Below are links to animator/animation/how-to sites that you may find helpful.
Stop Motion Animation.com A site created by Anthony Scott (animator on films such as Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline) featuring a message board, how-to guides and various helpful techniques, links etc.
Cartoon Brew An informative animation forum featuring news and reviews on current and historical animations. Edited by animation historians Amid Amidi and Jerry Beck
Jimnettes Arts and Crafts store. They stock a variation of armature wire. It will work fine for background props or minor characters, but don't use it for your main character, it's more brittle than the wire we've given you.
Electronics123 Store in Atterbury Rd that stocks heat shrink tubing and "helping hands" that can be converted into rigs.
Archneer arts and crafts store. Stocks foam board which is ideal for making gobos. They also have some model building supplies which are good for miniature sets. You just have to put up with their perpetual playing of Jacaranda 94.2
