Vibrant * Meaningful * Classic
Honoring Tradition & History Through Handmade Vintage-Inspired Mexican-American Jewelry
Vibrant Meaningful Jewelry Especially Made For The Vintage Soul With A Love For Story.
Kaleidoscopes & Polka Dots celebrates Mexican-American stories through handmade vintage-inspired jewelry and accessories that spark meaningful conversations with fellow jewelry lovers.
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- & supporting small business.
Tis the most wonderful time of the year.
A time for reflection & celebration – much of which involves a bit of shopping.
While we’re all in search for a good deal, don’t forget to support your local businesses.
They’re the heart of your community and often give back in more ways than you might realize.
Just ask…
Meaningful jewelry delights our sense of wonder and teaches us something beyond itself
Meaningful handmade vintage-inspired jewelry teaches us about:
- a different culture
- its previous owner
- a historical figure, celebrity, or event
Learning about different facets of our world and its history is beautifully enriching and allows us to better understand the world around us.
- celebrate and honor your heritage, if you too are of Hispanic Heritage
- and if you aren’t of Hispanic Heritage, you’ll learn about a culture that is different from yours.
Slowly, we've all become one...
Now more than ever cultural lines are blurred. This is largely due to our global embrace of social media where we share all about our favorite things – from our favorite fashion to our favorite foods.
While a lot of good has resulted in our embrace of social media, it has led to cultural globalization.
cultural globalization, a phenomenon by which the experience of everyday life, as influenced by the diffusion of commodities and ideas, reflects a standardization of cultural expressions around the world.
To me, this “standardization of cultural expression” is most evident in our modern fashions.
Generally speaking, when browsing social media, everyone across the world appears very similar in how they dress and accessorize.
This makes sense given our interconnectedness and global embrace; however, we’ve slowly let go of our heritage.
In December 2017, the PEW Research Center published a report showcasing how Hispanic identity fades across generations as immigrant connections fade away.
They found that in 2015:
11% of American adults with Hispanic ancestry do not identify as Hispanic.
By the fourth generation that the percentage increased to 50%.
The study found that the further removed we are from our immigrant roots, the less likely we are to identify as Hispanic.
While this study is specific to those of Hispanic Heritage, I think this experience is authentic for others as well.
Let's embrace through a shared love and respect for art, culture, and history.
Honestly, I think it’s wonderful that, as a whole, we’ve grown up feeling accepted and at home in a land that was once foreign to our family.
But to completely dismiss our heritage as inconsequential is disheartening.
Creating and sustaining a connection to our heritage is a lifelong pursuit.
And while a lot of good has evolved from social media, namely that we are better able to understand one another on a global scale, the deteriorating effect it’s had on cultural traditions and fashions is not negligible.
Little by little, we’ve become wallflowers among our peers by resembling one another with our clothes and accessories.
And the more distant we become from our heritage, the harder it becomes to connect to it and embrace it as an integral part of our identity.
Garments and accessories that should feel like a touch of home instead feel foreign.
It can feel overwhelming if we are beginning because we may not know where to start.
However, as we work towards reconnecting to our heritage and our history, we quickly realize that our everyday life is much more enriching.
We begin to connect with others who share our love for art, culture, and history.
We establish meaningful interactions that would otherwise feel passive.
This has been my experience.
The heritage of the past is the seed that brings forth the harvest of the future.
My Mexican-American Experience
I love sharing my culture and my love for history through crafting and wearing meaningful jewelry and accessories inspired by my Mexican-American Heritage. But I haven’t always felt this way…
Hello. I’m Jessica Gonzalez-Gibson. I’m a Mexican-American woman who grew up in the suburbs of Las Vegas, Nevada, in an area where few individuals of Hispanic Heritage resided.
I speak more “Spanglish” than Spanish and welcome corrections as I constantly strive to improve.
Growing up with a tangential connection to a Hispanic community was challenging, but I accepted it as a norm. After all, we were in a new country, in the Land of Opportunity, and fitting in and working towards a brighter future was ingrained in me as my newfound mission.
Over time, I developed a love for vintage Western fashion and an affinity for American history, where I came to find that the Mexican-American experience was gleaned – at best.
