Bang-Up Betty Voted Best Artisan, Best Gift Shop and Best Jeweler by Arkansas Times Readers

Bang-Up Betty’s jewelry store and gift shop is home to artisan handmade jewelry, Arkansas art, locally made pottery, clever and quirky gifts, and a giant inflatable unicorn named Franny.

Thank you for voting Bang-Up Betty BEST ARTISAN, BEST GIFT SHOP and BEST JEWELER in the Arkansas Times Best of Arkansas 2022! I’m so completely stunned. We’ve only been open 10 whole months in our storefront, and it’s such an honor to be called the “best” when I’ve poured my absolute heart and soul into this space to fill it with joy, sass, color, unicorns and surprises in such a short amount of time. Thank you for entrusting me to make special and sentimental pieces for you over the last nine years. Thank you for sharing your stories with me. Thank you for letting me bring strange, unusual and sometimes just plain pretty creations into the world with my hands every single day. Free unicorn hugs at the shop to celebrate!

Bang-Up Betty’s handmade jewelry includes snarky and feminist styles like the “Ask Me What I’m Reading” necklace, “Nevertheless She Persisted” necklace, “I Dissent” RBG necklace, and “I’ll Cut You” butcher knife necklace.

Bang-Up Betty is snarky, meaningful, well-made jewelry made in North Little Rock, Arkansas, as well as feminist pins, stickers and gifts. Since 2013, Bang-Up Betty has been crafting custom and personalized jewelry and other quirky, nerdy and feminist necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Shop Bang-Up Betty’s unique Arkansas-made jewelry through our “jewelry and stickers” tab, where you can also order custom name necklaces, mantra cuff bracelets, stamped key tags and more. Thank you for voting Bang-Up Betty “Best Artisan” for handmade jewelry in the Arkansas Times’ Best of Arkansas nine years in a row!

Visit our new Argenta storefront at 429 Main Street in North Little Rock! We’re located above Ristorante Capeo. Our hours are:

Wednesday - Friday: 11am - 5:30pm

Saturday 11am - 5:00pm

Check back for extended holiday hours.

Thank you for voting Bang-Up Betty best Gift Shop, best Artisan and best Jeweler in the Arkansas Times Best of Arkansas 2022! Visit us at our centrally located storefront at 429 Main Street in Argenta (downtown North Little Rock. We’re only five blocks from downtown Little Rock!

Opening day at Bang-Up Betty’s storefront! Opened in August 2021, our gift shop and jewelry store offers unique hand-crafted jewelry, Arkansas made products, clever gifts, rainbows, unicorns and joy just across the river from downtown Little Rock in the heart of the Argenta Arts District in North Little Rock.

11 Unique Styles of Arkansas Jewelry and Gifts Designed and Made in Arkansas

From the state crop to the state insect to the state gemstone to the shape of the state of Arkansas, jewelry maker Bang-Up Betty has a huge variety of Arkansas themed jewelry and gifts designed and made right here in Arkansas.

While making jewelry and gifts in Little Rock and North Little Rock, Arkansas, for more than eight years, I’ve amassed a fairly large array of Arkansas-themed jewelry and gifts. From the Arkansas state crop to the state insect to the state gemstone to the shape of the state of Arkansas (plus the many cute and fierce wild creatures that populate the Natural State), I’ve cast so many symbols of Arkansas in bronze and silver pendants, stamped them onto brass necklaces, and designed funny Arkansas t-shirts and stickers. Here are 11 unique pieces of Arkansas jewelry and gifts designed and made in Arkansas by Bang-Up Betty:

If you’ve ever driven across the Natural State, you’ve probably laid eyes on a rice field. As the top rice producer in the nation, Arkansas produces more than 9 billion pounds of rice each year - which would explain why rice is an important dinner staple for many Arkansans, especially those experiencing hunger.

This necklace pays homage to Arkansas’s staple crop while giving back to the Arkansas Foodbank, the largest hunger relief organization in the state. The Arkansas pendant, created by North Little Rock jewelry designer Bang-Up Betty, was made by casting real Arkansas rice flowers (from Cornerstone Farm, near Altheimer, AR) in bronze, and it’s also available in sterling silver.

Rice farmers are a big part of the Arkansas Foodbank. In the early 1980s, Arkansas rice farmers realized two things: they had a surplus of their crop, and they had hungry neighbors. By working together, they filled an important need by ensuring families and children had access to nutritious food. To this day, these producers donate millions of pounds of rice to food banks across our state, in turn feeding thousands of our neighbors experiencing hunger.

20% of the sales of these necklaces go directly to the Arkansas Foodbank. Each bronze Arkansas Rice Flower Necklace sold raises enough money to fund 58 meals for hungry Arkansans, and each silver necklace funds 67 meals for Arkansans in need.

Show your love of Arkansas with Arkansas-made jewelry that’s in the shape of Arkansas. These little bronze and sterling silver Arkansas charms are cast with a beautiful Art Deco fan pattern and come as a dainty necklace or a set of hoop earrings. The necklace is made with an 18-inch 14K gold-filled chain, and the hoop earrings are made with 14K gold-filled one-inch hoops that are hypoallergenic, as is the necklace. The silver version is a sterling silver charm on an 18-inch sterling silver chain or sterling silver hoop earrings.

