Flame Lily: Handmade Quilled Flower Greeting Card
"They know this flower without needing the name."
Every coil placed by hand
Ships flat in a rigid box
Replaced if damaged
Flame Lily is a handmade quilled flame lily greeting card, showing the iconic upward-curving petals in coral red with yellow edges, the yellow stamen at the center, and a green stem with extending pollen tips. Every visible surface is hand-quilled. The flame lily is native to Sri Lanka, where it is known in Tamil as Karthigai Poo and carries cultural significance during the November Karthikai Deepam festival. The petals are built in two layers of paper, with yellow edging applied as a separate outer line to achieve the flame-curl shape.
Timing note: the flame lily blooms in Jaffna during October through December (Maha monsoon), coinciding with the Tamil Karthikai Deepam festival in November and December.
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Ships from Sri Lanka in three options, available at checkout:
- Sri Lanka Post (standard): 3 to 4 weeks. Free Shipping.
- EMS Speed Post: 10 to 14 working days. Limited tracking.
- DHL Express: 5 to 7 working days. Fully tracked from dispatch to delivery.
Every card ships flat in a rigid-backed kraft gift box, fully protected for international transit. Every card is inspected before it leaves our studio. If yours arrives damaged, we replace it without question.
To keep: away from direct sunlight and moisture to preserve the paper art over time.
To display: fits standard 5x5 inch frames. This card is designed to live on a wall, not in a drawer.
To store: keep flat. Do not fold or roll.
Flame Lily: Handmade Quilled Flower Greeting Card
Specs
The card, in detail.
The design and the day
Built one way. Made for specific moments.
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Built like a flame.
The flame lily is named for the way its petals curl upward like fire. Each of the four petals is built in two paper layers (a red interior and a yellow outer edge), to achieve the gradient that real flame lily petals carry in nature. In Jaffna, where Vonderly is made, the flame lily blooms during the October to December Maha season, and is known to local Tamils as Karthigai Poo for its appearance during the Karthikai Deepam festival. The central yellow stamen pattern is built in intricate paisley-like coils, the most technically demanding element on the card.
Each petal alone is built from two strips of paper rolled and shaped to form the curve, then edged in a thin yellow line. The four petals are placed in sequence, leaning slightly inward toward the central yellow stamen.
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For the gardener from home.
For the parent, grandparent, or friend who grew up where the flame lily grows naturally, and still recognizes it on sight. A handmade flame lily card carries the recognition of a flower most cards do not include, especially valuable as a gift across diaspora distances. It fits Diwali, Karthikai Deepam, birthdays, just-because gifting, and any moment when the gift wants to carry a piece of home with it. Often given by adult children to their parents or grandparents, or between friends connected by shared heritage.
Many recipients frame this card. It was designed for that, sized 5x5 inches to fit standard frames sold at most US home stores.
The studio, The hands
Inside the Jaffna studio.
Coil by coil
Paper strips · The hands · Finished card
Primary specialist on this card
Every Vonderly card is built by 2 to 3 specialists working in sequence. The artisan below led the work on this one.
I work on the lines and the finishing. Single strips of paper, pinched into the shape we need. Finishing is the last step before a card leaves the studio, so I have to look at everything carefully. If something is not right, I redo it before passing it on.
Sweetiga K.
Line and finishing specialist
Frequantly asked
Questions, answered.
What is the cultural significance of the flame lily?
What is paper quilling?
Paper quilling, also called paper filigree, is the art of rolling, shaping, and placing thin paper strips into three-dimensional designs. It is one of the oldest paper art forms in the world, and requires precision and patience to build up layer by layer.
At Vonderly, each card is built entirely by hand using this technique by a team of specialized artisans in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. What you see on the card is paper, shaped by hand, one strip at a time.
Is the inside of the card blank?
Yes. Every Vonderly card has a blank interior. There is no pre-printed message. The card is made for your words, not ours. Write directly on the card or include a separate note inside the kraft envelope.
Can I frame this card after gifting?
Yes, and many recipients do. Every Vonderly card is 5x5 inches square, a size that fits standard frames available at most US home stores. The three-dimensional quilling gives the card real depth behind glass. To preserve it, keep it away from direct sunlight and moisture.
How long does shipping take to the United States?
Standard shipping via Sri Lanka Post takes 3 to 4 weeks. EMS Speed Post takes 10 to 14 working days. DHL expedited takes 5 to 7 working days and is fully tracked from dispatch to delivery. All three options are available at checkout.
What if my card arrives damaged?
Every card is inspected before it leaves our studio and ships flat in a rigid-backed kraft gift box to prevent damage in transit. If yours arrives damaged, send a photograph and we will replace it without question. No return required.
