Thursday, April 10, 2014

Project 52 - Miniature Bear Making - #6

Make Spectacles

To make spectacles for Angus you will need only a few things.  Most of them you probably already have.
Wire:  any wire that will bend easily, but hold its shape.  I use brass wire from a beading shop, sometimes wire from the hardware store, and often wire from the florist.  One can get paper coated wire from some florists.  This is great, because it can be painted any colour you like. And how about raiding the stationery cupboard?  All those lovely coloured paper clips...
Shaping tool:  I use a pair of chain nose (round nose) pliers.  You can get that from a beading shop or hardware store.  If you don't have chain nose pliers, a wooden skewer, dowel or knitting needle with the right diameter will also work. 
You will also need a pair of needle nose pliers and a wire cutter.
Let's get to work.
Cut a generous length of wire and fold it in half.  Don't make the top of the bend too sharp, it should look like a hairpin.  You can cut several lengths of wire and keep them handy, in case you need to practise a bit to get it right :-)
Fold one side of the wire around the shaping tool to make a half circle.  Hold the shaping tool against the outside of the top of your 'hairpin', and bend the wire up 180 degrees away from the hairpin.
Do the same with the other leg of the hairpin.  Check that the curve on both sides are the same size.  Now you have the bottom  half moons for your spectacles. 
Hold the spectacles up to your teddy bear's face and make sure that he can see you through both lenses. Adjust as necessary.
A little bit too small?
This one is big.  Not completely wrong though, it will give Angus a bookish look.
Perfect fit!
Take up your shaping tool again and complete the circles.  
The wire should now hang down on the inside of the hairpin.  
We are not finished yet.  Still holding your shaping tool inside the circle, take the wire around another half turn, so that it is on the outside of the circle, and facing straight up.
When you have completed one side, do the other side. 
Use the needle nose pliers to bend the ears of the spectacles 90 degrees away from the lenses.
Voila!  Spectacles custom made for your teddy.
For my small bears, I snip the ears of the spectacles to length, just behind the bear's ears. 
Make a hole with a big darning needle at the top corner of each ear, into the head.  Slip the ends of the spectacles into the holes, press them down firmly on the bear's nose, and you are done.
If the spectacles are the right size, and fitted properly, Angus will be able to look at you through both lenses of the spectacles.
Here's a summary of the steps.
This is my book page for lesson 6.

In this miniature bear making series, we are using the Angus pattern, which you will find in my Etsy Shop, and on the Tin Soldiers Website.
I have made page templates if you would like to copy mine, but it could also be fun to make your own.  Every week, you will find printable templates for Project 52 HERE .
Want to make miniature reading material for your teddy bear?  On my Pinterest page you will find links to miniature books and newspapers to print, covering a wide variety of topics. 

Gerda and Lana have a regular date to make teddies.  They are working on their Project 52 books together.  This is what it looks like so far, exciting!  I love the idea of using nose shapes as a 'window' to write in.  You ladies are so creative.


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