I made this little gem because... you know... The Diamond State...

This dainty diamond outline necklace is a nod to the Arkansas state gemstone—the diamond. Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, is one of the only places on earth where the public can dig for diamonds and keep what they find.

The Diamond State, the Natural State, or just home, sweet home… whatever you want to call the state of Arkansas, keep it close to your heart with this handmade Arkansas necklace made with either a woodgrain, water or diamond motif. You can get this pretty Arkansas necklace with the cubic zirconia in the center or in the top left for Northwest Arkansas, or if another part of the state is your favorite, email us to have the stone placed closer to there.

Celebrate the state insect of Arkansas, the honeybee, with this gorgeous bee necklace. I love this hand-cast, kiln-fired bronze medallion so much because it’s a little sweet and a little spooky. The bee in the design is very obvious, but if you look closely, you’ll see that the bee is resting on a spider web, creating a magnificently textured, multidimensional piece. The warm glow of the bronze in this handmade necklace is complimented by two beads of golden jade quartz that connect the pendant to a gold-filled chain. The chain measures approximately 19 inches long and ends in a spring clasp. Hand-cast bronze has a warm, golden glow and is tarnish resistant. This beautiful piece transitions perfectly from summer to winter; it’s light and happy, but also a little spooky. It’s perfect for a nature lover. This handmade bee necklace is also available in silver.

This spin on my sparkling cubic zirconia Arkansas necklace is made with blue cubic zirconia where Little Rock is or a dazzling display of blue cubic zirconia stones pointing out the counties that voted blue in the 2020 presidential election. Please note that the placement for the counties isn’t exact; I took some artistic liberty and liberties necessary for setting stones in bronze. Each stone is set by hand directly into the bronze.

Arkansas is home and it’s worth fighting for, which is why we’ve got to keep going, keeping calling our representatives and senators, keep making our voices heard, keep convincing smart people to run for office, keep working toward a more equal, equitable Natural State. This handmade Arkansas necklace features a cast bronze Arkansas pendant pressed with the words KEEP GOING to remind us to keep up the good fight.

It’s a widespread joke among Dogtown residents that we always have to go over the river for everyone and everything because folks on the other side act like we live on another continent. Meanwhile we’re over here on the north side wallowing in great bars, lovely neighborhoods, excellent schools and affordable living. We’ve got a good thing going over here, but we’re happy to cross the river to visit you. Do the same for us!

At first glance, this retro-inspired design looks like a fun, groovy shirt promoting North Little Rock (which it is!), but when you get closer, the snarky “stop being a snob about coming to” part adds a dose of funny realness.

The half sun design beneath "North Little Rock” is not only fun, it’s a throwback to the North Little Logo you’ve probably seen on top of the city buildings in Argenta. The old logo has half of what looks like a water wheel, probably a nod to the Old Mill, under the name North Little Rock. I grew up in North Little Rock and live here now and I remember the logo from years ago. This North Little Rock shirt is currently available in blue and groovy yellow.

The North Little Rock shirt design is also available as a weatherproof, sun-resistant vinyl decal. You can grab it with the groovy sun design or with the “Stop Being A Snob About Coming to North Little Rock” text on the sticker.

These handmade bronze butterfly earrings are fit for a monarch… or a Diana fritillary butterfly, the state butterfly of Arkansas, which is more what these butterfly earrings resemble.

Each butterfly charm is hand-cast and kiln-fired bronze, handmade in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The ear wires are 14K gold-filled, so they’re hypoallergenic , and each earring is topped with a hand-wrapped bead of yellow jade (a variety of quartz). The beautiful butterflies are imprinted with an Art Deco fan pattern to make them even more gorgeous and elegant. These handmade bronze butterfly earrings make the perfect gift for any butterfly lover. These butterfly earrings pair perfectly with my matching bronze butterfly necklace.

Made in Arkansas Jewelry That's Perfect for Valentine's Day (Even If You're Not That Into Valentine's Day)

Whether your Valentine is sweet, salty or a little of both, there’s probably most definitely a piece of handmade jewelry at Bang-Up Betty that will make their heart throb.

Whether your Valentine is sweet, salty or a little of both, there’s probably most definitely a piece of handmade jewelry at Bang-Up Betty that will make their heart throb. Since the big VD is just one month away (or less if you’re reading this after January 14), I’ve added a handful of new, lovey-dovey handmade designs and rounded up a few of my (and your!) favorite picks for lovers this holiday. From simple, dainty earrings to bold, beautiful necklaces, here’s a list of jewels that’ll give you heart eyes. And the icing on the heart-shaped lil Debbie is that all of this jewelry is made in Arkansas.

