Oak Leaf Lace is a study of a single leaf from the native Irish Sessile Oak, reimagined as a light, open lace structure. I began by tracing the familiar curves and deep lobes of the leaf, then pared the form back to its bones, following the natural network of veins that run through it. Each line was rebuilt in layered green thread, leaving the surface full of tiny gaps and openwork, like a leaf held up to bright sunlight.

The piece captures that moment when a leaf is both strong and delicate, when its shape is unmistakable yet the light comes straight through it. The stitched form feels airy and weightless, almost like the leaf might lift if you breathed too close. Even in its lace form, the oak still carries a sense of steadiness and quiet authority.

The work is framed in a white wood box frame with Artglass, which protects the fine thread work and lets the open structure sit clearly against the clean background.