Coming Up Roses

Coming in at number six in the progression of kayak builds is “Coming Up Roses,” which is another Guillemot 17’ boat, modified to accommodate the intricate inlays and my lengthy feet. The artwork and wood inlays are a true representation of the beauty of multiple roses, using natural colors of the different wood species, all beautifully balanced across the deck of this special kayak. The designs and pattern of all the roses are based on some floral paintings and actual roses I photographed from my garden. Twenty-eight different kinds of wood, along with some abalone shell, are featured in this kayak.
The strings of abalone shell both around the compass rose and the cockpit combing were originally meant to serve as decorative binding for upper-end acoustic guitars. (I have been building both acoustic and electric guitars since 2013, becoming an instructor for the national “Stem guitar building project” (guitarbuilding.org).) Incorporating these finer materials (abalone shell) seemed natural, starting with the wings of dragon flies and progressing into strings of shell inlayed around circles, such as around the cockpit opening, mimicking the adornment around the sound hole of an acoustic guitar. To me, the cockpit opening is like the sound hole of an acoustic guitar, typically adorned with beautiful concentric rings, patterns inlays, and often abalone shell.
Hope you enjoy feasting your eyes on this wooden rose garden. And just know that no DATA centers were commissioned or rapidly constructed to write these profound words. Hopefully, you can sleep better knowing this!
Cheers!