The more I’ve learned, the more I’ve realized the importance of celebrating my mixed heritage in big and small ways.
I know that I am not alone in my experience.
Many of us with a bicultural identity have similar experiences we often don’t express, making us feel isolated.
Hello. I'm Jessica Gonzalez-Gibson.
Leading Lady of Kaleidoscopes & Polka Dots
* Inspired by vintage fashion, NOT vintage values. *
Most generally, biculturalism represents comfort and proficiency with both one's heritage culture and the culture of the country or region in which one has settled. It is applicable not only to immigrants who have come from other countries but also to children of immigrants who – although they are born and raised in the receiving society – are likely deeply embedded in the heritage culture at home with their families.
Kaleidoscopes And Polka Dots
more than just a handmade jewelry shop
It's a movement to honor and celebrate Hispanic Heritage.
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Frida Kahlo's Childhood And Creating A Frida Inspired Jewelry Collection
Handmade Vintage-Inspired Mexican-American Jewelry
I define vintage-inspired jewelry as jewelry that is fashioned after iconic accessories using classic materials – such as pearls, brass, beads, and crystals.
Combining these with the rich, bold colors and iconic motifs from Mexico is how I define vintage-inspired Mexican-American Jewelry.
Inspired by my own experience and the research I’ve done over the years, I’ve decided to focus on designing handmade vintage-inspired jewelry with a Mexican-American flair.
Through my jewelry and accessories, I hope to spark meaningful conversations surrounding Hispanic Heritage – what it entails and how it’s meaningful and beautiful—while earning the wearer plenty of compliments.
I design it with love and respect; and to sow a seed of curiosity in anyone that may not readily recognize its inspiration, prompting them to ask – where’s it from?
What if I'm not of Hispanic Heritage?
You may be drawn to a piece yet feel uneasy about making it your own because you are not of Hispanic Heritage.
Honestly, that’s okay.
As long as you wear it respectfully and are knowledgeable about the inspiration and background of the piece, your embrace will showcase your love for art, history, and culture.
Honor your curiosity and love for beauty by building a meaningful collection of jewelry as eclectic as your interests; it’s one of life’s greatest treasures.
I like to tell stories. I am going to tell you a story about a girl who didn't want to belong.
Every listing has a story and a connection to a person or place of interest.
I hope you find something you’ll treasure and make your own.
Included with every purchase of handmade vintage-inspired jewelry
- A soft pouch to provide your new jewel with a home in between wears
- A lovely jewelry box to protect your purchase during shipping and beyond
- Graceful gift wrapping to delight you or your intended recipient
- A protective envelope for added protection during transit
- A small donation to both The Animal Foundation and The Wounded Warrior Project.
- A 90 day money-back guarantee
- Instant access to The Kaleidoscope Chronicle, my newsletter
- An invite to CARAMBA! Book Club – a book club dedicated to celebrating Latinx stories
Inspiration for my handmade vintage-inspired jewelry
"The past is a place of reference, not a place of residence; the past is a place of learning, not a place of living."
Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
Are you ready to shop handmade vintage-inspired jewelry & -
Become a storyteller
Get ready to welcome compliments and inquiries about your lovely handmade jewelry.
Jewelry you adore both because of its beauty and because of its story.
Create meaningful connections with fellow jewelry lovers
Stories and art have a way of bringing individuals together.
By wearing meaningful artistic jewelry, you’ll likely meet like-minded souls who’ll not only shower you with compliments but will also ask you about your jewelry.
Through these brief encounters, you may find enduring connections.
Be enchanted by your new statement jewelry
From the moment you open your gift box to the first time you wear your new jewel, you’ll delight in the detail and quality of your unique statement jewelry.
The more frequently you wear it, the stronger the connection you’ll build with your versatile jewel and with its story.
Feel at ease knowing that your vintage-inspired jewelry will arrive in protective and functional packaging
Shipping your vintage-inspired jewelry securely is of great importance to me.
That is why I package every purchase in both a jewelry box and a padded envelope.
The jewelry box protects your delicate jewelry from damage during the shipping process while the padded envelope safeguards against your package getting lost and adds an extra level of protection.
