Teddy Bear Gifts - The Eyes Have It!
Shoe-Button Eyes were the first eyes used for Teddy Bears that were made in the USA. You will find many antique bears today with shoe-button eyes.÷ Many early Teddy Bears even into the 1940s had button eyes and can be found in many homes today.Glass Eyes were often used after 1910 in many bears using black, brown, green and blue colors.÷ While glass eyes give an old antique look, they are not used when making a Teddy Bear gift for a child as they can break and might be pulled off by a curious child.
Felt Eyes can÷ be sewn into place or even glued.÷ Their shape and size can easily be changed to fit the character of the Teddy Bear. Often a white felt is used for background of a leather covered eye or colored felt to give the appearance of a human eye.
Safety lock plastic eyes are much safer for use with a Teddy Bear gift that is intended for a child.÷ They must be installed before the bear is stuffed and when attached properly are nearly impossible to remove. Look for these when you are selecting a gift for a young child. Many teddy bears made in the USA today have this type of eyes.
Embroidered eyes are also very effective if the Teddy Bear gift is to be used by a young child. They can also be very expressive.
Placement of the eyes is also important as larger eyes placed close together gives a young look, while small eyes set farther apart tends to make your Teddy Bear gift look older and wiser. So next time you pick up your Teddy Bear, be certain you look at its eyes!