Virtual Flybox :: Swap :: Illustrated Pattern Swap II

Please Support Our Sponsors

Participate
eCards Chat Room VFB Wear Forums Recipes Add Recipe	Auctions E-Mail List Add-A-Fly Membership Guestbook Search

VFB Articles
Read feature articles presented by fellow viewers like yourself. Subjects range from tying tutorials to short stories. If you would like to share your writings with our viewers please be sure to contact us.

E-Mail List
Join the hundreds of flytyers already online. Receive or post swap announcements and reports, get the answers to all your tying questions, learn about new techniques and materials or just join in on the daily ramblings. Also, this is where to receive Virtual Flybox updates.

VFB Statistics
1177	Patterns	25	Articles
453	Tyers	36	Swaps
11	eCards	744	Recipes

Site Credits

GENESIS OF THE "ILLUSTRATED PATTERN SWAP"

Bottom line? The Illustrated Pattern Swap (IPS) seemed like a great way to unleash some energy, creativity and involve others in the fun.

How'd it start?
I was trading emails with two superb tyers in Europe. Their email descriptions of some of the steps were not clear to me. I asked if they would resort to the (old fashioned) letter method, provide me with drawings of what they meant by 'this step' or 'that process'. They obliged.

The illustrations were unqiue to these two individuals, quite different in drawing style. I could tell they had fun doing the illustrations. Couple this happening with the fact that I am an inveterate doodler. No artist am I, no talent, but I love all kinds of art. I thought, why not swap illustrated how-to-tie fly patterns, instead of the standard swapping of just tied flies?

Idea Floated to Internet Flyfishing Listserv
I proposed the idea to the members of the listserv called Flyfish@ in the Fall of 1996. The Flyfish@ is a collection of 1,000 flyfishing members from around the world who exchange stories, information and talk non-stop all day on the Internet. I knew the IPS would be at least one remedy to the upcoming winter shack-nasties for not only myself, but everyone else.

There were 27 participants the first year. It took four months to get it completely done and finished products in the hands of the participants. There was a fair amount of cajoling that I, as swapmistress, had to do to convince participants they could DO IT ! The second IPS was started in fall of 1997, and we had 42 participants this year.

Rules and Guidelines
For both swaps, there were 'rules' and guidelines. For example, the participants could use any medium and method, but the final product had to be in hardcopy paper format. There had to be a fly pattern included in the description and a minimum of five illustrations. The results run the gamut, from pen drawings, to computer-generated, to photographs, or a combination of several methods. Some were in black and white, some in color. Some swappers chose cartoon or fictional story formats. You'll see.

Each participant was required to send enough sets of their entry for all the swappers in the swap. In addition to the narrative and illustrations, the swappers were asked to include one tied fly for their pattern. This fly was mailed to one of the other randomly-selected participants in the swap.

After all entries were received, I collated the entries into sets for each of the participants, randomly selected a fly they would also receive, and mailed out the finished product.

Enjoy
Enjoy the final results from this year's IPS. Each is a delight, creative and different. Try some of the patterns out yourself and contact the individuals who created them, their emails are included.

Another IPS?
Will there be an Illustrated Pattern Swap III ? You betcha. I'm already thinking about it.

Sue Kreutzer
Colorado 1998

A NOTE FROM THE WEBMASTER

As both a web author and a swap participant, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Sue for all her efforts in orchestrating such a creative undertaking. Without her constant prodding, begging and threatening it would have never come to fruition.

Since this swap differs from the morm a bit, a few navigational hints are in order. When you proceed to the Table of Contents you will notice that the pattern names are underlined. By clicking on these active links you will be taken to the artists cover page containg a few words from the artist and a small picture of their first page. Clicking on this thumbnail graphic will lead you to a larger version. To advance to additional pages please utilize the navigation buttons near the bottom. I ask you to bear in mind that these are graphic intensive pages and may load slowly. Please have patience...it will be worth your wait!

Keep tyin'...enjoy...Byard