And because packaging should be charming and functional, every order is elegantly gift wrapped.
Gift wrapping includes a graceful pouch carefully placed within a neatly wrapped jewelry box.
Expect a graceful pouch with your vintage-inspired jewelry
This small graceful pouch functions as a traditional way of storing your jewelry.
By using it consistently, you help minimize oxidation and tarnishing, which is prevalent when storing jewelry in open containers.
In terms of shipping, this little pouch helps by further reducing the chances of damage due to rattling or tangling.
Await a lovely jewelry gift box
Delight in knowing that your gift will come in a lovely gift box, whether you are making a purchase for yourself or buying something special for a loved one.
The gift box isn’t just pretty packaging; it protects your investment during its sipping journey because a lot can happen between when I package your jewels and when they arrive at your doorstep.
Receive instant access to The Kaleidoscope Chronical - my newsletter
The Kaleidoscope Chronicle is the best way to stay informed about subscriber-exclusive discounts, upcoming events, new collections, giveaways, sales, and more.
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Unsubscribe at any time. You can do so by scrolling to the bottom of any of my emails and clicking the “unsubscribe” hyperlink.
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Shop handmade vintage-inspired earrings specially made for those with sensitive ears in mind
If you have sensitive ears, you know the frustration of finding cute earrings that won’t make you feel increasingly uncomfortable.
This discomfort is often associated with “lesser quality metals”; however, the true culprit is the presence of nickel.
Nickel is an element used globally, abundantly, to harden precious metals. These, in their natural form, are too soft to make anything substantial hence they are fortified by mixing them with other metals.
While nickel is not easily avoidable, some options accommodate those of us who suffer from a sensitivity to nickel.
These are known as hypoallergenic metals.
Stainless-steel is one of them and the one I favor for my jewelry designs because I’ve found it to be effective.
Sterling silver also works for some and is another option I provide.
Make a difference with your purchase by helping support The Animal Foundation & The Wounded Warrior Project
Your purchase not only helps me support my family but it also helps my community.
Ten percent of every purchase is set aside and donated evenly between The Animal Foundation & The Wounded Warrior Project.
* PLEASE NOTE – I AM NOT AFFILIATED WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS. *
The Animal Foundation
The Animal Foundation is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Its focus is to save as many rescue animals as possible and provide affordable veterinary care to the community.
It’s where I’ve gone to adopt my pets.
My little monsters of love have provided my family with unimaginable joy. And when we’ve needed assistance, we’ve gone back for veterinary care.
The Animal Foundation is a pillar of our community and an organization I proudly support.
* NOT AFFILIATED *
The Wounded Warrior Project
As a former U.S. Army Reservist, it’s important to me to honor and support those who’ve served and lost so much while protecting our country.
The Wounded Warrior Project helps veterans in need find the care they deserve.
Their services include job placement, physical therapy, counseling, and more.
* NOT AFFILIATED *
Celebrate Latinx Stories by Joining CARAMBA! Book Club
CARAMBA! Book Club is open to anyone interested in embracing Latinx stories respectfully.
Stories inspire my work.
They inspire my imagination.
They cultivate my love for art and history.
They are what motivated me to open my shop.
Initially, Kaleidoscopes And Polka Dots was a beaded bookmark shop. Now it’s a handmade vintage-inspired jewelry shop with a focus on Mexican-American designs.
I’d love to continually celebrate and honor Hispanic Heritage with fellow book lovers by exploring stories from different genres, written across different time periods and from different perspectives.
By joining CARAMBA! Book Club, you not only become part of a superb community of readers but you also get access to free bookish downloads. These make great postcards, bookmarks, and stickers – just to name a few ideas.
Rejoice over a 90-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Sometimes you don’t love your online purchases as much as you thought you would once you see it in person or wear it for the first time.
It happens to the best of us.
That is why I now offer a 90-day money-back guarantee.
To start the return process, email me at sincerely@kaleidoscopesandpolkadots.com with:
- Your order confirmation
- A brief note about why you are returning your vintage-inspired jewelry
Following your email, I’ll send you a shipping label.
After I receive updates from USPS that your return is on its way, I’ll issue a full refund.
