Sparkle On - Part 5

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Laura Legendary

Ready for a little retail therapy? Shop the 2-day holiday gift spectacular!

Last spring, I was inspired by the feverish negotiations underway in the US Congress as they wrestled with the nuances of what became the Cares Act. At that time, I was concerned that people with disabilities would be left out of the rescue package, as was the case during the Great Recession. Those among my peer group of entrepreneurs were also in danger of missing out on their slice of the bail-out pie, because most small or micro businesses do not support a traditional payroll. These business owners either manage their businesses on their own, have employees who work on a part-time basis, or who are independent contractors. Too small to take advantage of the Payroll Protection Plan or a business loan, and with questions about eligibility for the $1200 stimulus check, my apprehension over the fate of my friends, and in particular, entrepreneurs with disabilities, compelled me to action.

With the limits imposed by the nationwide lockdowns intended to flatten the curve, and slow the spread of the Coronavirus, and with several gift-giving occasions on the horizon, people from all walks of life needed an accessible and simple way to shop from their home. If they could not go to the mall, I decided, I would bring the mall to them. I wanted to find a way to connect small businesses with the customers who needed them. Let’s Go Shopping Virtual Events was born.

Photo of the Sparkling Snowfall Purse Charm on a purple background. — Photo by Elegant Insights

Let’s Go Shopping is an online, accessible, virtual mall crawl where shoppers can hear product presentations and make purchases from the comfort of their couch and smartphone. Or, from their laptop or landline telephone. Access is managed through the Zoom platform, and the event runs on a published schedule. All of the participating vendors are required to make the purchase process as easy and as frictionless as possible, which means that they cannot hide behind their website. They must provide a phone number, email address, or make themselves available via social media so that anyone, no matter the circumstances, can place an order.

Coming up next week is the fourth of these Let’s Go Shopping events. With an emphasis on holiday gifts, there are 18 vendors to explore, offering everything from artisan crafted jewelry to fashion, food, gadgets and gizmos, pet products, personalized gifts, beauty and skin care, home fragrance and decor, craft kits, bags and leather goods, and technology. It’s a great opportunity to get all of your holiday shopping finished, discover new places to shop, and support a small business. Plus, the entire event will be recorded, so if you miss any sessions, you will be able to shop from the recordings, which will be posted over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Gingerbread Holiday Ornament — Photo by A Touch of Clay

Please join us for the Let’s Go Shopping holiday Gift Event, November 10 and 11, 2020, starting at 8AM Pacific Time.

The Let’s Go Shopping Holiday Gift Spectacular promises to be the biggest and best LGS event yet, so be sure to share the Let’s Go Shopping goodness with your friends!

Get early access to the vendor list, special sales, promotions, door prizes, news and updates! Please join our announce-only email list. No avalanche of messages in your inbox, no flame wars, no mindless chit chat. Just relevant details about what you can expect from the big holiday event. Most importantly, it’s where you’ll get your Zoom virtual shopping mall invitation!

Subscribe by sending a blank email to:

lgs+subscribe@groups.io – and you will be added to the list. Best of all, no mask needed! Be sure to use the tag, #LetsGoShopping when tweeting about the event.

A shirt folded on a table. — Photo by PattiandRicky.com

Let’s face it, 2020 has been rough for everyone. It’s time for some holiday cheer! Ready for a little retail therapy?

Let’s Go Shopping!

Subscribe to the Sparkle On blog!

Posted on October 29, 2020November 4, 2020 by Laura Legendary

Want to hear something really scary? A frightening holiday shipping forecast

Let’s face it, there aren’t invectives enough to hurl at the year that began described as the “Roaring Twenties,” and quickly turned into the year from hell. As far as I’m concerned, it cannot conclude fast enough. If you are among those who have suffered from the ravages of the novel Corona Virus, you have my sincere sympathies. If you have lost a friend or loved one to Covid-19, you are in my heart, and I grieve with you.

The pandemic has changed our lives in so many ways, large and small. From changing the way we work to changing the way kids will go trick-or-treating, one of those ways has to do with how we shop now. As a person who is blind, I have always made good use of any delivery services available and accessible to me, but my online shopping habits have reached a whole new level of expert as I acquaint myself with the intricacies of shopping via apps, apps, and more apps. Consequently, my garage is filled with boxes that I will need to flatten and add to my recycle bin. Delivery people have worn out my front walkway with an almost daily delivery of supplies for my business or household. But that’s nothing compared to the mountain of cardboard awaiting my post Christmas cleanup, as I add even more online holiday shopping to the mix.

Shippers were signaling changes to holiday delivery services back in August and September. Among those changes were shipping rate increases and warnings about slowdowns. I can confirm that, as of October, the slowdowns have already begun.

Consider this: Because of the restrictions imposed by the need for social distancing, retailers have announced that they planned to forego the usual Black Friday madness, that crazy chaos involving store stampedes and fistfights over prized toys or electronics, opting instead for ongoing promotions. In fact, some big-name department stores have already announced their Black Friday deals will be available throughout November and beyond, so the urgency created by the Thanksgiving weekend sales frenzy will be a non-issue.

Further, fewer people will be traveling to see their families this year. With seniors and vulnerable people at risk, along with the need to avoid gatherings of people in indoor settings, many people will be shipping gifts to their loved ones, rather than hosting Christmas festivities. Think about how many more packages that will mean moving through the shipping system.

As a small online retailer, I can easily imagine shipping is going to be a nightmare this holiday season. It’s a great convenience to get your order acknowledgement and a shipping notification, along with a tracking number for your purchase, but in many cases, a tracking number does you little good once the package has become stalled somewhere along the line.

Your first instinct might be to think that a lost or mis-routed package can be found and redirected with the all-important tracking number, but in reality, there’s not much that can be done once the package is on the move. At various points along the way, your package is scanned to confirm it has arrived at a distribution center, a relay hub, or a local postal facility. If all goes well, you can follow your item as it makes a fascinating journey across the country, which is never a straight line from point A to B.

Once your package goes off track, though, there’s very little you, or your retailer, can do. I have absolutely no control over the route a package takes once it leaves my premises. Ah, you may be thinking, but what about an investigation? There are provisions in place for hunting down lost or misdelivered boxes, right? Aww…You are so cute. What a lovely thought. But, no. The reality is that an investigation means you will probably spend, at minimum, a maddening amount of time on hold, while a cranky clerk looks over the tracking history of your item, as you have already done, and then tell you that they’ll look into it, but that they can make no guarantees. Even if they can find the location of your item, it’s not as if there is a person who can pick through the avalanche of packages and send yours on the right path to its destination. It can take months for that Gordian knot to be untangled. With the mind-boggling number of packages being handled this holiday season, you can be almost certain one or more of your items will not arrive in time to get wrapped and under the tree.

My advice is to think ahead, to shop early, to be patient, and realize that you have no control over any of this, and that if a gift is so important that you would be heartbroken if it did not reach its destination on time, you might want to invest in a door-to-door, overnight courier service.

If there were ever words of wisdom to cling to, in an effort to cope with this awful, awful year, it would have to be, “this too shall pass.” That’s scant comfort, though, when a child is disappointed Christmas morning when Santa’s sleigh was late, when you hoped to have a happy holiday with your extended family, but thanks to the pandemic, a socially distant Christmas is all you have to look forward to. With the scary proposition of interminable lines of potentially infected people at the post office or UPS Store, packages that seem to have disappeared off the face of the earth, due to the increased burden on shipping services, and porch pirates who help themselves to your gifts when they do arrive, this holiday season promises to be a less than perfect way to end a perfectly miserable year. But with some planning and patience, understanding and the realization that we are all (still) in this together, it might be the best time to focus on the reason for the season, those things that really matter, and shrug off those shipping snafus. The good news is, the 2020 nightmare is almost over.

Happy Halloween!

Subscribe to the Sparkle On blog!

Posted on October 10, 2020 by Laura Legendary

Speaking of jewelry, here’s some great quotes!

With so much to write about in my niche, jewelry, sometimes I suffer from an embarrassment of riches. Or, as my UK readers would put it, I’m “spoiled for choice.” Instead of composing a serious article about the current state of the jewelry business as compared to the pre-pandemic days, I thought I’d have a bit of fun. We could all use a little levity about now, right?

I’ve put together a list of my favorite jewelry quotes. Some are funny, some serious, but each makes a statement about the power of jewelry. Enjoy.

“I don’t exercise. If god had wanted me to bend over. He would have put diamonds on the floor.” – Joan Rivers.

“I never hated a man enough to give him his diamonds back.” – Zsa Zsa Gabor.

“All art is autobiographical; the pearl is the oyster’s autobiography.” – Federico Fellini.

“Will the people in the cheaper seats clap your hands? And the rest of you, if you’ll just rattle your jewelry.” – John Lennon.

“Pearls are the queen of gems and the gem of queens.” – Unknown.

“A man’s got two shots for jewelry: a wedding ring and a watch. The watch is a lot easier to get on and off than a wedding ring.” – John Mayer.

“This diamond has so many carats it’s almost a turnip.” – Richard Burton.

“Adversity is the diamond dust Heaven polishes its jewels with.” – Thomas Carlyle.

“The three rings of marriage are the engagement ring, the wedding ring, and the suffering.” – Unknown.

Like those? I have more, so I’ll post a part 2 soon. Who knew that the topic of jewelry could be so quotable?

Laura

Subscribe to the Sparkle On blog!

Posted on May 6, 2020 by Laura Legendary

A little lockdown love for dads and grads: Let’s Go Shopping 2!

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

Posted on March 31, 2020April 1, 2020 by Laura Legendary

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

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

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Laura Legendary

The shape of things that sparkle: The square

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.

Photo of two silver rings with square malachite stones.

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!

Subscribe to the Sparkle On blog!

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!

Posted on February 26, 2020February 26, 2020 by Laura Legendary

A true classic. The Pantone 2020 color of the year, Classic Blue

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.

Photo of the Touch of Blue purse charm — Touch of Blue purse charm

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.

Subscribe to the Sparkle On blog!

Posted on November 26, 2019 by Laura Legendary

The perfect holiday touch: Gifts of braille jewelry

If you are struggling with the question of what to buy for a loved one with vision loss, you may be wondering if a practical gift, such as something to make that person’s life a little easier, would be the obvious choice. Sure, tech gadgets and daily living aids are nice, but if you want to give a gift that’s beautiful, fashionable, sentimental, or romantic, take a look at the offerings below for a gift of braille jewelry from Elegant Insights. We’ve organized the list by price, so you’re sure to find something that fits your budget and suits everyone on your list.

Gifts under $25.00:

Our Vain Cane Mobility Cane Charms are a fun flash of style for your white cane. We have lots of motifs from which to choose, so you can bring the bling with embellished options, or keep cool with gender-neutral styles. Check out our new cane charms for Christmas and Hanukkah from our Charmed by the Holidays collection!

Perfect for: BFF, new white cane user. $15 – $20.

Shop the Vain Cane Collection here!

Our Zippity-Doo-Dot Zipper Pulls come in a set of two! The clip onto the metal tab on a standard zipper. Or, you can attach them to a fabric or leather loop or cord. Each set comes with two pulls, each with a different braille word. Choose from leaves, discs, hearts, and more. Our braille zipper pulls look great on jackets, tech bags, or on anything with a zipper!

Perfect for: Kids, fashionistas. $20.

Shop the Zipper Pulls here!

Great gift for the guys! Our Spot-on Military Style Dog Tags are just like the ones the men and women of our armed forces wear. They are available in brass, copper, or shiny steel, and have a rolled edge. We can attach them to a 24 inch long ball chain for use as a necklace, or we can put them on a carabiner clip with a split ring for keys. Best of all, the tags can accommodate up to 2 lines of up to 7 braille characters per line, so you can request a name, date, or little love note.

Perfect for: Bro, Dad, Hubby, BFF. $20.

Shop the Spot-on Military Style Dog Tags here!

Something special for the posh pup! Our shiny brass dog bone shaped charms are available already embossed with guide commands, such as “forward!” Or, “hop up,” or “busy busy.” Why should you be the only one who gets to wear jewelry? Make it personal! Choose the custom option, and we’ll emboss your Dashing Doggy’s name, so long as it’s 7 characters or fewer.

Perfect for: Dog lover, new guide dog handler. $15.

Shop for your Dashing Doggy here!

Gifts from $25.00 to $50.00:

What’s more perfect than a heart pendant? When there’s nothing else to say, this necklace says it all. Our “I love you” necklace is available in your choice of 3 metal and gemstone combinations that will make her heart beat a little faster. Choose brass with lavender jade beads, copper with rose quartz, or steel and aluminum with blue agate and hematite beads. Want matching pieces? See the set, below.

Perfect for: Mom, Grandma, sweetheart. $50.

Shop the I love you heart pendant here!

Is your gift recipient at one with the universe? Our Touch of Zen purse charm is brand new, and nothing short of a work of art. It’s layered with symbolism, such as an ankh, a sun charm embossed with “spirit,” and a large medallion at the bottom braille embossed with “namaste.” Featuring a gold tone clasp for attaching to the hardware on her handbag, gemstone beads and metal accents cascade down a cable chain in a sophisticated desertscape of amber, coral, sandstone, dusty rose, terra cotta, molten orange and glowing golden topaz. this purse charm is as beautiful as it is stylish.

