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Bumpkin Bears Nov 18, 2005

Hi everyone,

Can anyone tell me how to secure fimo feet to a bear... like I have seen done with little mice?  Thanks a lot :)

Catherine

Amanda Nov 19, 2005

Thats a good question Catherine. If its a small bear I suppose you could put a cotter pin in the feet and bake them then use that to fix through the leg, with glue as well. I don't know if the foot could take the strain when you turn the cotterpin. Anyone else know?

psichick78 Nov 19, 2005

i would poke a hole in the Fimo before baking, then you can sew it on. You might also need to glue on the fur afterwards.

That's how I would do it anyway,

Heather

Bumpkin Bears Nov 19, 2005

Thanks Heather and Amanda - it will be for a mini - I bought some pink fimo today so will test it out - I like the idea of putting a hole in it and then sewing and glueing on..

Hugs
Catherine

Dilu Nov 19, 2005

I haven't used Fimo much....so if you were doing a larger fot, could you set your screw into it prior to cooking?  Is the Fimo strong enough?

Bumpkin Bears Nov 19, 2005

I'm not sure Dilu - I did do a fimo nose with a glass eye inside it and then used the loop to attach to the head with extra glue and that worked well (thanks to a tip from here)... I only want to try tiny feet so I think I will first try a hole in the top of it... if I get any results I'll be sure to let you know.

Catherine

Shelli Retired Help Advisor, Banner SponsorNov 21, 2005

The way dollmakers sometimes attach limbs is to press a groove all the way around the top of the limb piece before baking/air drying/firing.  Then, when it's hardened and ready to attach to the body, working from the inside, they simply tie a piece of string VERY TIGHTLY around the limb, securing the fabric to it.

I'll try to hunt down some online photos for visual clarification.  Back soon...

Shelli Retired Help Advisor, Banner SponsorNov 21, 2005

K, so here's a picture of the groove etched around the limb pieces before they are hardened.

Then, when you want to attach them, you turn the cloth body part inside out -- it's more or less shaped like a tube where it will attach to the limb -- and then tie a very strong thread around the fabric, securing it to the limb, which fits and stays inside the groove.

You can also insert a piece of stiff, thick wire into the center of the limb before baking, that would protrude well past the top edge of the limb.  That way you continue the rigidity past the hard limb or foot itself, and into the body, which might aid standing.

Good luck!

Just Us Bears Nov 21, 2005

I've seen Fimo faces attached the same way Shelli..only they they glue the mohair to the groove.

matilda Nov 21, 2005

SHELLI!! your idea made me think(yes it hurt) When I dressed up my lamp shades , I sewed the beading because it was heavy ,to the shade and then glued fancy stuff over that. WELL..... I just thought that with your idea, that maybe , biasbinding be glued to the top of the fimo limb and then the fabric can then be sewn to the bias binding. And it doesnt have to be bias, I was just using that as an example.

What do you think? would it work? or is it a silly idea? I can take it , I'm tough.    Matilda

Bumpkin Bears Nov 23, 2005

Thanks for the pictures Shelli - I'm having a slow brain day and am not too sure how I would fit the feet to a leg.  I get the idea with the groove but am not sure how to do all this without seeing it all and how I would do a pattern for the limb...I think I just need to try it out on tests and then the light bulb may switch on!!   :wacko:

Thanks a lot for looking up the piccies and for your idea too Matilda - I'll let you know if I get anywhere with tests!!

Hugs
Catherine

plushkinbear Nov 23, 2005

Catherine, as you know, mohair backing isn't that thin and soft as the cloth, doll maker use to make body.
You can also make holes in the groove to stitch it onto mohair part of the leg. And use glue.

Plus, you can make Fimo leg on armatures or wire and it would be more strenght. The leg won't come off for sure.

Julia

I'm planning to do Fimo ears and the method I'll use for it will be the one with making holes. So I can stitch the ears on the head.

matilda Nov 26, 2005

FIMO EARS ??? I want pixs from you two when your finished.  :pray: