11 Unique Styles of Arkansas Jewelry and Gifts Designed and Made in Arkansas
Stacey Bowers
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.
