second state formed from the Louisiana Territory (since the crescent moon is the second phase after a new moon). The grizzly (and the two on either side of the shield) represent the strength and bravery of Missourians. The helmet signifies state sovereignty and the 24 stars the fact that Missouri is the 24th state. The state motto ("The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law") appears on a banner above the date 1820, when Missouri adopted its constitution (actual statehood was 1821). Fun fact: Grizzly bears don't live in Missouri. While this isn't the most attractive design, there are a lot of elements representing the state. 

Design 2.5, Representation 4 = 6.5

The current design for the state seal of Montana was adopted in 1893. It highlights the beauty and natural resources of the Treasure State, including the mountains that led to the state's name and the stunning Great Falls of the Missouri. The plow, miner's pick, and shovel above the state motto ("Gold and Silver") symbolize the agricultural and mineral wealth of Montana. Lawmakers debated adding people, animals, and transportation to the seal but ultimately decided that it would be too cluttered. Good decision. This is among the best of the 100+ year old state seals. 

Design 4, Representation 4 = 8

Nebraska's state seal was adopted in 1867. It shows a blacksmith at work, a settler's cabin with corn and wheat nearby, a steamboat on the Missouri river, and a train headed to the Rocky Mountains, pictured on the left. A banner displays the state motto. The date of statehood is at the bottom of the seal. Overall, this is an attractive design. It represents the state's role in western expansion, but I'm not crazy about the Rockies appearing on Nebraska's seal, since they aren't within the borders. I'd rather see Nebraska's prairie represented.  

Design 3.5, Representation 3.5 = 7

The current version of the state seal of Nevada was adopted in 1866. The main image includes mountains (with snow and without), a quartz mill, a silver mine and miner, a plow, sheaf, and sickle, a wagon, a train, a telegraph line, and a rising sun. There are 36 stars for the 36th state and the state motto sits right above the state name. While there is a lot going on here, it is well-balanced and attractive and doesn't feel too cluttered. It represents many facets of historical Nevada. 

Design 4, Representation 3.5 = 7.5

The state seal of New Hampshire was modified most recently in 1931. At the center is the frigate USS Raleigh in the harbor of Portsmouth. It is surrounded by a laurel wreath. There is a granite boulder in the foreground and a rising sun in the background. 1776 represents the date it ratified the state constitution; statehood came in 1788. I'd say this seal is solidly OK. It's not the most attractive or the most representative of its state, but there's nothing inherently wrong with it. I would have done 9 yellow rays on the sun instead of 7 to represent New Hampshire's status as the 9th state. 

Design 3, Representation 3.5 = 6.5

New Jersey's state seal was modified in 1928. In the center is a shield with three plows, representing agriculture. A helmet and horse's head represent sovereignty, speed, and strength. On either side stand Libertas (goddess of liberty, holding a Liberty Cap) and Ceres (goddess of agriculture). Below them is the state motto and the date 1776, representing the first state constitution. This is another seal that is... fine. Three identical plows seems like overkill. While the goddesses don't represent New Jersey specifically, I do appreciate the tie-in to the state motto. 

Design 2.5, Representation 2.5 = 5

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So far, we have Arizona (10), Minnesota (10), California (9.5), Kansas (8.5), Alaska (8), Idaho (8), Montana (8), Delaware (7.5), Hawaii (7.5), Nevada (7.5), Colorado (7), Nebraska (7), Florida (6.5), New Hampshire (6.5), Missouri (6.5), Maine (6), Maryland (6), Iowa (5.5), Michigan (5.5), New Jersey (5), Kentucky (4), Louisiana (4), Indiana (4), Alabama (3), Georgia (3), Massachusetts (3), Illinois (2.5), Mississippi (2), Arkansas (1.5), and Connecticut (1). Let me know your thoughts in the comments. On Monday I'll look at the next ten seals.

The Best and the Worst of the 50 State Seals, Part 2

This is the second post (of five) rating the designs of each of the 50 state seals. I suggest starting with the first post, which gives the background and explains the criteria I'm using for grading. 

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Rating the State Seals: Hawaii through Maryland

Hawaii's state seal was adopted at statehood in 1959. It features King Hamehameha, the goddess Liberty holding the Hawaiian flag, a rising sun, a phoenix, 8 taro leaves representing the 8 main islands, banana leaves, ferns, a kapu stick, and more. The state motto, written in Hawaiian, translates to “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.” There is no question that this seal represents the state well with all those elements, but the resulting design is very crowded. It would be a much better design with just half the elements. 

Design 2.5, Representation 5 = 7.5

The state seal of Idaho was updated in 1957 to highlight Idaho’s main industries (mining, agriculture, and forestry) and the state’s natural beauty. The woman symbolizes justice and the virgin land of Idaho and the man is a miner; together, they protect the items shown in the shield. Idaho's state flower (syringa) is represented, as is the state motto. It represents the state well and is nicely balanced, if a bit crowded. I'd change the colors to be more harmonious. (Fun fact: Idaho has the only state seal designed by a woman.)

