Author: Laura Legendary

Hi everyone! How is your apocalypse going? Our lockdown here in Las Vegas has been extended, but the populace isn’t having any of it. We’ll see what happens. Take care of yourself, and stay home to stay safe, especially if you are among the most vulnerable.

I wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know that if you are still unable to venture out, we have another Let’s Go Shopping event coming up this week. This time, it’s for dads and grads. Whether it’s your father or father-in-law, son or brother, sometimes those guys can be hard to buy for. Zoom in to our virtual shopping mall and find great gifts for your dad or grand ad, or the graduates heading off to college next fall. Or, find a little something for yourself to make lockdown a little easier.

Elegant Insights has some great new products we’ve saved just for the event, so be sure to tune in. Also, subscribe to our low volume, announce-only email group just for Let’s Go Shopping. It’s a great way to get the scoop on door prizes, discounts, and news on upcoming Let’s Go Shopping Virtual Events.

Go here to sign up:

groups.io/g/LGS/

What is Let’s Go Shopping? It’s an accessible, online, virtual mall crawl that connects small businesses with the customers who need them. You can join us by using the Zoom platform on your smartphone, laptop, desktop or even your landline telephone! Our first event was held on a single 12 hour day. This time, the Let’s Go Shopping event is a three-day extravaganza. For the complete schedule, go here:

An accessible, virtual shopping event just for dads and grads: Let’s Go Shopping 2!

Finally, as with the first event, Let’s Go Shopping 2 will be recorded. Tune in to all three days to find gifts of tech, style, gourmet popcorn, accessories, leather goods, skin care, home fragrance, kitchen gadgets, and of course, Elegant Insights braille jewelry and accessories!

Don’t forget to use the tag, #LetsGoShopping when sharing about the event.

Ready for a little retail therapy? Let’s Go Shopping!

Stay strong, and sparkle on!

Laura

With millions of us self-isolating, doing our part to stay home and stay healthy, the demands on our finances, resources, and patience has been significant. No more so than for seniors and people with disabilities, for whom the changes in day-to-day life has not only been disruptive, but frustrating as well. Tasks such as shopping, once made easier by caregivers, whether children, grandchildren, home-care provider, or a visiting friend are now out of reach for some. Still others may have had to give up the seat in front of the family PC so that their spouse can continue to work, now from home. Still others may find that home confinement means they no longer have access to their company bandwidth and lightning-fast Internet speeds. The stress and anxiety with which many are now struggling, thanks to the sudden, head-spinning reality of the surreal, new normal can make an activity as pleasurable as shopping seem overwhelming.

With upcoming gift-giving occasions such as Easter, Mother’s Day, graduations, and so on, I wanted to help people get some shopping done in an easy, stress-free way, , while ensuring we all continue to adhere to the self-isolation guidelines. So, I organized an all-day, online, virtual event called “Let’s Go Shopping!”

On Saturday, April 4th, beginning at 7 AM Pacific time, and lasting for 12 hours, you can use the Zoom Video Conferencing platform to shop till you drop. Zoom enables users to access meetings and virtual events by using a desktop, smartphone, tablet, or even a landline telephone. These days, it seems that everyone is using Zoom, whether for schoolwork, dance lessons, concerts, and now…shopping!

Here is the schedule for the day, along with all the vendor info. Scroll to the bottom for the Zoom access info. There’s no need to RSVP, or even register. However, some of the vendors are giving away door prizes, and you may be asked for your email address so that arrangements can be made to ship it to you if you win one. How fun is that?

Let’s Go Shopping Schedule

Saturday, April 4th, 2020, from 7 AM to 7 PM Pacific Time. Let’s Go Shopping is an all-day, online, accessible event connecting small businesses and the customers who need them. Ready for a little retail therapy?

Let’s Go Shopping!

Please note that all times are pacific Time. Adjust accordingly for your time zone.

7:00 am PT: Good morning and welcome (Laura)

7:30 am: Sight and Sound Technology

8:00 am PT: Elegant Insights Braille Creations

9:00 am PT: Hartgen Consultancy

10:00 am PT: PattiandRicky.com Adaptive Fashion

11:00 am PT: Strawberry Moon Reborns

11:30 am: Beauty by Brittany

12:00 pm PT: A. T. Guys

12:30 pm: GlamSticks

1:00 pm PT: GuideLights and Gadgets, Inc.