It’s my intention to create pieces that fill your heart with joy. Anything else is unacceptable, so please reach out to me as soon as possible with your refund request.
Would you love to save 20% on your order?
Sign up for The Kaleidoscope Chronicle – my newsletter – before making your purchase and you’ll instantly receive a 20% off discount code.
The Kaleidoscope Chronicle is a weekly newsletter where I share:
- Shop Updates
- Exclusive Giveaways
- Fabulous Surprise Discounts
- Free Downloads
- Plans for future handmade vintage-inspired jewelry designs
What’s not to love?
Join The Kaleidoscope Chronicle & Save 20% on any order
Shop Handmade Vintage-Inspired Jewelry with Confidence
Delight in shopping my collection of handmade vintage-inspired pieces as I offer a 90 day return policy.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at sincerely@kaleidoscopesandpolkadots.
* Frequently Asked Questions *
How quickly will you ship my order?
Most of my products are ready to ship.
I need 2-3 business days to package and ship your purchase.
Once it’s ready to ship, you’ll receive an email with your tracking number.
Do you offer free shipping?
Absolutely!
Orders over $75 (USD) are instantly upgraded to free shipping.
NO CODE IS REQUIRED!
Do you ship internationally?
Not right now.
At this time I only ship within The United States & to Canada.
Do you offer any discounts!
Certainly!
If you sign up for The Kaleidoscope Chronicle – my free newsletter – you are instantly emailed a 20% off discount code.
This code never expires.
Do you really make all your jewelry?
I really do.
Follow me on Instagram to see sneak peeks of my current work-in-progress.
How do I get a refund?
Email me within 90 days of your purchase at sincerely@kaleidoscopesandpolkadots.com.
Include a few details about why you’d like a refund.
Within 48 hours of receipt, I’ll respond to your email with an enclosed return label.
As soon as I receive a notification from USPS that your package is on its way back, I’ll issue you a refund and send you a note to keep you updated.
Do you take custom orders?
Not right now.
Could I buy something you previously sold that's no longer listed?
Honestly, I’m not sure.
It all depends on my schedule and resources.
And if I can’t make it exactly as previously listed, we might be able to work on creating something very similar.
Regardless, it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Email me at sincerely@kalidoscopesandpolkadots.com with as much detail as you may have, and I’ll see if I can make it happen.
These requests may take me longer than my average shipping time of 2-3 business days, and this is in addition to the 48 hours I need to respond to your email.
If this timeline works for you, email me at sincerely@kaleidoscopesandpolkadots.com.
What if I change my mind or what if the intended recipient doesn't like their gift?
Please email me at sincerely@kaleidoscopesandpolkadots.com within 90 days of your purchase for a full refund.
Include a few details about why you’d like a refund.
I’ll respond within 48 hrs.
How do I take care of my jewelry and clean my jewelry without damaging it?
One of the best ways to take care of your jewelry is by storing it in airtight containers to reduce exposure to pollutants, humidity, etc. These are known to tarnish jewelry.
The small jewelry pouch included within your purchase makes a lovely storage solution.
How to clean metal jewelry
If you need to clean off tarnish or debris from your metal jewelry, wipe it clean with a soft cloth, soap, and warm water.
Lightly clean your jewelry with your soft cloth and soap. Finish this process by washing off the soap with warm water.
Alternatively you could take it to a jeweler to have it professionally cleaned.
How to clean beaded jewelry
Beaded work should not be cleaned with soap.
At most, lightly clean your jewelry with a soft damp cloth.
If you need to take this measure, please be very careful when cleaning your beaded jewelry as it could cause serious damage to your jewel.
In general, you should try to avoid touching beadwork as the oils on your hands may affect the coloring of the seed beads within the design.
Storing your beaded jewelry in an air-tight container also helps keep your jewelry looking its best.
Ready to place your order of handmade vintage-inspired jewlery?
I’m so excited for you.
Once you place your order, you’ll receive an order confirmation via email.
Given that most of my products are ready to ship, I just need 2-3 days to package and ship your purchase.
After the shipping label for your purchase is ready, you’ll receive another email that includes the tracking number of your order.
Handmade Jewelry Enthusiasts & Book Lovers Say...
