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TreacleBears Treacle Bears
Posts: 183

Ok bearey people! 
I have seen that some bear artist wire their bears arms and legs so they can be posed.
How do you do this? 
I am planning on creating some larger bears and dressing them etc... so it would be nice if I could pose them as well.
Any advice pretty please?

Fallenrose near Cologne
Posts: 478

I haven't done this myself yet, but I think you could use pipecleaners that you put into your bear's arm/leg and then stuff around.
Or, you could use some (jewelry-)wire, cut it the right length to go around the outline of the arm/leg, sew it in with a whipstitch (from the future inside, I mean) and then turn around the arm/leg.
Does this make any sense?  bear_wacko

TreacleBears Treacle Bears
Posts: 183

thank you for the advice...... I will have a play.  I dont think pipecleaners will be man enough for the job as I am planning on making quite a big bear..... but jewellery wire might, perhaps I'll have a look and garden wire.... hmmmmm

Fallenrose near Cologne
Posts: 478

Yes, you're right, on a bigger bear pipecleaners woudln't work.
But you'll have to find a wire that you can bend without too much trouble or the need of pliers^^

TreacleBears Treacle Bears
Posts: 183

yes quite right, I want them to bend easily and also dont want the wire to pop out or fray the fabric in anyway.....

Fallenrose near Cologne
Posts: 478

ah, I forgot to mention: You should secure the ends of the wire, for example by forming a loop or by covering them with some kind of tape^^

Geralye Belper, Derbyshire
Posts: 110

Try

http://www.woodlandteddies.co.uk/armature.htm

Also, have a look at (I think) Edinburgh Imports website and Beary Cheap.  Both I believe do the flexlimb armature, which is fixed into the joint.

cheers,
G

lovenshire Love and Cuddle Nursery
Missouri
Posts: 945
Website

With my dolls when I use wire I always bend a loop into the end then wrap them with a little padding and tape it all together from end to end...no puncture for the limbs this way...
I forgot to add...I use one long wire both arms and then one long wire for both legs...

TreacleBears Treacle Bears
Posts: 183

Thanks guys for all the tips.  the link to woodlandteddies is perfect!!!!  why didnt I think of that.  very simple to do.  will get some wire etc. and give it a go!
xxx

Tami E Tami Eveslage Original Teddy Bears
Milford Ohio
Posts: 2,367

Here is an old blog post where I show how I made armatures in a big (23") bear.
http://insidemystudio.blogspot.com/2008 … chive.html

rowarrior The Littlest Thistle
Glasgow
Posts: 6,212

Joanne from Desertmountainbears had a great idea to use perm rollers - the foam covers the wire and pads it to protect the fur/stuffing, and come in different widths.  I sometimes have to use some extra modelling wire on bigger bears, you need something pretty heavy duty for big bears.

Here's the blog article http://desertmountainbear.blogspot.com/ … upply.html  She also does quite a lot of other great technique articles

Clarebear Fulrfun Bears
Alice Springs
Posts: 503

i use copper wire from the hardware store (comes in different thicknesses) and has an insulating coating on it but it bends really easily.  Then I put an electrical connector on the end to place on the joint after the washer.  i always wrap some stuffing around it firmly before placing it in the bear and use extra at the paw end.

TreacleBears Treacle Bears
Posts: 183

thanks again guys for all your help and advice.  the 'benders' as we used to call the hair curlers as kids are a great idea!  I think I may have some somewhere!  If not down to superdrug to give them a try.  great as they are already covered in a protective layer.  I will see if they are man enough for the job.
xxx

EvaJ EJ's Crafts
Fort Mohave, Arizona
Posts: 829

I use the foam covered curlers that Joanne from DesertMountainBears told me about.  I love them.  You still need to secure the ends of the curler with electrical tape and then pad them with stuffing.  Here is one of the bears I did that way.dolls_and_bear_of_2-25-10_030.jpg

desertmountainbear desertmountainbear
Bloomsburg, PA
Posts: 5,399

Yes the rollers from the beauty supply work great for cushioning.  For big bears I change out the thinner wire in them for thicker 16 gauge wire.

Joanne

Dreli-Bears Dreli-Bears
Salzburg
Posts: 720
Website

I just saw this post and want to share my kind of working - hope some of you will like it too ...... I can use it for all sizes of bears just changing the largeness of file

wired-arms-2009.jpg

Fallenrose near Cologne
Posts: 478

I was wondering.. isn't it hard to stuff a miniature bear's arm with a wire in it?

Ariane

amber Honey Valley Bears
Toronto
Posts: 210

I have a large spool of hard core wire that my husband pick up for me.  It is what they would use to wire fire alarm systems or securty systems.  Then I got connectors at a local electronics store along with the tool to crimp it and some wire heat seal and ready to go.  I just cut the wire to the length I want and add the contector fold over the end and use the heat seal and done.  Just stuff as usual.  Works great in ears too.

Amber

TreacleBears Treacle Bears
Posts: 183

thanks guys for all your tips!!!!

Bearalive Bearalive
S.California
Posts: 791
Website

Hi Nicky
What is very good  to do that job is  call Aluminum Wire. It is strong but very flexible, easy to work with I used it on my dolls and bigger bears.
Hope it helps.
Gladys bear_flower

Bearalive Bearalive
S.California
Posts: 791
Website

Hi is me again  bear_rolleyes  I get my wire in here . You can go and see how it looks.
http://www.DollmakersJourney.com
Hope it helps to see it and read about it in the site.
Bear hugs and Golly smiles.
Gladys

Dreli-Bears Dreli-Bears
Salzburg
Posts: 720
Website

@ Ariane - yes it is quite hard to stuff a little one with wired arms, but it is so funny, when they are finished and moving their arms in different ways, my smallest one was about 9 cm with my system of wired arms

@ Gladys - I too use Aluminium wire in different sizes - this one is really the best for our work and our bears - isn't it!!!!

hugs to all of you

Fallenrose near Cologne
Posts: 478

@ Andrea:
Well, it seem like I should try it out on my newest one, he (or is it a she? I don't know atm) would like to be so poseable lol

Bearalive Bearalive
S.California
Posts: 791
Website

Hi Adrea
Yes it comes in diferent sizes and it is wonderful to work with for sure!! I love that is so easy on your hands. I always make a little lop at the end and sometime even , if the bear is not too small , put a bit os tape. That way is not danger os braking the fabric and come out! bear_angry  Not good! I do design and make dolls, Gollies and I used it for them too.They look so cute holding things in their hands ( or paws  bear_original  ) I hope soon we will see a picture of your bear Nicky. Do not forget to post a picture.
Have a wonderful weekend you all.
Bear hugs and Golly smiles.
Gladys bear_flower

EvaJ EJ's Crafts
Fort Mohave, Arizona
Posts: 829

I use the wire in my mice but have never used it in the dolls.  I will have to try that next time.  I use the curlers in the bears because they are so easy to work with even though they are higher priced than the wire.

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