1:30 pm: Scentsy with Nini

2:00 pm PT: PattiandRicky.com Inclusive Accessories

3:00 pm PT: GuideLights for Guide Dogs

3:30 pm: Tawny’s Pottery Lab

4:00 pm PT: A. T. Guys

4:30 pm: The Unseen Bean

5:00 pm PT: The Harbolt Company

6:00 pm PT: Elegant Insights Braille Creations

6:30 pm: Door prizes and wrap-up Laura and friends

Let’s Go Shopping with these fabulous vendors!

Sight and Sound Technology
Sight and Sound Technology Ireland is the leading provider of hardware and software to the blind, visually impaired and those with learning and reading difficulties.

Stuart Lawler
?www.sightandsound.co.uk
Telephone: +35316909720
Mobile: +353879926360
stuart.lawler@sightandsoundtechnology.ie
Twitter: @sastireland

Elegant Insights Braille Creations
Jewelry and accessories with a tactile twist. We bring out the beauty of braille.

Laura Legendary
www.elegantinsightsjewelry.com
l.legendary@elegantinsightsjewelry.com
702-605-1265
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Elegant.Insights
Twitter: @ElegantInsights
Instagram: www.instagram.com/elegantinsights

Hartgen Consultancy
Training and products for the JAWS Screen-reader. Quality, Confidence, Excellence.

Brian Hartgen
www.hartgenconsultancy.com
US: 239-256-7779
Twitter : www.twitter.com/hartgenconsult
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hartgenconsult

Patti and Ricky
Functional and fashionable apparel and accessories for people of all abilities.

Alexandra Herold
www.pattiandricky.com
303-578-6594
alex@pattiandricky.com
Twitter: @pattiandricky_
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pattiandricky/
Instagram: @pattiandrickycom

StrawberryMoonReborns
Lifelike baby dolls for your child, or the child in all of us.

Lulu Hartgen
www.strawberrymoonreborns.com
+44-7773-501-358.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/strawberrymoonkins
And
Facebook: www.facebook.com/strawberrymoonreborns
Instagram: @strawberrymoonreborns
Twitter: @SMReborns

Beauty by Brittany
Color your world with Mary Kay Cosmetics

Brittany Savage
Independent beauty consultant
www.marykay.com/bsavage2
tanielizabeth21@yahoo.com
Twitter: @tanielizabeth21

A. T. Guys
A. T. Guys will be offering a special deal for everyone who tunes in. We are taking orders and ready to provide the technology you need.

J. J. Meddaugh
support@atguys.com
269-216-4798
Twitter: @atguys
Facebook: www.facebook.com/atguys

Glamsticks
Glamsticks ™ are bespoke, designer and couture crutches, canes, walking sticks, wheelchair covers and accessories all individually crafted for your personal use.

Sharon Farley-Mason
www.glamsticks.co.uk
glamsticks@hotmail.com
UK 07903143322
Twitter: @glamsticks
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GlamSticks
Instagram: @sharonfm1_glamsticks

GuideLights and Gadgets, Inc.
Simple and affordable technological fun.

Barry Scheur
www.guidelightsandgadgets.us/
1597 Suncrest Drive
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.
(617) 969-7500
bscheur@scheur.com

Scentsy with Nini
Fill your life with fragrance.

Nini Urschel
Independent Scentsy Consultant
www.nini.scentsy.us
916-206-1151
nini95626@sbcglobal.net
Facebook: NV Wickless Scents & More

GuideLightDogs
Happiness wags.

KaeAnn Rausch
www.guidelightsandgadgets.us/CatalogGuideLightDogProducts.html
guidelightdogs@gmail.com
781-286-1696
Twitter: @Kaeko658

Tawny’s Pottery Lab
From my hands to yours, everyday art designed to touch: pet bowls, mugs, pendants, home decor

Tawny Villegas
Www.pottery-lab.com
www.etsy.com/shop/tawnyspotterylab
IG: @potterylab
Twitter: @pottery_lab
FB: www.facebook.com/potterylab/

The Unseen Bean
Taste the passion in blind roasted coffee.

Jerry Leary
www.theunseenbean.com
720-369-8039
info@theunseenbean.com
Twitter @theunseenbean

The Harbolt Company
We specialize in unique and hard to find items to make your life easier. We love what we do, and so will you!

