Focus On Negative Space

Gingko Leaves with crossed stems

We have a large gingko tree in our garden - the gingko is said to be one of the oldest trees in existence. At this time of the year its leaves become a glorious golden glow and, as they fall, the leaves carpet the ground below in golden opulence.

I am always looking at what sort of things I might be able to do with all that beauty. I was quite adventurous here. The leaves are painted with gel medium to preserve them. They are positioned on the black felt and then the golden tips are needle felted with green wool rovings. This helped to create a band of more solid media that I could blanket stitch into.

The crosses stems are couched in place and where they cross is needle woven to support the cross.

In the negative space I have couched golden embroidery floss in a diagonal grid with cross stitches at the intersects.

This piece is much more fragile than some of the other stitching on leaves.

Gingko leaves cover the front lawn in Autumn