This clever heart necklace is a throwback to the romantic symbolism of Celtic knots, made with just one rope, and the playful macramé knot work made popular in the 1970s (inspired by 13th Century Arabian weaving and passed down over centuries until it blew up massively in the ‘70s). The rope heart pendant was made using a single piece of rope, then cast in bronze. It’s a substantial, meaningful piece of handmade jewelry that would make a perfect Valentine’s Day, anniversary or wedding gift for a love bird. Find the bronze Macramé Heart knot Necklace here.

Sometimes “love” (and the perfect pair of earrings) is all you need…

These sweet, simple, hand-crafted matching half heart earrings are hand-cast in bronze and pressed with the word “love” onto each heart half. They’re dainty, lightweight, and go with absolutely everything. The ear wires are 14K gold-filled, so they’re hypoallergenic. Get the Love Matching Heart Bronze Earrings here.

It's almost Valentine's Day, and I've got a tragic love story for the holiday. One of the most beautiful stories of Greek Mythology is that of Orpheus and Eurydice, a tale of true love and devotion willing to face fear and death. The greatest mortal musician, Orpheus, fell deeply in love with the maiden Eurydice and married her. Soon after the wedding, Eurydice and her bridesmaids were walking in a field and she was bitten by a viper. So much for “happily ever after.”

Beyond distraught in his mourning, Orpheus took his lyre to the underworld, braving the terrible three-headed dog Cerberus and lulling it and the many terrifying characters in Hades with his beautiful music. He pleaded for the life of his bride with his song, and so moved the goddess Persephone and even Hades himself to give him back his new wife, but with one condition: Orpheus couldn’t look at Eurydice until they both emerged from the underworld.

Grabbing Eurydice’s hand, Orpheus led her joyously back to the realm of the living, but in his excitement as he exited the underworld, he glanced back at her, only to have looked just too soon, seeing her disappear into the mouth of the cave, stolen back to Hades for Orpheus’s eagerness. He rushed to follow her, but was not allowed to enter the underworld a second time. Doomed to life without his true love, he wandered the earth mournfully and alone until a band of Maenads discovered him and tore him limb from limb. We can only hope he was delivered from the living world into the arms of his lover at last.

Depicted in solid bronze on the medallion of the Orpheus and Eurydice necklace is a pair of lovers, one holding a lyre, the other leaning over a column to swoon at the musician. In this piece of handmade jewelry, I imagine the couple in the happy hours of their union, before the viper struck, and how I hope their eternity looked in the underworld together. The obsidian bead above the lovers and on the matching 14K gold-filled hoop earrings has a marbled effect, echoing ancient Greek sculpture.

Get the Orpheus and Eurydice Necklace here.

A simple, beautiful bronze necklace that says “forever” without speaking a word…

This handmade necklace features an oval charm pressed with the infinity symbol. The solid bronze charm measures about an inch across and hangs from a 16- or 18-inch 14K gold-filled chain; you can select the length at checkout. Mega hint: This necklace is great for an 8th anniversary — It’s the bronze wedding anniversary! Get the Bronze Infinity Symbol Necklace here.

Didn’t expect it to get this dirty, did you??? With custom keychains it can get as nasty as you want. Or as funny. Or as sweet. Custom keychains are also great go-to unisex gifts! Check out my collection of key tag phrases or let me stamp a custom phrase onto a keychain for you here.

A little something for you, a little something for your person…

These hand-cast broken heart charms are hand-stamped with the words MY PERSON on each charm. Handmade bronze charms measure approximately 5/8 inch from top to bottom and are hung from 18-inch gold-filled chains. Each heart charm will vary slightly from the rest, as is the nature of handmade jewelry. This listing is for a set of TWO matching friendship (or loveship!) necklaces. Get the My Person Bronze Heart Necklace Set here.

By far the most beautiful of all the gods was Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty. She was completely irresistible and fun-loving. Her power over men is often considered destructive. 

Aphrodite is famously portrayed rising from the waves on a clam shell (as in Sandro Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus”), for she was born from sea foam. 

The Aphrodite Necklace tells the story of Aphrodite’s birth. It features a handmade bronze seashell pendant, cast using an actual shell that I plucked from a beach in Indonesia on my honeymoon. Atop the bronze shell is a single cultured pearl. Pearls have been incredibly symbolic throughout history, associated with love, perfection, purity and the moon. In Aja Raden’s Stoned: Jewelry, Obsession, and How Desire Shapes the World, she says that “In parts of the ancient Near East, the belief that pearls were a product of tears shed by a goddess under the moonlight persisted for millennia.” There is just so much goddess energy in this necklace. 

Get the Aphrodite Pearl and Shell Necklace here.

Birthstone jewelry is a beautiful gift for any occasion, and being able to personalize it even more with a monogram makes it even more special. My Birthstone Cluster Collection allows you to do just that and comes in these gorgeous handmade pendants or in simple, streamlined strands of birthstones that are great for layering with another favorite necklace. Check out my birthstone jewelry here.

Keep those you love close to your heart, figuratively and literally with this sweet, classic custom name necklace stamped by hand. I had to personalize mine with the names of my cats since I’m a loving cat mom, but of course these custom stamped necklaces are great for kids’ names, significant others and anyone else you hold close to your heart. Find my Personalized Name Necklaces here.