Brent Harbolt
www.harboltcompany.com
sales@harboltcompany.com
405-633-2572
Twitter: @harboltcompany
Facebook: www.facebook.com/theharboltcompany

Special thanks to The Harbolt Company for donating the Zoom virtual shopping mall. Thanks also to vendors donating door prizes throughout the day. Be sure to tune in on saturday, April 4th, 2020 to shop ’till you drop!

Let’s Go Shopping!

Join us via the Zoom Video Conferencing platform:

Laura Legendary has invited you to the online event, “Let’s Go Shopping!”

An all-day, accessible, online event. Let’s Go Shopping! We’re connecting small businesses and the customers who need them.

Join us Saturday April 4, 2020, start time 7:00 AM Pacific Time, 8:00 AM Mountain Time, 9:00 Central Time, 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada). Event concludes at 7 PM Pacific Time.

Join Zoom Meeting from your computer or mobile device with Zoom app installed. (needs meeting ID.)
Meeting ID: 287 180 525

zoom.us/j/287180525

One tap join from your mobile device. (does not require meeting ID.)

+16699006833,,287180525# US (San Jose)
+13462487799,,287180525# US (Houston)

Dial by your location on a land line phone. (needs meeting ID.)
Meeting ID: 287 180 525

+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

Find your local number: zoom.us/u/abZUrvSCbt

We look forward to – virtually – meeting you, so be sure to show up and shop!
Go here to read the Let’s Go Shopping official press release.

Stay strong, and sparkle on!

Laura

Gemstones, whether clear or colorful, opaque or transparent, can be cut into myriad shapes, each with a plethora of pleasing optical properties that enhance the setting as well as the stone. In fact, due to the crystalline structure of some gems, there are preferred shapes that reveal the best balance of color and weight, as they show off the most beautiful aspects of color consistency and spectacular sparkle.

It is important to point out first thing that there is a distinction between the shape of a gem and the cut of a gem. The shape is the outline, the silhouette, the general form of a gem. The cut refers to how it is faceted. The most common diamond shape is the round, although there are many other geometric shapes, such as the rectangle, octagon, triangle, oval, marquise, and pear shape. There are also many specialty shapes, such as a heart, star, briolet, crescent, and whatever a skilled gem cutter can dream up. Here, we are going to focus on the square shape, along with the various cuts that can completely alter the visual properties of a square-shaped gem, changing how the gem presents.

A square shaped stone is exactly what you would expect: Four equivalent sides meeting at four corners at right angles. This shape does offer a few variations, however, for those who find the square to be too harsh, or too geometric. The Asscher cut, also called square emerald cut, for example, is a hybrid of a princess and an emerald cut. This cut was developed by the Asscher brothers of Holland in 1902. By using a step cut instead of a brilliant cut, the emphasis is placed on the gem clarity, rather than the sparkle.

A cushion cut is a square shaped gem with rounded corners, resembling a pillow or sofa cushion. It is considered a traditional cut, although there are some variations where the sides are gently bowed, or puffed out, not quite round but not strictly a geometric square, either. A cushion cut gem is a great way to get the feel of a square shape, but with a modified, softened look.

Of all the square shapes, you’ve probably most often heard of the princess cut. It is a relatively recent cut, crated by Ygal Perlman, Betzalel Ambar and Israel Itzkowitz in 1979, although the earliest version, called the profile cut, was crafted by Arpad Nagy of London, in 1961. What makes the princess cut so attractive, especially in a diamond, is that it is a square shape that is faceted like a brilliant cut round diamond, with many more facets than a traditional round, which makes the princess cut a major sparkler.

Another variation of a square shaped gem is the radiant cut. It is a combination of a princess and a cushion cut. This is another more recent cut, created in 1977 by Henry Grossbard. It offers the contemporary proportions of a square by taking an octagon shape and cutting off the corners, combined with the fire of a brilliant cut, which has many more facets than a traditional cushion cut gem.

