Ronnie,
I use black thread. As far as finishing the head with eyes, once I have completed my whip finish and cut the thread bobbin off I coat the head with Sally Hansen to seal it and then put the white spot on using fabric paint. Once it is dry, a couple minutes, I put either a dot of red or black in the center and let it dry. After it has had a couple of minutes to dry, I re-coat the entire head with Sally Hansen which really makes the eye part stand out better. The reason I coat the thread head before making the eye is to seal the thread so the fabric paint does not sink into the thread and spread out. I purchase the fabric paint from my local Wally World. It comes in many colors and in a 1 oz squeeze tube. Goes a long way and is waterproof. I figure if it can stand the washing machine in clothes, it should stay on a fly head while fishing.
You have an open invitation to come fish when you can. I am thinking about spending 3-4 days in Townsend, TN during the first week of September to fish the Little River and some of the mountain streams.
Warren
Fly fishing and fly tying are two things that I do, and when I am doing them, they are the only 2 things I think about. They clear my mind.