What do you get the person who hung the moon to you? Moon jewelry! The bronze full moon necklace in this handful of handmade jewelry is my Artemis Moon Necklace with Crossed Arrows, representing the goddess Artemis in my Greek mythology jewelry collection. Find the Hammered Crescent Moon Earrings with iridescent beads of moonstone here. The Witchy Woman stamped crescent moon necklace in silver is here, and I’ve got a larger version in brass here.

Think of these hand-stamped custom Mantra Cuff Bracelets as your Wonder Woman cuffs. (Cuffs don't come with super powers, but you do!)

Keep yourself motivated to keep being the badass you are with these stamped mantra bracelets. Cuffs are solid brass or solid aluminum, polished so there are no sharp edges, durable and adjustable. Each cuff is hand stamped letter by letter with the mantra of your choice. Get your custom mantra cuffs here.

What? You thought I was going to get to the end of this jewelry blog without another dirty joke? WRONG. These custom cast bronze heart necklaces are great for short, sweet notes, but I prefer to make them say funny things. Funny things you might just heart… Get them here.

Speaking of big hearts and big boobs… We’ve got HUGE HEARTS for Dolly Parton over at Bang-Up Betty. I made this necklace in honor of the queen herself, because we could all stand to model our ways a little more after her and her big heart. Get the What Would Dolly Do heart necklace here.

Are you absolutely BATTY over your valentine? This tiny bat necklace will make your heart and their heart flutter…

Tiny handmade bronze bat charm dangles from an approximately 16-inch gold-filled chain that ends in a spring clasp. The bat itself measures approximately 3/4 inch across the wings.

Do yours and your Valentine’s stars align? Maybe your zodiac signs do, too? Wear your zodiac sign proudly and cleverly with a celestial astrology necklace that displays your sign’s name alongside the constellation of your zodiac sign. Each constellation and zodiac sign is stamped by hand, letter by letter and star by star. Get the Hand-Stamped Astrology Constellation Necklace here.

Want to add a card to your gift without even having to go into a store? Want to mail your gift directly to your Valentine with a sweet note? We’ve got you covered! Add one of these illustrated greeting cards by Lee Lee Arts and Design to your order, and we’ll hand write whatever you like inside of it to send to someone special. You can take your pick from the “Love You To Death” or the “Get Your Happy On” card, and you’ll be prompted at checkout to tell us what you’d like your note to say. Find the greeting cards here.

2020 Retrospect: Finding the Gems in a Rough Year

2020 was undeniably one of the worst years in probably all of our lives, and it’s almost impossible to find any redeeming aspects besides Joe Biden winning the presidency 2,584 times, but a few moments stick out as special in my heart.

2020 was undeniably one of the worst years in probably all of our lives, and it’s almost impossible to find any redeeming aspects besides Joe Biden winning the presidency 2,584 times. It certainly was no bang-up year for me personally. I typed a whole paragraph listing the atrocities of the year on a personal and global scale and then deleted it because, well, I thought it was too dark for a blog post I’m using to try to lift my spirits and document some of the good things that managed to shine through it all. In the spirit of hope and trying to turn lemons into lemonade or at least some sort of off-brand, 10-years-expired fruit barrel sugar water I used to beg my mom to buy me at the Hostess outlet bakery, here is a list of moments that I don’t want to forget from the worst year.

Towards the beginning of the pandemic, I posted these hand-stamped SOCIALLY DISTANT heart necklaces and gave $5 from the sale of each one to a person on our local virtual tip jar list of people who were out of a job or had reduced hours from the shutdowns. I got to give tips to dozens people in the Little Rock community from the necklace sales.

2020 brought the birth of Bang-Up Bingo! During the spring, I hosted several virtual bingo games and gave away handmade jewelry, funny enamel pins, feminist stickers and more at no cost, just for funsies and to bring a little sunshine to our indoor existences. This screenshot really embodies my enthusiasm for my favorite Bingo call.

This year, I created these I DISSENT gavel necklaces as a nod to our most dearly departed RBG and donated proceeds to the Arkansas Association of Women Lawyers’ scholarship fund. Through the sales of this necklace I was able to donate $432 and will continue the donations into the new year.

This year, Arkansas Times readers voted me Best Artisan for handmade jewelry in the Arkansas Times Best of Arkansas, and my favorite little gift shop Stifft Station Gifts got runner-up for Best Gift Shop. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!!

In the spring, back before Michelle Obama made it cool as hell to wear a “vote” letter necklace, I taught a virtual workshop on how to make a similar style of necklace. Pet names, feminist sentiments, and funny words were a big hit, but I guess we should have all been making them say VOTE! If you want to stay up to date about my virtual and future in-person workshops, join this group on Facebook.

I guess sitting at home gave me a lot of time to think, because I released four collections of handmade jewelry in 2020, the most dear to me being the Siren Collection of jewelry that was inspired by Greek Mythology. This is my favorite collection of jewelry I’ve ever made in my life, and I hope to make more like it in 2021. Check out the full Siren Collection here.