There are many faceting patterns that are used to bring out the unique aspects of gemstones, and some of these are even branded…trademarked by the jewelry houses that introduced them. Whether a stone is a traditional geometric shape or a specialty shape, it can be step cut, brilliant cut, baguette cut, trapezoid cut, or any number of other faceting techniques used to enhance the coveted color or fire of a gem. When shopping, look for the various stone shape and faceting combinations available and ask about the number of facets and type of cut. Also, ask to see comparisons between stones of a similar size, carat weight, quality, or color. This will help you to make an informed choice about the perfect stone shape and cut for you, so that you can sparkle on!

LL

Laura Legendary is a blind jewelry designer, and owner of Elegant Insights Braille Creations. She is also a speaker and author, specializing in advocacy, accessibility, and assistive technology. Link to Laura on LinkedIn!

Classic cars, classic movies, classic novels…all conjure a nostalgia for time and place. To indulge in the classics is to take comfort. So it is with the 2020 Pantone color of the year, Classic Blue. According to the Pantone web site, Classic Blue is meant to represent the sky at dusk, instilling calm, confidence, and connection. This enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.

The color of the year is not meant only as a visual theme. Classic Blue can be representative of scents and sounds as well. According to an article by Kirsi Goldynia, CNN. The official Classic Blue scent is described in part as a “contemplation of where sky and sea meet,” the taste as, “flowering vines,” and the touch as a, “soft velvety texture.” Finally, the sound of Classic Blue is described as, “vivid nostalgia.” Another interpretation: Classic Blue has an earthy, floral musk; a sugary flavor evocative of blue raspberry syrup; the feel of a brand new, plush couch; and an underwater, ethereal sound.

So, how will you wear it? Blue is generally a favorite color of many, we certainly wear it as our ubiquitous blue jeans, and in our jewelry as well. Three of the most popular gem colors are blues, such as the Tanzanite, which is a cornflower blue, sapphire, which is a medium to rich deep blue, and blue topaz, which is usually a pale, sky blue. If you don’t want to wear Classic Blue, you can incorporate it into your lifestyle, as you will find it in paint colors, patio furniture cushions, and a plethora of home accents. If you have gorgeous blue eyes, then you already know that wearing blue can really enhance your eye color, so you could make Classic Blue your signature color for 2020. If you don’t think you look especially good in blue, though, you could always snack on some blueberries while listening to the Moody Blues while wearing your blue suede shoes. As with other trends, you may choose to adopt the Pantone Color of the Year subtly, and incorporate it into your accessories, such as a handbag or scarf. That way, you won’t be singing the fashion blues.

What was the 2019 color of the year? Read about In Living Coral here.

LL

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Opportunity. Opportunity, who? Opportunity wasted if you don’t answer the door. Sometimes, opportunity comes at unexpected times, in unexpected ways, and sometimes, opportunity doesn’t so much as knock as it softly taps.

Even when you’re not sure you heard it, sometimes you just have to throw the door open and see what’s out there. That’s what I’m writing about today. I have an opportunity that I don’t plan to waste, even though I do not have a great deal of control, or any, really, as to whether or not it works out. When I was approached by Alexandra Connell, founder of Patti and Ricky, a brand-new online department store for inclusive fashion and accessories, I jumped at the chance to interview her on my podcast, The Fashionability Channel. Early on, she had just a handful of vendors, and was working hard to build her business. Since then, I have enthusiastically supported her efforts, as I am a long-time advocate for people with disabilities.

When Alex learned that I am the designer of all the Elegant Insights Braille Creations jewelry and accessories products, she asked if she could carry some of my merchandise in her store. That was a knock, all right. I answered the door, and 18 months later, Alexandra’s business has grown, and she now has over 60 vendors on her site, with over 2,000 items. Alexandra has been featured in Forbes Magazine, Shape Magazine, several blogs and news articles, and now, on a national morning TV show.

Tomorrow, May 9, at 9:00 AM in all US time zones, Alexandra will appear on NBC’s The Today Show, chatting with on-air fashion expert Jill Martin about her adaptive clothing and accessories for men, women, and children. Hours of video were edited down to barely 3 minutes, so if you blink, you’ll miss it. But Alex brought a representative sampling from each of her vendors, including Elegant Insights braille jewelry. Tap, tap, tap.

Even though Alex won’t be mentioning us by name, or even featuring our products specifically, she is wearing a couple of items on set. So, if a mention of braille jewelry was not edited in favor of any of the other super cool products Alex brought with her, at least you’ll see my jewelry on Alex herself.

