GetCrafty Craft Facts

Q: What are "naked goddess beads"? Also, could you direct me to a URL that shows a picture of them?

A: These would be beads that show breasts, sometimes a cleft between the legs. Essentially, with no clothes (therefore naked, LOL). A lot of the mermaids made and sold today are naked on top, naked female forms are often called, "goddess beads". I don't know if I have any on my site or not, I'll let someone else post the links, because I can't seem to do that anyway, but 'Mavis Smith' and 'Cousette Copeland' both have them on their sites, I think 'Cheryl Lynn Keggan's' Venus beads would qualify as naked. Usually female figure beads that are not dressed, and therefore more figural, are called "goddess" beads. I believe (and I KNOW there are those here who will correct me if they feel this is wrong) that we refer to them as such, because they resemble so much the charms and more traditionally carved beads, also usually shown without clothing, that are made to honor specific women goddesses, or sometimes just women in general. I think this is a term that has evolved, and is historical, and I may be wrong about that also. Now that I have stumbled through that explanation, I am thinking that there is an article that needs to be researched by those who like doing this sort of thing, and teach the rest of us the history of goddesses' beads, and show how they are currently so prevalent in the world of lampworking. How about it, you article-writers, or someone who has been looking to do something like this for the first time? Seems like a good subject for me for one of the bead magazines...