I, especially as a white person, certainly can’t capture the emotions of this summer in one entry, and I have very mixed emotions about just wanting to throw 2020 in the trash and ring in a new year. 2020 taught us so much and was maybe the closest we’ve gotten to shaking up change over the epidemic of racial injustice within our justice systems, education systems and beyond. We CANNOT forget the summer of 2020. We can’t forget Breonna Taylor and George Floyd and what brought people across the WORLD into the streets during a pandemic to shout BLACK LIVES MATTER. It was uplifting to see so many people come together to help bail out protestors in our city, and I was happy to put my hammer to work where I could to raise money for the Little Rock Freedom Fund. I posted a few rounds of these hand-stamped cuffs to raise funds that went immediately to the bail fund, totaling about $950 with 100% of the funds going straight from donors to the fund in exchange for a cuff. .May we fight just as hard in 2021 as we did in 2020, if not 1,000 times harder.

Never passing on a chance to fuck with Faulkner County’s stinkiest state senator, I made this magical little hand-stamped heart necklace that said JEZEBEL WEAVING A SPELL after one of he-who-must-not-be-named’s little internet tantrums against one of his constituents. Obviously I auctioned this off on Facebook for $125 that went to Arkansas Abortion Support Network. It was the only proper thing to do.

2020 did manage to produce the finest sour ale this city has ever seen (If I do say so myself, and I do), in the form of this partnership with the brewers of East Sixth Brewing Co. (Hey, Becca and Josh!!!) and my good friend Ashlee Nobel of Lee Lee Arts + Design. Together we created this tribute beer to the late, great Betty the boy cat. You can still grab a pack of it at your local liquor store. I grabbed some last night from 107 Liquor in Sherwood.

The year was 2020. The godforsaken election was heating up. A political goddess took the stage opposite a turd in a white toupée, and naturally a fly landed on his head. The next morning I made a necklace to commemorate the hilarious occasion. The necklace said I’M SPEAKING and had a tiny fly charm. I thought, “Tee hee hee hee, what a funny pic to share that no one will really care about buying,” and WOW WAS I WRONG. This fly necklace may be the only thing I make for the rest of my life. Just kidding. Kind of.

And, after stamping approximately 1,543,567,546.67 I’m Speaking fly necklaces, I turned into an actual fly. I blogged my DIY fly costume here in case you want to know how it was made.

2020 was a cruel monster to small businesses, and Bang-Up Betty didn’t come out unscathed. I’ll always remember the two magical months of January and February when we were open for regular shopping and had some really fun creative workshops. You never know when a global pandemic is going to wipe through like a wad of endangered toilet paper and smear you off the map. We had to close Stifft Station Gifts this month, and this beautiful little best-kept-secret gem in Little Rock will be sorely missed. Bang-Up Betty is online as always and will resume pop-ups, craft shows and in-person events as soon as it’s safe and not a moment sooner.

I had to give a shout out to my most loyal virtual students, Girl Scouts! This year I did multiple virtual workshops, from charm necklaces to beaded spiders, with some of the region's brightest young crafters and I hope we have many more Zoom dates in 2021.

I think the biggest gem of 2020 had to be getting a new president elected. The lines of enthusiastic voters across the country was so inspiring to see, and personally it was such a huge motivation to see all of you post photos of yourselves voting while wearing Bang-Up Betty jewelry. From the Vote So Hard enamel pin, to the VOTE necklace, to the I’m Speaking Fly Necklace, it made my heart nearly explode seeing it all. Thank you!

The Handmade Shop Local and Online Arkansas Gift Guide 2020

Every holiday season, I like to round up some of my current favorites in a little gift guide that highlights Arkansas artisans, artists and makers to help you shop small and shop local. Normally I’d show off new finds from craft shows or new things at our shop, but since I’m shopping online as much as possible this year to keep myself at home, I thought I’d focus on Arkansas made gifts you can have delivered straight to your door. From pottery to lapel pins, tea to trinkets, this guide has stocking stuffers and heartfelt gifts that will make this holiday season magical despite how strange this year is. Handmade gifts make the best gifts!

Every time I see potter Mariah Hatta share one of her adorable ceramic pigs, it makes me squeal with delight. Mariah creates unique pottery under the name House of Terriers, and right now she’s part of the Arkansas Art Center’s virtual Museum School Sale, so these little piggies can cry “wee wee wee” all the way home to your tree without you having to leave the house. Check out Mariah’s work here. This gift is also great for hog callers. Woo pig!

This year, my good friend Ashlee Nobel of Lee Lee Arts + Design collaborated with East Sixth Brewing Company and me to create a beer inspired by Bang-Up Betty, and we used Ashlee’s incredible cat skull art in the design for the beer we named Betty’s Ninth Life. This clever cat skull art print lives in my studio now, and you can get Ashlee’s beautiful art on everything from pillows to blankets to hoodies. Check out her new yoga collection for the yogis on your list! See Ashlee’s work here.