While some may not consider this to be the sound of opportunity pounding on my door with a sledgehammer, I do consider it a door worth opening. Please tune in tomorrow morning and join me as I wait to exhale. Thank you for sharing my excitement, for tagging your friends, and for being part of my journey. If you are already tired of seeing my tweets, pics, updates, posts, and articles on the subject, I understand. Any entrepreneur will tell you how difficult it can be to make a real go of a small business and make a living, and I will add to that the even greater challenges of being an entrepreneur who is blind. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go answer the door.

Sparkle on!

Laura

Laura Legendary is a speaker, author, and educator specializing in disability awareness, accessibility, and assistive technology. She is the owner and designer of Elegant Insights Braille Creations, a distinctive collection of jewelry and accessories embossed in braille. Shop the collection at elegantinsightsjewelry.com/.

Do you love math? No? I’m shocked. #Sarcasm. Maybe you do, but in the past, I have not. Part of the reason, I’m sure, has to do with how mathematics were taught throughout my formative years, when it was all taken so seriously, and teaching methods were not as imaginative and as engaging as they are today. Consequently, I only became enamored of math much later, when more advanced subjects were taught. I may have hit the wall at fractions, but once I got to geometry and trigonometry, it became a fascination. Solving theorems became a game, a puzzle, much more like the brain teasers my brother and I enjoyed as kids, and much less like the rote memorization of multiplication tables or the mystifying disciplines of algebra. For all the times you, or your kids, have ever wailed, “when am I ever going to use this in real life?” I have found some fun and rewarding applications of math concepts to jewelry. No, I’m not kidding.

Some years ago, I recall reading some factoids about platinum that I thought were interesting, and one bit of trivia in particular intrigued me. It was one of those “did you know” questions, and the claim was that [bctt tweet=”Platinum is so heavy that if a six-inch cube of it were placed on the floor in front of you, you would be unable to pick it up.”] Fascinating, right? A six-inch cube is pretty small, and that seemed like a dubious claim. It stayed with me, though, and I decided I wanted to verify that claim, and even compare it to the weight of other metals. This is when a tiny bit of math got to be pretty fun.

Nowadays, thanks to the Internet, there are all sorts of calculators readily available for fact-checking, and there’s pretty much nothing you cannot know, thanks to our alt.brain, Google.com. So, I found a mass/volume calculator, and started plugging in various volumes and materials, and I concluded that, in fact, it’s true: Most of us would be unable to pick up a six-inch cube of platinum.

The more materials I plugged into the calculator, the more curious I became, so the list of materials grew ever longer until I realized this could be an interesting blog article. So, here it is! Below is a short list of metals I plugged into the calculator, along with platinum, just so you have a basis for comparison. I found this so interesting that I plan to write another, similar post, because it would also be fun to compare metals against other substances, such as glass or wood.

Since the original bit of trivia mentioned a six-inch cube, I stayed with that. I decided to go with the given density of the materials I chose, since I was not going to look up each individually. Therefore, the below weights are approximate, assuming metal purity, exact measurements, etc. In other words, this is not scientific. To refresh your memory (for some of us, math class was longer ago than for others), here are the basics:

1: To calculate the volume of a cube, take the edge length of the cube to the power of 3.

2: The weight of an object is calculated by multiplying the volume by the density of the material.

Okay, the above was just for your information. You don’t have to do any math. Whew.

A six-inch cube of:
Steel is 61.68 lbs.
Silver is 82.33 lbs.
Gold is 151.75 lbs.
Platinum is 168.46 lbs.

As you can see, it’s true. Platinum is quite heavy. As much as I may want to, I would be unable to pick up and abscond with that pretty little cube of platinum. At least, not without help. Or a hand truck.

Here are some other metals that are much lighter, again, for a basis of comparison:

Aluminum: 21.19 lbs.
Titanium: 35.46 lbs.
Brass: 66.71 lbs.
Copper: 70.10 lbs.

Again, we are assuming the metal density, which I am in no position to dispute, and calculating the weight of a six-inch cube. Fun!

There you have it. Next time you are playing a game of trivial Pursuit or equivalent, you’ll be armed with the answers you need. Look out, Jeopardy champions! Whichever metal is your favorite, may it be the math problem of your dreams. Sparkle on!

