WPF - Creating simple controls to be used on a Canvas

Answer 1

Ah, yes, trying to reinvent things that already exist in the framework because you don't know about them. Its been a hobby of mine for quite some time.

What you are doing here is trying to create a special type of adorner. These are relatively easy to do using the bits that already exist in the framework. I suggest you start here.

Another thing you might want to look at are Decorators. Do pretty much the same thing but I think they are more visual. Which one to use depends on your requirements.

Answer 2

Will, may I ask how you finally realized that? I currently have basically the same problem - I'd like to combine several uielements to one and place it on a canvas, all handling logic implemented in a separate class.