The Art of Fly Tying - creating a realistic Red Eared Turtle Realistic red eared turtle 10xl Partridge Carrie Stevens hook and two pieces of tapered Orvis foam strips Foam colored with markers and tinted flex varnish Foam segmented up the hook to create the turtles tail Five pieces of fine brass wire secured to the hook to create the legs Wires bound together with thread Toes are separated and detailed Thin foam strips are tied on top as well as underneath to shape the legs The fun begins, detail coloring, using micron markers The head is shaped with a long strip of chenille. A plastic strip was pulled through the head with a needle, glass beads slid down, plastic melted until it was flush with the beads. Two strips of colored Swiss Straw are tied on behind the hook eye Straw is pulled back and secured with thread The red ears are colored The straw is colored with micron markers, and pulled forward, and secured Straw is pulled back to shape the turtles retractable neck The shell is made with a thin piece of flat foam Pattern was cut into the foam with a razor, and flame used to heat and shape the foam Thread is tied between the legs to begin forming the body Swiss Straw is wrapped around the thread base. When applying color, I prefer to use lighter colors over darker base colors He looks real enough to become lunch Oh no! I guess I'll have to tie another one   Art Flies Tying Fishing Flies My Guest book My Latest Hobby - Photography