Laura

Laura Legendary is the owner of Elegant Insights Braille Creations, a distinctive collection of jewelry and accessories embossed in braille. Shop the collection at elegantinsightsjewelry.com

Quality craftsmanship is usually pretty easy to spot, if one knows what to look for. Whether shopping for apparel, accessories, furniture, or jewelry, there are unmistakable marks of distinction that elevate an item to rarified air. What characterizes fine examples of architecture, art objects, couture fashion, or just about anything else can usually be found in the details. Of course, you’ve heard the expression, “the devil is in the details,” right? Well, when it comes to fine craftsmanship, quality is also in the details.

When shopping for jewelry, most would probably think that the high price of a pretty bauble has to do with the materials used to make it. Diamonds and gold are expensive, therefore, a gold and diamond bracelet is expensive. True enough, at least to a point. There is little correlation, however, between cost and quality. You can easily find one without the other. Often, the details that might go unnoticed are the trademarks of fine craftsmanship. Tiny components or proprietary techniques that bring a certain indefinable something extra to a piece of jewelry, quietly speaks volumes about the level of quality you are buying, along with painstaking attention to detail. Sometimes, that detail may be evident in the choices that are made when selecting the finishing touches for a piece of jewelry. For example, when a designer chooses the type of clasp to use to secure a piece of jewelry.

There are so many different types of jewelry clasps, and I’ve already written about two of them, the classic spring ring clasp, and the lobster claw. Both of these are common, workhorse clasps, generally reliable, but nothing special to look at. When examining a jewelry item for quality, one of the components that can bring a level of sophistication and visual appeal that makes the difference between run-of-the-mill and top-of-the-hill can be a distinctive, decorative clasp.

One of my own favorites is the toggle clasp. I use it throughout the Elegant Insights jewelry line for a few reasons. First, it’s a little unusual. While it has certainly become more popular as jewelry has become ever more mass-marketed, thanks to TV shopping, the toggle clasp is one of those components that can make or break how a jewelry piece is perceived by a potential customer. Instead of utilitarian, it is more of an adornment, if for no other reason than its size. While a springring clasp can be very small, just 1/8th of an inch on a smaller chain, a toggle clasp is usually much larger, thereby adding weight and substance.

For those of you who have never seen one, a toggle clasp consists of two parts, each attached to opposite ends of a chain. One piece is a ring, with an attached loop or jump ring. The other piece is a bar, which by virtue of the way the toggle works, must be longer than the ring is in diameter. So, if the toggle ring is a half-inch across, the bar may be twice that long. The bar also has a loop, at the midpoint of the bar, which is then attached to the other chain end.

The way a toggle clasp works is by making use of gravity and tension. You simply slip the bar through the ring, and the weight of the pendant, or the tension created by the pull of the chain keeps the bar from slipping back through the ring. If the proportions of the toggle clasp, sometimes also called a bar and ring clasp, are the correct proportions, it should be practically impossible for the bar to slip out of the ring, because the bar is so much longer than the ring diameter.

Toggles can be found in endless configurations. Toggle clasps can be plain, just a shiny bar and ring without any decoration, or the clasp itself can be quite ornate. For example, the ring can be created to look like a wreath of leaves, and the bar can be made to look like a branch. When the bar is pulled through the ring, it makes for a very elaborate looking structure, and when incorporated into a design, can be almost invisible as part of the pattern. The toggle ring can also be a heart, with the bar in the shape of an arrow. When pulled through the ring, the heart and arrow together becomes a recognizable symbol. The bar can also be highly decorative, in that the ring can be made to look like a trellis, and the bar can be a meandering grapevine. Or, the toggle clasp can be bold and weighty, and create the feel of a buckle, something you might see on horse tack or even climbing gear, creating an equestrian, sporty, or nautical effect. Toggle clasps can be wire-wrapped, gem set, hammered, diamond-cut, or whatever the jewelry design or theme calls for.

Finally, toggle clasps are usually easy-on, easy-off. Most wearers can put on their jewelry without assistance, which is a big plus for anyone frustrated by trying to attach a bracelet with a lobster claw or springring clasp. Putting on and securing jewelry can be so problematic that there are even assistive doo-dads that act as an extra hand, to hold one end of the bracelet while the wearer attempts to secure it with the other. A toggle clasp can solve the problem of asking your spouse for help, which can be as frustrating for them as for you, because anyone with larger fingers, long nails, or poor eyesight can struggle mightily trying to close a piece of jewelry with a traditional clasp.

