Homegrown Beauty

Left: American Persimmon sketch and print; Center: American Persimmon pillows, photo by Alexandra Rowley; Right: Sawyer Made Cooper Lounge Chair with American Persimmon cushions, photo by George Sawyer

In July, a month when we reflect upon the unique character of the American experiment, we might also turn our attention to something else that makes our country special: native plants! Botanists estimate that more that 9,000 native plants grow in the US. Their numbers are important because native plants provide food and shelter for wildlife and contribute to healthy soil.  Within this category, many plants have the word “American” in their names to signal that they originated here. Such is the case with American Persimmon, a tree that that grows in the central and Eastern US, bears sweet, orange fruit, and inspired our pattern by the same name.

Left: American Persimmon wallpaper, color Sunrise; Right: American Persimmon fabric, color Sunrise (seen on table), photo by Alexandra Rowley

Our American Persimmon pattern features the American Persimmon tree as well as an assortment of the tree’s ideal growing partners, small flowering plants such as agastache, coneflowers and yarrow. In addition, the design includes insects and birds that are drawn to the American persimmon for its flowers and fruit, such as the Eastern swallowtail butterfly and the yellow-rumped warbler. 

American Persimmon sketches and prints, photo at right by Alexandra Rowley

American Persimmon began as a series of pencil-sketched motifs which I organized into a repeating pattern. Next, I made a print of each motif using a reduction method, a technique in which the printmaker uses the same block and removes surface area in between each printing pass. Colors layer on top of each other and proper registration ensures image integrity. Once I had completed the individual prints, I fit them back together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle into overarching repeats. American Persimmon combines 15 individual linocut prints!

Top Left: Chair with American Persimmon, color Midnight fabric; Top Right: American Persimmon, color Midnight, story board; Lower Left: American Persimmon, color Sunrise, story board; Lower Right: Yours truly with American Persimmon, color Sunrise, tablecloth. Photos by Alexandra Rowley

American Persimmon comes in two colorways, Midnight and Sunrise, both of which are available as wallpaper, fabric, and pillows. Like its namesake, American Persimmon originated here in the US. I created the design in New York, the wallpapers are printed in Connecticut, the textiles are printed in Pennsylvania, and the pillows are made in Pennsylvania as well.

Cooper Lounge Chair by Sawyer Made with cushions upholstered in American Persimmon, color Midnight, fabric. Photos by George Sawyer

In this vein, American craftsmanship was on display when Sawyer Made, a Vermont-based furniture studio, recently featured cushions upholstered in American Persimmon fabric with their new Cooper Lounge chair at Highpoint Market in April.

Left: George Sawyer at work at the Sawyer Made studio in Woodbury, Vermont, photo by George Sawyer; Center: Woodworking tools, photo by Alexis Audette; Right: Windsor chairs, photo by George Sawyer Sawyer Made is the studio of George Sawyer, a second generation Windsor chairmaker. Using traditional woodworking techniques, Sawyer makes custom chairs and benches that pay homage to America’s Windsor chairmaking tradition.  Sourcing wood from local northeastern trees, such as ash and butternut, Sawyer works with the grain of the wood in order to create furniture that is refined and robust. Non-toxic finishes, such as beeswax and milk paint, add to the grace and sustainability of his work. Sawyer Made Cooper Lounge Chair and Cabinet with American Persimmon fabric, color Midnight, cushions and inset. Photos by George Sawyer Order American Persimmon samples today from our showroom partners or directly from us, and reach out to Sawyer Made to explore their exquisite, handmade Windsor chairs and benches.  Wishing you a belated Happy 4th of July and a summer filled with homegrown beauty.