A couple of months ago, I released my Siren Collection of handmade bronze jewelry inspired by Greek Mythology. This jewelry is handmade in Arkansas by me, and I chose to feature the Artemis Moon Necklace with crossed arrows in this gift guide. The Artemis necklace is elegant, meaningful an mystical, much like the rest of the Siren Collection. See the whole collection of handmade Greek mythology jewelry here.

I’m absolutely OBSESSED with Abbi’s Teas and Things in Hillcrest, and I’m so proud of how she’s gone the extra mile to keep her business safe during the pandemic. You can find Abbi Siler at her outdoor tea stand Wednesdays and Saturdays, or you can shop her blends online. Right now I’m all about the Cherry Fig, but I also highly recommend the Banana Nut Roo, Turmeric Sunrise and Cherry Chamomile. Shop Abbi’s Teas online here.

I’d say it’s a happy coincidence that my favorite little gift shop in Little Rock also stocks lots of Arkansas made products, but Cindi Booth is too wonderful a curator of handmade goods to chalk it up to serendipity. Candles are like booze; they almost always make a great gift. And these locally made candles come in adorable vintage-style jars, so they look great in your home. You can shop TONS of incredible things on the Stifft Station Gifts website. Here is a link to the candles in many scents.

Funny and feminist enamel lapel pins and stickers make perfect stocking stuffers, coworker gifts, teacher gifts and angsty teenager (or angsty grown-up) gifts. My line of enamel pins is huge, so you’ll likely find something perfect for a funny, sassy person in your life. Shop Bang-Up Betty enamel pins and stickers here.

Speaking of great enamel lapel pins, Little Rock textile artist, poet and author Crystal Mercer released a collection of enamel pins this year that are phenomenal. Choose from “Black Glow Matters,” “An Arrest Is Not Enough,” her Duafe Pin or Normalizing Nipples pin, and be sure to check out the Kickstarter she just announced for her forthcoming book “From Cotton to Silk: The Magic of Black Hair,” to be released by Et Alia Press. Check out Crystal’s work here.

And speaking of Et Alia Press, the bookworms on your list are bound to love something from this local “small press for big voices.” Be sure to check out “The Hospice Doctor’s Widow” by Jennifer O’Brien or “But First, Save 10” by Sarah-Catherine Gutierrez. I read Sarah-Catherine’s book a couple of months ago and I couldn’t recommend it enough for pointers on how to get your savings on track. Check out Et Alia press here.

I’ve been a fan of Tub Tonics for a long time. Andrea knows how to make a damn fine bath bomb. Like the skull bath bomb in the intro photo to this gift guide? Amazing! Andrea makes perfect little gift sets on her site too, so you can cross someone completely off your list in one place. Check out her soaps, bath bombs, gift sets and more here.

I’m in love with macrame by Creative Cords. Amy Darragh’s wall hangings, like the pink one in my intro photo to this gift guide, make my heart sing, but I’m extra in love with her adorable macrame Christmas ornaments she’s been sharing lately. Check out Creative Cords macrame here.

I’m always in awe of the way Erin Pierce of Organized Chaos Collection harvests beauty all around us in the form of Arkansas plants, insects, spider webs and other natural things and turns them into breathtaking art and jewelry. Erin takes pride in finding and pressing her own flowers to make these gorgeous sun catchers. See more of Erin’s work here.

Whether you want perfectly cute cookies for the holidays, need a great cookie mix to make your own, or are looking for recipes to make holiday desserts from scratch, Sarah DeClerk of Ann Potter Baking has you covered! She even has DIY cookie kits you can order online to decorate yourself, and she JUST released a cookbook! Check out Ann Potter Baking here.

This year, it’s more important than ever to shop small, and I hope this Arkansas gift guide helps you cross a few names off your list while getting those warm and fuzzies you get when you support an awesome small business you believe in. Happy (and safe!) holiday shopping!

My DIY Fly Costume to Complement My I'm Speaking Fly Necklace

Good morning to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and the fly on the Mike Pence’s head. My I’m Speaking Fly Necklace commemorates the epic Vice Presidential Debate that gave us The Fly.

There’s not a whole lot to laugh about right now in America, but I think we can agree that the fly on Mike Pence was the kind of comedy we were all needing in our lives.

I made this “I’m Speaking” Fly Necklace the morning after to embody both heroes of the Vice President debate: Senator Kamala Harris and the fly on Mike Pence’s head. I spent the next 4 weeks up to my hairline in brass flies.

This very unofficial debate commemoration necklace features a brass flay charm alongside a stamped brass circle that reads I’M SPEAKING. Be like Kamala Harris. Don’t let any man talk over you. Tell them to buzz right off. The chain is 18 inches and 14K gold-filled. This necklace is also available in silver with an aluminum stamped circle, sterling chain and brass fly (all fly charms are brass and therefore gold-colored).

The fly consumed my life so much that I became it on Halloween. Check out my DIY fly costume below.

Buzz off. My homemade fly costume to honor the fly that landed on Mike Pence’s head during the debate. Photo by Becca Bona.