A decorative or unusual clasp is one of those elements that can beautifully contribute to the overall esthetic of a fine jewelry design, whether the item is crafted from precious metals and gems or sterling silver and faux pearls. Next time you are shopping for jewelry, examine several pieces and identify how the clasp either contributes to, or detracts from, a design. While a unique closing mechanism is only one aspect of quality, it is certainly not the only one. However, unusual clasps are typically far more expensive than standard clasps, and if a designer is willing to spend more money on a beautiful clasp that enhances his or her design, then chances are, there are other aspects of quality craftsmanship that you can always ask to be made aware of. A good salesperson will be delighted to point out all the best features of a piece of jewelry, so as to ensure you will be eager to own and proudly wear their work. The toggle clasp is one easy and stylish way to put your jewelry on, and, of course, to get your sparkle on!

Laura

Laura Legendary is the owner of Elegant Insights Braille Creations, which offers jewelry and accessories that are beautiful, unusual, accessible, and inclusive. Shop the collection at elegantinsightsjewelry.com/

Since St. Patrick’s Day is upcoming, I thought I’d write about green gems. When shopping by color, gems are a great way to incorporate a trendy color into your look without investing in a garment that you may wear one season, especially if the color of the moment isn’t your best shade. Green isn’t always flattering for everyone, and with the exception of St. Patrick’s Day, wearing it head-to-toe isn’t a good look. Even Kermit The Frog admitted it’s not easy, being green. So, for those of you who are not going as a Muppet, leprechaun, or legume for Halloween, gems might be the best way to carry off the wearing of the green.

The good news is, there are lots of beautiful shades of green in the natural world, and gemstones are no exception. There are both transparent and opaque precious and semi-precious stones from which to choose. I’ve heard many people say they dislike their birthstone for August, the Peridot, but if that is the case for you, then I suggest you look around to find a better representation of the gem. Peridot can be found in a variety of shades, from olive to a mouth-watering, bright candy green. Peridot is an example of a transparent green gem, but most probably prefer the deep green of emeralds. Unfortunately, emeralds are considered a precious gem, and are very difficult to find in larger sizes. It is usually heavily included, and it is extremely costly if you can find a specimen that is a true emerald green.

In the opaque semi-precious realm, though, there are lots of pretty green gems from which to choose. Jade, or jadeite, is probably one that leaps to mind when you think of green stones, but there is also malachite, serpentine, agate, aventurine, and two transparent options, chrome diopside, and Tsavorite garnet. Each of these offers a distinctive shade in the green range, from earthy, olive green to a grass or fern green, to a rich marbleized forest green.

Looking for a fashion-forward way to wear green jewelry? Pearls might be a good option for you, as they take a dye well, and while you probably won’t wear dyed green pearls to a formal event, dyed freshwater pearls are an inexpensive way to be seen in green. If you have green as one of your wedding theme colors, or are planning an autumn wedding, you have more green options than you might have thought.

Whether you hope the luck of the Irish will be with you on March 17, or you just want to wear a color represented in nature, green gemstones are abundant and beautiful. Best of luck finding that pot of gold, and sparkle on!

Laura

As I slowly acquire more readers, I want to reiterate the mission of the Sparkle On blog. If you are joining me for the first time, you may be mystified as to why I describe certain features or characteristics of a piece of jewelry that should be obvious to anyone who has seen it. Well, for people who are blind or visually impaired, it may not be quite so obvious. In some cases, a person who is blind or who has low vision may never have seen a photo of a particular thing, let alone have ever handled it. A great deal can be learned by touch, but I don’t know many people who would buy something as expensive as jewelry just for the benefit of exploration. So, I attempt to provide meaningful descriptions of jewelry, parts and pieces, styles and trends, as well as to supply definitions of industry terms. Okay? If you’ve been with me since the beginning, I promise I won’t repeat this forever. Today’s post is a perfect example of how something as simple as a specific bracelet style could be quickly and easily explained in a photo, yet might still be unclear for someone who is blind.

