As the nights draw in and the air gets a little crisper, many of us love to curl up in the comfort of our homes. For me, it’s an added excuse to grab my embroidery hoop and get stitching.
From October onwards, I’m drawn to the autumnal shades of burgundies, yellows and oranges. As well as designs that reflect nature as it changes outside my window.
We all have our own feelings about Autumn, but it’s the time of year when I feel a sense of nostalgia creeping over me. I think back to my home country, Georgia, and the autumnal traditions that surrounded me as a child. One of those traditions is the drying of persimmons.
Artistic Inspiration from Persimmons
Van Gogh may have been inspired by sunflowers but my inspiration is persimmons.
Last autumn, I had been thinking back to my childhood when I would watch my grandparents drying persimmon in their village in West Georgia. It was such a lovely memory that the inspiration for an embroidery design that captures that tradition popped into my head.
If you haven’t come across persimmons before you’ve been missing out – though they are a little harder to get hold of in the UK. They’re a gorgeously orange fruit with a delicate melon-like flavour with hints of honey. Rather than eating them all at once, Georgians try to preserve as many as possible to last through the winter months.
Cultural Traditions Reimagined
Drying persimmons is a glorious Georgian tradition that the whole community gets involved with. And because persimmons are such a delightful shade of orange, it’s a perfect activity for the Autumn. The process is quite simple but also great fun.
In October, we cut the fruit from the tree and leave a bit of the stalk. Then each persimmon stalk is twined with string and hung about the second-floor balconies of our homes. They are then left to dry naturally in the sun to give their flavour more intensity. Later, they can be coated with sugar for a winter treat.
I can still remember the joy of seeing my grandparents string the orange fruit in clusters about the house. It brought bursts of colour into our lives as the air grew colder. I no longer have access to a persimmon orchard or a second-floor balcony. Instead, I decided to recreate this tradition through my embroidery. My persimmon design brings a sense of comfort and beauty to me every time I look at it.
Autumn-Themed Embroidery Patterns
Autumn is a powerful time for artists because the world is a riot of colour and the weather starts to make nature dance. It never fails to inspire me to create new embroidery patterns. I’m working on a new design this month which I can’t wait to share with you in my next post – the wait won’t be too long, I promise.
Whatever the season may be, I love celebrating the natural world in my art. Follow me on Instagram to see how the seasons are played out in silk and cotton. It might inspire you to create your own art or start embroidery – I can thoroughly recommend it.