I am doing it in small strips. I thought about doing what you said, making a whole piece then tracing it but after fitting the first few strips (lots of patience needed here) I can't imagine doing it in one large piece. What have other builders done? The pictures of the silver with the branch and flowers(can't remember who) inspired me to try an inlay. I would love more details of how they did theirs.
JJ

: Quick question. Is it better to pre-glue a bunch of strips on top of waxpaper
: on the bench then trace and cut out the pattern and drop it in or just fit
: small strips one at a time until the cut-out is filled? I'm sure you can
: do this either way, but which way is preferred? Is it just personal
: preference? I'm amazed at some of the inlays builders on this board have
: done. It's very impressive. How many fiberglass or plastic kayaks have
: fancy artistic inlays on their decks? None that I have seen.
: SMF