My best friend growing up spent the last 20 years raising red setters. A while back he decided to not breed anymore, and his runt Scarlet, who had birthed many litters, was the end of a long line for him dating back to his first childhood setter.
She passed some time ago, and my buddy asked me a favor. He gave me her final pheasant skin and a bag of her hair and asked me to tie flies for him to frame. I was honored, and humbled, and immediately said yes. The problem was I'm not that good of a tier, especially on show flies. My bodies are lumpy, my proportions catch fish but not eyeballs, and while i knew the fly i wanted to tie for her (a lady caroline variant) I did not own the right anything and did not know how to set a mallard wing.
I tied about 100 of them over the last year. The first ones were just with what I had on hand. Then new hooks. Then proper tinsel. Then I was worried I was blowing the best feathers off her pheasant and tied mallard wing patterns with other shit until I could do it.
Its finally come together in the last few weeks and I'm about to give him his present. Hes had a few of my practice ones that got close, but I've been clear those are fishing flies and that better is coming.
It's far and away the hardest I've ever worked on flies and I cant think of a person I'd want to do it more for.
The Lady Scarlett
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THAT is awesome! 
Hope all is well up there.
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