I started with basic black jeans, black boots and a long-sleeved black shirt. Using about a yard of fuzzy black fabric from a craft store, I cut a pair of sleeves that I safety-pinned around the sleeves of my shirt. I cut a baggy hood from the fuzzy fabric and I used the leftover fuzzy fabric to cut a long strip for a scarf. For the eyes, I cut a sphere of floral foam in half, set each half on a paper plate and painted them both several times with red glitter glue. When they were dry, I used some of my lapel pins that were damaged and hot glued them onto the flat side of the sphere halves, then stuck them onto the hood I made. I took two black pipe cleaners and wrapped them around a black headband to make the antennae. For the wings, I took two wire clothes hangers apart and shaped them into teardrops, then I twisted them together and used duct tape to secure them. I cut the legs off a pair of white pantyhose and slid them over the wire frames, tying them at the ends and securing them with more tape. Then I drew the veins onto the pantyhose using a Sharpie and tied them onto my shoulders using two long ribbons. The final touch was sticking a card stock cutout of Pence’s stink head onto a wooden dowel.

Good morning to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and the fly on the Mike Pence’s head. My I’m Speaking Fly Necklace commemorates the epic Vice Presidential Debate that gave us The Fly.

DIY Easily Refresh, Repair and Revamp Your Jewelry At Home

Is your jewelry box filled with jewelry that you never wear anymore? Maybe it’s worn out, or it’s just not your style anymore, or maybe a clasp is broken or the chain is too long or too short for you. Before you get rid of it, consider upcycling it and creating something fresh and new that’s more your style. Maybe you have a pendant that needs a chain, or a collection of earrings that are missing their mates. Chances are, there’s something else sitting unworn in your collection that could be repurposed or just needs the tiniest bit of love to be wearable again.

Repairing jewelry or tweaking it to suit your style is often easier than you’d imagine. You just need a few simple tools that you may already have out in the garage, a pair of readers or a magnifying glass if your eyes could use a little help, and a little creativity when it comes to sourcing parts to make new jewelry from old jewelry you’re not wearing anymore. In this simple tutorial, I’ll show you how to create a new necklace chain using old chain, make simple repairs, and attach charms and pendants to chain necklaces and earring wires.

Two needle nose or chain nose pliers come in handy, as does a set of wire cutters (often built into needle nose pliers already); a ruler can be helpful, but isn’t essential; and whatever jewelry you have lying around that you can mine for parts.

If you’re interested in virtual and in-person jewelry making workshops as well as other creative classes, be sure to “like” Bang-Up Betty on Facebook and check out our roster of upcoming artsy workshops. We’re always teaching new crafty workshops inside Stifft Station Gifts in Little Rock, Arkansas and online.

This video originally aired on the Arkansas State Tourism Facebook page and was created by Collin Buchanan. Bang-Up Betty jewelry is handmade in Arkansas by jewelry designer Stacey Bowers.

Music: Little Cookie II - William Rosati Support by RFM - NCM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz7ro911rTc&feature=youtu.be

New "Vernal" Collection of Handmade Jewelry Draws from Nature and Quarantine, Made in Arkansas

This collection of handmade jewelry was inspired by nature and being stuck in quarantine during the beautiful Arkansas spring. This is just a snippet of the jewelry; you can see the entire collection below and shop it in my web store here.

This spring has been… well… weird, to say the least. Since we’ve been cut off from physically being in touch with other people, we’ve had to spend a lot more time with ourselves. We’ve had to keep ourselves entertained, find things to do to keep ourselves busy, and either try to keep our minds from worrying or sit more with our thoughts.

I’ve been sitting a lot with my thoughts, but I’ve been keeping a healthy mental balance by going for long walks around the lakes by my house, spending every waking moment that I can on the patio watching the cats watch the birds, and playing games and working puzzles to quiet my mind.

This collection of jewelry was inspired by all those long walks, by games played and puzzles worked, by all the spring cleaning that helped me come across mementos I’d forgotten, and by the mental rollercoaster that comes with being suddenly separated from friends and relatives while having to massively retool and revamp my handmade jewelry business to keep it going in these strange times.

The handmade jewelry pieces in this collection are hand-cast, kiln-fired bronze and they feature colorful stones to lift the spirit. I’ve been wearing them a lot, and I love the way each pendant feels when I hold it against my chest. It is such a comfort to be able to craft something like them, to spend all the time and energy it takes to meticulous create something that feels and looks so elegant and luxurious, to hold it for a little while, then to send it off to someone, hoping it will make their eyes light up and their spirit happy when they put it on.

April showers bring May flowers, but first they bring all those beautiful spring fungi that this handmade necklace celebrates. These playful pieces of jewelry were made of hand-cast, kiln-fired bronze and were made using a genuine vintage stamp. They mix groovy with sophistication in the perfect way. The bronze mushroom necklace is accented with a faceted green goldstone bead, and the bronze snail necklace is complete with four natural peridot chips. This handmade jewelry was made with care in my North Little Rock, Arkansas, studio.

Are you a night owl? A moon gazer? A lover of mystery and nature’s subtle beauty? If the thoughtful owl weren’t enough, the shimmering rainbow moonstone in this hand-cast bronze necklace ought to captivate you.