The cuff bracelet is a deceptively simple profile that packs a lot of style punch. Simple, yes, in that there are usually no moving parts. There is usually nothing that is attached, or that dangles, or that is constructed using complicated or sophisticated metal tooling or crafting techniques. The appearance of a cuff bracelet can be deceiving, though, because it can take a lot of engineering to create what otherwise looks like a simple piece of metal.

The cuff bracelet gets it’s name from the idea of a shirt cuff. the bracelet is worn close to the wrist, the way a watch is snug around the wrist, and it is also usually worn close to the hand, at the wrist bone, as opposed to traveling freely up and down the forearm. A cuff bracelet is open at the bottom, and does not have a clasp. It does not encircle the wrist like a bangle bracelet. The opening at the bottom of the cuff is just wide enough to allow for the bracelet to slip over the wrist bone, which may require that you turn your arm sideways in order to slide the bracelet onto your wrist, then give the bracelet a little turn to set it straight. Depending upon the design, the cuff may be wider as it curves over the top of the wrist, and taper as it curves around to the bottom. Some cuff bracelets can be very wide, anywhere from one-half to two inches or more. It may seem that because the cuff is open at the bottom this type of bracelet might easily fall off. Usually, the bracelet can be gently squeezed to fit more closely to the wrist, and can narrow the gap at the bottom, ensuring the cuff stays put.

A cuff can offer a lot of look for the price. Because of the wide surface area, there’s plenty of room for design elements. Often, cuff bracelets are hammered, stamped, stippled, domed, or textured. these are all ways to describe how the metal can be manipulated using tools to create eye-catching surface effects.

Cuff bracelets can be sleek, high polished metal sheet, or they can be cast. Metal casting is where liquid metal is poured into a mold, cooled, then filed and polished. A bracelet that is made from metal sheet is lightweight and bendable, whereas a cast metal bracelet is typically a heavy gauge that feels solid and rigid. Either type can accommodate the addition of riveted or soldered elements such as layers of other metals, enameling, inlaid, or prong-set gemstones.

One reason cuff bracelets are especially beautiful is that they usually have a clean line, lacking the jingle-jangle or movement of a charm bracelet, and if one is going to a job interview or a place of worship, wearing jewelry that is quiet is most appropriate. Also, since a cuff does not move freely the way a bangle or chain bracelet would, the fact that it will always remain close to the hand means it will peek out from the hem of a shirt cuff, instead of getting stuck inside your sleeve.

If you have a very small, or larger than average wrist, you might want to measure your wrist size and check it against the “fits as,” size if sizing is mentioned in the product description. Repeatedly pulling open and squeezing closed to fit is not recommended, especially if the bracelet has riveted or soldered parts, gems, stones, or other features that are set into or applied to the bracelet. You might pop out gems or rivets, or pull apart an overlaid metal sheet. You can always ask a jeweler to add a safety chain to the bottom opening, if you are really concerned about the cuff slipping off. The addition of a safety chain can be attached without disrupting the design, but it could also make clasping the bracelet difficult if you don’t have nearby help. One of the benefits of wearing a cuff is that it’s easy on, easy off.

If you are going to wear a wide cuff bracelet, make it your only bracelet on that arm. Because cuffs are typically large and visually unbroken bands of metal, it is a statement piece that would be diminished by the addition of other bracelets. If you really want to wear multiple pieces, keep the cuff on one arm, and layer your chain bracelets on the other. that’s a lot of jewelry,, though, so keep that in mind if you are going for the “less is more” look. As a side note for my readers who use a mobility device, such as a white cane, I have found that I cannot wear a bracelet on my cane wielding arm. Either the grip or the cord gets in the way, and I find it distracting, and therefore, potentially dangerous. If you are already wearing a smartwatch on your left wrist, and carrying your white cane with your right hand, you may find that you have to choose between the watch and a cuff. It’s personal preference, obviously.

Cuff bracelets are also sometimes worn on the upper arm, just above the elbow. These are usually a little thinner, and they can be very attractive on someone with cut biceps. I’ve seen these on both men and women. If you have great guns, wear an upper arm cuff, also called a biceps band, with a sleeveless top.

Finally, this post would not be complete unless I acknowledged the ultimate glamazon, Wonder Woman, the diva superhero who could rock the cuff on both wrists and fight crime at the same time. We’re not worthy…we’re not worthy… So,,, be a superhero and sparkle on!

Laura