The Find: pretty hand-painted paddles from Norquay Company

Natasha Wittke, founder of camping brand Norquay Company, designs beautiful paddles that would look equally at home in a rustic living room or a cedar-strip canoe. Handcrafted from Northern Ontario cherry wood, the paddles are stained, branded and painstakingly painted by Wittke in her Montreal studio, creating what the designer calls “collectible pieces of functional art.” You may not want to risk the paintwork on a rugged back-river canoe trip, but a special varnish finish makes them sturdy enough to withstand a leisurely cottage paddle (just be sure to wipe them down afterwards). In the meantime, we suggest hanging a particularly bold piece—like this one, dubbed “Hunter”—anywhere in your house for an artful, outdoorsy look. $275–$380

Available at Tuck Shop Trading Co., 1226 Yonge St., or online at norquay.com