![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5OSy5b10ej6Ev392Yz_u82MPh5qAY5BTangbPw1li9mO6l7uhR1nipRZl6C0lr3D70t_UCWNGWpp7p7Q_VcnlyEL6gtvddey0Tj6g6hiKfLjqSD3vcQQHGBuB9AXH28davIODeukLpk/s320/Bushcraft+Spruce+Cree06.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYqTZVxNubpfiubnvqmw0nDgNvjdX92QkEKTj26niKdSdbRKRHqt7wHhsVzITUZvTqlL9Pu-bWHSk3zhnJ6eGPPB1KqHWexr_upA_HP7nxsB7mkUdgrUeG-_vaY2LOl7882EIxR1_szQ/s320/Bushcraft+Spruce+Cree11.jpg)
Crooked knife work; Paddle taking shape
With an hour of free time up at the cottage, I worked on cleaning up the blade and reducing the shaft thickness my angled crooked knife, a superb tool for finishing work.
For decoration, I thought I wanted to replicate some historic line designs found in some printed texts. Spruce isn't a good choice for wood-burning decoration so I figured I could use some of the left over Epifanes enamel paint from the cedar canvas canoe to add a nice bit of color.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlNQOH8RyGzxeGGLl5UQ5-ZTyLDG6lX1h_jSc2mMs5OXYYtSEiKcy2NAZPlyqgEmYGFAmDkMElf_5PJC3NJn1ZEaCrgz87KnET1OpPCTwnZVmzVHnvg2Ht6CK0lwZbjCTyxDxDgDhhyphenhyphen0/s400/Taylor+-+Cree+Paddles2_rs.jpg)
Decorated Cree Paddles
In the end I came up with a slightly different pattern than Paddle (D) on the far right, a museum model piece from Fort Chimo now at the McCord Museum in Montreal. Using some masking tape and a cheap foam brush on hand, the painted accents were added easily enough.. Still, my hand isn't as stable working with messy paints so they are quite amateurish
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi40SxGDJvRMaJix3heZSbfAHMwtB8bePznjkE-kETPcSvgngUcNQ6DJ76taLeaIKjWyFCBa_HO_3e-OGrGPpib5Wn29Vo-opgISSENAlyTY0mpj645kyASyWGxNTAtZlKXk23urUuADs/s400/Painted+Bushcraft+Cree1.jpg)
Final Paddle
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qSPiKtruon6lcvxBC8x-5baGnzWLJafb-_qd0TtxaCh0h9hE99sWwS_0SajDgScOnfL4n4ViRm4UzQ9FlkrY5v-TWMXxKIusJccEnucv8vNMR4psSqCq2HhYJMxliBzEEvulP-u1Ysk/s400/Painted+Bushcraft+Cree2.jpg)
Blade Closeup
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4rXsS2OHCvI/S7KmcXnfUQI/AAAAAAAAFVI/xHUYyjB1cWE/s800/paddle_divider.jpg)
2 comments:
Nice post as usual....good to see you posting regularly again....look forward to your post on canoe pole (saw your post on SoloTripping)
I REALLY like the look of this paddle -- both the general shape and style but also your choice of decoration. Very nice.
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