Witty Literary Necklaces for Book Lovers

Write On! and Books B4 Boys, two witty literary necklaces designed by Bang-Up Betty for Et Alia Press, a Little Rock-based independent publisher.

Book worms, bluestockings and lit lovers, Bang-Up Betty has teamed up with independent publisher Et Alia Press to bring you witty literary jewelry that might make you pull your nose out of your book for a minute.

Read them and weep (with joy, of course)! Et Alia Press has just published four styles of charming literature-themed necklaces to make you giggle. The necklaces, made by hand by Arkansas jewelry designer Bang-Up Betty in my North Little Rock studio, are available for purchase through Et Alia Press’s website and are selling quickly.

Bluestockings, pick up your new favorite book! These witty literary necklaces are handmade in Arkansas and have tiny pencil and book charms.

Last summer, Et Alia Press’s Erin Wood stopped by the Bang-Up Betty studio to meet Betty and me and see how I make jewelry. I’m excited and honored to be featured in her forthcoming book, Women Makers of Arkansas, along with dozens of incredibly talented Arkansas creators.

Look for Women Makers of Arkansas in spring of 2019, and check out all of the good reads available along with our literary necklaces through Et Alia Press.

Arkansas jewelry designer Stacey Bowers of Bang-Up Betty with Betty the boy cat. Photo by Erin Wood for Et Alia Press's forthcoming Women Makers of Arkansas book project.

Badass Babes Unite Bracelet For Women Who Support Women

Badass Babes Unite Bracelet is handmade by Bang-Up Betty Jewelry in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

North Little Rock-based jewelry designer Bang-Up Betty has teamed up with Northwest Arkansas-based organization Tribe of Women, which aims to empower women to support each other and fight for gender equity in our personal and professional lives.

This Badass Babes Unite Bracelet is handmade, stamped letter by letter, and serves as a great reminder that women get shit done and we're stronger together. 10% of the proceeds from this bracelet go to Tribe of Women. 

The Badass Babes Unite bracelet is solid brass or silver aluminum and is made in Arkansas by Bang-Up Betty Jewelry, a designer of salty and feminist handmade jewelry, shirts, stickers, enamel lapel pins and more since 2013. 

Get your Badass Babes Unite handmade bracelet here! 

Bang-Up Betty jewelry is handmade in Arkansas and gives back to many local and national causes. 

Bang-Up Betty on KATV

Arkansas jewelry designer Bang-Up Betty on the set of KATV with some of her handmade jewelry. 

Bang-Up Betty made the news this week! Monday, I brought my tools and an array of designs to KATV's Good Afternoon Arkansas to talk shop and teach Elicia Dover how to stamp jewelry and about my line of Arkansas made jewelry. I chat about where I get my inspiration, how I learned how to make jewelry and some of my favorite designs. Click here to watch the video!

Plant Lady, I'll Cut You, Hot Mess.. a few necklaces by Arkansas jewelry designer Bang-Up Betty. 

Arkansas jewelry designer Stacey Bowers of Bang-Up Betty demonstrates how she makes handmade stamped jewelry. 

Street Style: Bang-Up Betty/Maddox Fashion Shoot in Downtown Little Rock

Keesha, Syd and Quiniese in tops from Maddox and jewelry/pins by Bang-Up Betty.

It was HOT in July,  but these lovely ladies braved the sweltering atmosphere to make my cotton candy-colored fashion fantasies come true. Maddox Boutique provided the wardrobe, Katie Childs captured the moments, and Bang-Up Betty added the handmade Arkansas jewelry. Here are a few fiery shots and some funny outtakes, because that's what happens when a bunch of badass babes bond over salty handmade jewelry and boob sweat. 

Syd breaking hearts in the Cry Me a River Necklace and Maddox crop top

Kick Ass Mantra Bracelet and I'll Cut You Necklace

Nasty Woman Statue of Liberty Necklace and peach top from Maddox

Keesha shares her Liberal Vagenda with the world

Keesha gone wild in all the Bang-Up Betty lapel pins

Keesha, an unstoppable force, this time in the Nope Middle Finger necklace and top from Maddox

Smash the Patriarchy necklace

Kyla in a jaw-dropping ensemble from Maddox and the Don't Touch Me cactus necklace

Don't Touch Me cactus necklace

Resist stamped mantra bracelet. Silver and brass cuffs are customizable. 

Kyla in the Hot Mess necklace, even though she is FAR FROM a mess 

Quiniese in a saucy lace-up top from Maddox and my Strong as Hell necklace and Wonder Woman earrings

Quiniese in my Strong as Hell necklace and Wonder Woman earrings

Get Shit Done necklace and lace-up top from Maddox

Quiniese, fierce af, in the Strong as Hell necklace and Maddox top

Amy and Laura in the Smash the Patriarchy shirt

Smash the Patriarchy shirt

Illuminati necklace

I Believe in Science necklace. $4 from each sale through bangupbetty.com goes to the NRDC to protect the environment. 

Syd, Vogue as hell, in my Nasty Woman necklace and top from Maddox

How to Care for Your Bang-Up Betty Jewelry

Congratulations on your new neck candy! Now here are a few tips for keeping brass jewelry and silver jewelry in tip-top condition so you can cherish it forever. 

As with all brass or sterling silver jewelry, I highly recommend keeping a good quality, soft polishing cloth on hand. In fact, I recommend this polishing cloth. I use this cloth on my own personal collection of brass and silver jewelry that I wear every day. Don't ever use a polishing cloth that has grit in it! You could scratch your jewelry, and we wouldn't want that. 

Watch this magic: 

How to clean handmade brass jewelry and silver jewelry. A great polishing cloth and a few good tips go a long way in keeping your brass jewelry shiny. 

If your brass jewelry has been through hell and high water (especially salty high water), you can use Brasso on the charm, but be careful not to use it on the chain or it could be very difficult or impossible to get out of the tiny chain links. You can find Brasso for around $2 in the cleaning section of a hardware store. Or you can ask a friend to borrow some because you will only need the tiniest amount. Once I use Brasso on a brass piece, I thoroughly wipe off the piece with a paper towel because it kinda smells funny. Sorry. 

Shine bright in your handmade brass jewelry, beauties!