Perfect for: Sis, yoga instructor, spiritual guide. $35.

Shop here for the Desert Zen purse charm!

Have an activist on your list? Our Power of Authenticity bracelets have a message with meaning. Choose “pride,” “resist,” “stand strong,” “imagine,” and more. All crafted in shiny stainless steel and aluminum with an ID style plaque and a tiny equals sign charm. This unisex bracelet is a great way to share with the world what really matters.

Perfect for: Activists, politicos, LGBTQ people. $45.

Shop for the Power of Authenticity here!

We’ve got a new angle on a bangle. A bangle with dangles! Our bangles have jingle-jangle! Our brand new Expandable Dangle Bangles are the popular wire style that can be adjusted to slip over the hand. Choose an option for every season, spring, summer. winter, and fall. Each has a seasonal motif with a charm embossed in braille. The spring bird says “chirp,” the summer sun says “shine,” the autumn leaf says “rejoice,” and the winter snowball says “brrr!” These bracelets are a great match to the Charmed by the Seasons cane charm set, shown below.

Perfect for: Nature lovers, bracelet collectors. Each, $35.00.

Shop for Expandable Bangles here!

Gifts over $50.00:

When you want to give the “wow” gift, we have beautiful jewelry suites that include multiple coordinating items. The “Love Always and Forever” 3-piece set consists of our “I love you” necklace, mentioned above, a single heart charm bracelet that says “always,” in grade 2 braille, and a pair of heart lever back dangle earrings that say “always” on one earring, and “forever” on the other, in grade 2 braille. Available in 3 metal and gemstone combinations. Gorgeous!

Perfect for: The love of your life. $125.

Get the 3 piece Love Always and Forever set here!

It’s celebration season! Going to a swanky soiree? Bring a gift that the host can use right away, and the guests will admire all evening! Our Sublime Vine Wine Glass Charms Set is an elegant and practical gift. Make sure everyone knows which glass is theirs with this set of six stemware charms. Each charm is both visually and tactually distinct, so even non-braille readers will be able to identify their own glass. With several styles to choose from, these wine glass charms are the perfect pick for any occasion, whether poolside or posh party.

Perfect for: Hostess, wine aficionados. $60 for a set of six.

Shop for Wine Glass Charms here!

A necklace to fall for…Our Autumn Abundance necklace features a stunning combination of warm copper, burnished brass, embellishments of deep forest green and autumn aubergine, pine cones, acorns, and leaves in different shapes and sizes on a copper chain with a toggle clasp. A cornucopia of iconic autumn elements, and of course, we have coordinating pieces available that complete the vignette.

Perfect for: Auntie, sis, fashionistas. $75.

Get the beautiful Autumn Abundance necklace here!

The Butterfly Dreams Necklace and Earrings set is a sweet reminder of life’s most meaningful moments. Is she undergoing a metamorphosis? A new job? A new home? Our pretty brass butterfly floats on a brass cable chain, and is embellished with sky blue and white faux pearl beads, blue crystals, and the word “dream” in grade 2 braille. A pair of baby butterfly earrings are a perfect match.

Perfect for: Girlfriend, Mom, sis. $75 for the set.

Shop for Butterfly Dreams here!

A set of cane charms, one for every season! Our 4-piece Charmed by the Seasons mobility Cane Charm Set is a great value. You get a charm to decorate your white cane for spring, summer, winter, and fall. Each is embellished with seasonal accents, and each has a special message embossed in braille. This is one of our favorite “split-apart” gifts for a group of friends, or, maybe even a “to me, from me” gift.

Perfect for: Braille teacher, besties, graduate. $54.

Get the 4 piece Seasons cane charms set here!

Of course, some of the most meaningful gifts are those that are personalized. Elegant Insights offers a complete custom design service. Let us bring your jewelry dreams to life! Shop here: elegantinsightsjewelry.com/, or call Laura at 702-605-1265.

Happy shopping, and sparkle on!

Posted on May 8, 2019 by Laura Legendary

Elegant Insights braille jewelry on The Today Show!

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.

Photo of Today Show host Jill Martin and Alexandra Connel. Alex is holding an Elegant Insights necklace,and she is also wearing a heart pendant and a cuff bracelet from our collection.

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/.

Subscribe to the Sparkle On blog!

Posted on April 29, 2019 by Laura Legendary

Weights and measures: A little math, a lot of metal

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.

Photo of gold coins alongside a calculator

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.

Photo of three gold bars on a dark background

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

Subscribe to the Sparkle On blog!

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