2023 Holiday Handmade Local Gift Guide: 33 Gifts by Arkansas Artists and Makers

There’s nothing more special than a handmade gift. At Bang-Up Betty, we’re focused on finding and supporting Arkansas artisans and artists who make art and gifts we truly love. Our jewelry and gift store in downtown North Little Rock showcases unique, unusual and excellent Arkansas-made items that you can bet will bring a surprised smile to your loved ones’ faces this holiday season. Not only is every piece of jewelry (and there are hundreds) made here in Arkansas by us, our storefront is stocked with art, pottery, candles, and more by artists all across the state of Arkansas. Here are 33 of our favorite local Arkansas gifts that you can find at Bang-Up Betty:

These little ceramic vase faces by Hot Springs ceramicist Carla Churchwell are perfect for holding your favorite flowers and come in all colors, sizes and expressions.

Bentonville watercolorist Joseph Buchanan painted these Christmas cards especially for our shop.

Maumelle-based artist Sherry J. Williamson’s handmade ornaments incorporate her paintings with gorgeous glass beads.

Sometimes gorgeously simple isn’t as simple as it seems. These monogram initial necklaces are each made in our studio at Bang-Up Betty from hand-cast bronze and fired in a kiln. Each piece is uniquely handmade. The chain is an elegant paper-clip style chain that’s 14k gold-filled, so it’s hypoallergenic. Chains are 18 inches long, but if you’d prefer a longer necklace you can add an extender here.

Russellville multimedia artist BabyCreep turned her art into wearable, giftable keychains and we’ve got some right here at the shop.

Hot Springs ceramicist Carla Churchwell’s bold use of color and illustration make for perfect pottery gifts, and everyone needs a spoon rest in their kitchen.

Springdale artist Sigrid Lorfing’s gorgeous, colorful paintings are available as prints at Bang-Up Betty.

With the total solar eclipse coming up quick (April 2024!), our Solar Eclipse necklace makes a timely gift. The sterling silver moon swings back and forth over the bronze sun. Find the Solar Eclipse Necklace by Bang-Up Betty in store or online here.

Maumelle-based artist Clever + Tidy makes these perfect little floral Arkansas keychains that we carry at Bang-Up Betty.

Little Rock print maker Bri Peterson created an entire zodiac collection of insect-themed prints for each astrological sign, and we’ve got them all at Bang-Up Betty.

North Little Rock candle maker Dogtown Scents is known for her incredible-smelling candles, and she’s brought us a small batch of wintery candles complete with Arkansas crystals in them.

Bang-Up Betty is known for our snarky sticker collection, and you can find tons of water-bottle-safe options in store or online here. They make great stocking stuffers!

Little Rock artist Kasten Searles created this amazing coloring book featuring the many drag queens of the south, and we’ve got it in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Hot Springs ceramicist Carla Churchwell does it again! We absolutely love her handmade mugs that come in gorgeous colors and prints. Find them in store at Bang-Up Betty.

If you love Russellville artist BabyCreep’s ceramics, you’ll love her printed tea towels that’ll add a pop of color and creep to your kitchen. Find them in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Bang-Up Betty has been stamping custom mantra cuffs longer than anybody in town and offering hilarious and inspirational phrases as well as custom options. Find them online here or in store at Bang-Up Betty.

We love Sherwood-based artist Ashlee Nobel’s (Lee Lee Arts + Design) mystical illustrations and they fly off the shelves here!

Keep Arkansas proud with these handmade ornaments by Fayetteville artist Pyrogenic Arts. Find them in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Maumelle-based Sherry J. Williamson made these clever “Merry Dissentmas” cards as a nod to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and we’ve got them in store at Bang-Up Betty.

If you love Bentonville artist Joseph Buchanan’s watercolor holiday cards, you’ll love his Arkansas matted prints, including scenes of War Eagle Mill, the Old Mill, Argenta and more. They’re available in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Hot Springs artist Carla Churchwell’s ornaments are just as creative as the rest of her pottery! Find her one-of-a-kind ornaments in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Bang-Up Betty’s newest handmade artisan jewelry collection, the Anatomy Collection, is all about the human body and medicine. Check out the entire collection online here or in store. This jewelry would make a great gift for the doctors, nurses and med students in your life.

Speaking of anatomy, North Little Rock artist Chelsea Allen created these clever felted ornaments featuring body parts, mushrooms and more, available in store at Bang-Up Betty.

We love a pretty soap gift! These pride soaps by Maumelle-based Summit Valley Soap smell as good as they look. Find them online here or in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Bang-Up Betty is known for snarky pins, which make great stocking stuffers. You can shop lapel pins online here or in store.

North Little Rock wood artist Paul Milholland of Milwerk Modern makes the grooviest wooden sculptures of birds, cats, whales and more. We think this one would be a great gift for a hogs fan. Find it in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Bang-Up Betty loves to make custom stamped keychains if you have a special word of phrase you’d like to gift to someone, but we also have a ton of already stamped hilarious keychains in store. Find keychains online here.

Arkansas artist Chaotic Creative Co makes these cheerful packs of positivity postcards for folks who love to send hand-written notes. Find them in store at Bang-Up Betty or online here.

Local literature is the best literature! Bang-Up Betty carries a selection of locally written and printed books published by Et Alia Press.

Locally made artisan jewelry makes the perfect gift, and Bang-Up Betty delivers with hundreds of unique designs made by hand in Arkansas. Find these online here or in store.

Little Rock macrame artist Amy Darragh of Creative Cords makes the most beautiful, colorful macrame creations, including these rainbow wall hangings she made especially for us here at Bang-Up Betty.

We love a forest of tiny ceramic Christmas trees! Hot Springs ceramicist Carla Churchwell made a massive forest of these little guys for us so you can build your own tiny forest at home. Find them in store at Bang-Up Betty.

We bet you’ve got someone in your life who loves birds, and our Aviary Collection of bird-inspired artisan jewelry would be the sweetest gift for them! Find the Aviary Collection of bird jewelry online here or in store.