This bronze pendant featuring an owl at the center of a forest scene is made of hand-cast, kiln-fired, tarnish-resistant bronze that has a warm, golden glow and feels substantial and luxurious. The owl pendant measures approximately 3/4 inch across and is connected to an 18-inch gold-filled chain by a beautiful rainbow moonstone bead that shimmers when it catches the light and has a milky glow like the moon.

I love this hand-cast, kiln-fired bronze medallion so much because it’s a little sweet and a little spooky. The bee in the design is very obvious, but if you look closely, you’ll see that the bee is resting on a spider web, creating a magnificently textured, multidimensional piece. The warm glow of the bronze in this handmade necklace is complimented by two beads of golden jade quartz that connect the pendant to a gold-filled chain. The chain measures approximately 19 inches long and ends in a spring clasp. Hand-cast bronze has a warm, golden glow and is tarnish resistant. This beautiful piece transitions perfectly from summer to winter; it’s light and happy, but also a little spooky. It’s perfect for a nature lover. Get it here.

Inspired by all of the puzzles I’ve been working while self-isolating during the COVID-19 outbreak and all of the friends I miss and who I feel are my missing puzzle pieces right now…

Whether you’re just really into working puzzles or you’ve got a special person who is your missing puzzle piece right now or all of the above, this handmade bronze puzzle piece necklace will soothe your soul. These hand-cast bronze puzzle piece charms are modeled after pieces from my favorite puzzle I have at home and which I’ve been working a lot these last few weeks. You can order just one necklace with one bronze puzzle piece or get a matching one to send to your missing puzzle piece person to brighten their day. If you select one necklace, you can specify which piece you prefer if you have a preference; there will be a box that prompts you to answer. Get them here.

If this necklace makes you want to shout BINGO when you see it, you’re probably a bingo queen like me.

This handmade bronze bingo chip necklace is cast using an actual bingo chip used to cover spaces on a bingo card and stamped letter by letter with either “BINGO,” “BINGO QUEEN” or “BINGO BITCH.” You can choose your preferred phrase at checkout. Hand-cast, kiln-fired bronze bingo chip pendants are handmade, tarnish resistant, and have a luxurious golden tone. They hang from 18-inch gold-filled chain. Get it here.

This handmade bronze scarab beetle pendant mimics the beautiful Egyptian Revival jewelry that was popular in the 19th Century, but with a modern touch. The hand-cast, kiln-fired bronze scarab beetle measures approximately 1 inch across, has a golden glow and a substantial feel, and is tarnish resistant. The pendant is handmade in my studio in North Little Rock, Arkansas. It is connected to a 20-inch gold-filled chain by a faceted bead of black onyx. This piece of elegant jewelry is so versatile. I’ve worn it with simple outfits and sweaters, and it pairs beautifully with evening wear. It’s one of my favorite pieces to wear from this collection. Get it here.

My newest enamel lapel pins were inspired by all the time spent in my own head and with my two cats lately. The Buried in Work pin really sums up what it feels like to suddenly have to close your shop, revamp your website, reschedule every event from the spring, and figure out how to teach classes online. The Cats Are My Love Language Pin was inspired by my two cats, obviously, who have been endless sources of cuddles. The Compartmentalizing Brain Pin perfectly sums up one of my greatest skills: being able to parcel things out in my brain and deal with them later, usually while I get to work.

This charming little necklace is especially special because it’s modeled after a piece of coral I found on a beautiful beach in Indonesia.

The kiln-fired bronze pendant measures approximately one inch long, has a beautiful golden glow, and you can feel the texture of the coral after which it was cast. To top it off, a red bamboo coral bead connects it to a 20-inch gold-filled chain. This handmade necklace is earthy and natural looking, but with the substantial, luxurious feel of bronze. Get it here.

This simple yet edgy necklace takes mixed metal up a notch. A string of wire-wrapped brass beads that resemble gold nuggets hang from a sterling silver chain that really makes them pop. The strand of “gold nuggets” measures about 2 inches long and is wire wrapped by hand. The beads are in a unique cube shape and have a look like pyrite. The chain is sterling silver and ends in a lobster clasp. The entire necklace is about 16 inches long, so it’s great for layering with longer necklaces. If you need the chain longer, please email me at stacey@bangupbetty.com and I can make it up to 20 inches long. Get it here.

Moonstone was all the rage at the turn of the 20th Century, and we’re bringing back its luminescent, glowy charm for everyday wear. These hammered brass hoop earrings are affixed with three teardrop-shaped rainbow moonstone beads per earrings. Rainbow moonstone has an iridescence that plays in the light. Because of the way is plays in the sun, moonstone transitions beautifully from day to evening wear. These earrings are complete with gold-filled ear wires. Get them here.

Bang-Up Betty jewelry is made with love and care in Arkansas. When we’re not practicing safe social distancing, you can shop Bang-Up Betty handmade jewelry in person and have custom jewelry stamped on site inside Stifft Station Gifts, the cutest little gift store in Little Rock, Arkansas.