Design 3, Representation 5 = 8

The state seal of Illinois was most recently updated in 1869, replacing the original seal that was nearly identical to the seal of the United States. The design features a bald eagle in profile, on a rock, holding a shield, with a banner in its beak proclaiming the state motto (State Sovereignty, National Union) reading from bottom to top, with a twist in the banner that makes word Sovereignty upside-down. There is an oddly-shaped sunrise over water. I am not a fan of this design. While it no longer looks like the seal of the US, it still has many of the same elements, including a shield with 13 stars and stripes. Illinois is the 21st state, not one of the original 13 Colonies. The statehood date (1818) appears twice, which is unnecessary. There is no reason for 1868, the year the seal was redesigned (before being adopted in 1869), to appear on the seal. I hate the spacing / kerning of the text. 

Design 1.5, Representation 1 = 2.5

The most recent version of the state seal of Indiana is from 1963. It features a forest with a man felling a sycamore tree, a bison running away, and the sun setting behind some hills. The designs in blue on either side of the date are the leaves of the tulip tree (the state tree), with dots and diamonds in between them for no apparent reason. (Am I the only one who sees a chicken?) There are 14 rays on the sun (Indiana is the 19th state, so this is not symbolic). I don't hate the seal, but I don't like it either. Without the text and the date, I would have never known this was supposed to be Indiana. Many states have (or had) bison, forests, and hills. 

Design 2.5, Representation 1.5 = 4

The state seal of Iowa was created in 1847, a year after statehood. It includes a soldier in a wheat field (the predominant crop of 1840's Iowa vs. the corn and soybeans that dominate now). He is holding a gun and the US flag topped with a liberty cap. He is surrounded by symbols of farming, mining, and transportation. The ship is the Steamboat Iowa, famous for holding the speed record on the Mississippi from 1843 to 1849. An eagle at the top of the seal holds the state motto. (Fun fact: The wording describing the seal is controversial, but it remains unchanged as of January 2026.) The design of this seal isn't terrible and it represents 1840's Iowa decently. The scale of the items is weird, unless that's a child's dollhouse with a working chimney. The motto is hard to read, since you have to start with the bottom left, move above it, then across, then down. I'd like this seal more without the soldier, US flag, and (especially) the gun.

Design 2.5, Representation 3 = 5.5 

The state seal of Kansas, adopted in 1861, focuses on the history of the state. It includes a sun rising in the east, a river and steamboat (representing commerce), a man plowing (representing agriculture), a settler's cabin plus covered wagons heading west (representing pioneer life and Westward Expansion), indigenous people on horseback hunting bison, the state motto ("To the stars through difficulties") and 34 stars representing Kansas' admission as the 34th state. This is a well-balanced design that represents the state very well. I appreciate that the original inhabitants are acknowledged (and not in an adversarial way). 

Design 4, Representation 4.5 = 8.5

The state seal of Kentucky was originally designed in 1792, then simplified 170 years later to portray "a pioneer meeting a gentleman in a swallowtail coat." Many believe the man in buckskin is Daniel Boone (a pioneer in the exploration of Kentucky) and the man in the suit is Henry Clay (Kentucky senator and eventual Secretary of State), but officially they are not specific people and instead represent all frontiersmen and statesmen. The seal also includes the state motto and goldenrod, the state flower. This seal could be so much better, but at least it's not too busy. 

Design 1.5, Representation 2.5 = 4

The state seal of Louisiana was most recently revised in 2006. The seal is very distinctive, featuring a pelican in her piety, traditionally a Christian symbol of self-sacrifice. The state motto (Union, Justice and Confidence) appears prominently. While the pelican might have first been chosen to honor the state's Catholic heritage during a time of anti-Catholicism elsewhere, I'd rather see the Pelican State design a more secular seal with a pelican that isn't actively bleeding. It's not the Self-Sacrifice State, after all. 

Design: 2, Representation 2 = 4

The state seal of Maine was adopted in 1820. In the center is a shield featuring a moose, resting in front of a pine tree, between the water and the woods. Two men (a farmer with a scythe and a sailor with an anchor) stand on top of a banner, on either side of the shield. The top of the seal has the state motto ("I direct") and the North Star. This design isn't particularly attractive, but it could be dramatically improved with just a few changes. I would expand the scene in the shield to fill the entire background of the seal, then move DIRIGO to where MAINE is located and write STATE OF MAINE in large letters across the top. Right now, the red DIRIGO banner looks like a brand name on a package of pasta sauce. 

Design 2, Representation 4 = 6

The state seal of Maryland is two-sided, but since the front was never cut and thus not used as a seal, I'll be focusing on the reverse. It was updated in 1959. It features the Calvert coat of arms being held by a farmer (holding a spade) and a fisherman (holding a fish). Behind them is ermine fur and at the top is a crest with two pennants. Below is the state motto. The literal translation is "Deeds are males, words are females" but in 2017 they changed the official translation to "Strong deeds, gentle words." The poorly-spaced text around the seal translates to "With favor wilt thou compass us as with a shield" and 1632 is the date Maryland was established. This design represents the origin of the (province then colony then) state well enough, but I think there is too much emphasis given to the founder. I'd like to see more of the natural resources, industry, or something else. 

Design 3, Representation 3 = 6

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So far, we have Arizona (10), California (9.5), Kansas (8.5), Alaska (8), Idaho (8), Delaware (7.5), Hawaii (7.5), Colorado (7), Florida (6.5), Maine (6), Maryland (6), Iowa (5.5), Kentucky (4), Louisiana (4), Indiana (4), Alabama (3), Georgia (3), Illinois (2.5), Arkansas (1.5), and Connecticut (1). Let me know in the comments if you agree with my rankings. Tomorrow I'll look at the next ten seals.