Bang-Up Book Club: A Unique Game of Hide-and-Seek for Handmade Gifts at Laman Library in North Little Rock

Bookworms will love the reading-centric swag that’s part of Bang-Up Book Club. This book-club-meets-scavenger-hunt organized by Bang-up Betty and hosted at Laman Library’s Main and Argenta branches in North Little Rock is the perfect way for Arkansas jewelry designer Stacey Bowers to unite her love for reading and handmade jewelry while encouraging people to get out and explore some of the great venues in North Little Rock—the future home to her new gift shop opening this summer.

Turn up your summer reading list with this book-club-meets-scavenger-hunt organized by Bang-up Betty and hosted at Laman Library’s Main and Argenta branches in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Bang-Up Book Club is the perfect way for Arkansas jewelry designer Stacey Bowers to unite her love for reading and handmade jewelry while encouraging people to get out and explore some of the great venues in North Little Rock—the future home to her new gift shop opening this summer.

Bang-Up Book Club begins in August 2021 and continues through the fall. Anyone can participate—just follow Bang-Up Betty on Instagram and Facebook to watch for clues that lead readers to Stacey’s favorite titles on the shelves at these local libraries. Follow the clues, find the books and get biblio-centric gifts to take home when you check out! Many random readers will also get nice surprises when they open books they’ve checked out from Laman Library.

"We love partnering with North Little Rock businesses, and this is certainly an exciting program, combining books and art," said Crystal Gates, Laman Library's executive director.
Bang-Up Betty is known for edgy and handcrafted jewelry, T-shirts, enamel pins, stickers and gifts. Prizes will include two brand new, book-themed sticker designs, “Ask me what I’m reading” stamped necklaces, bookworm-themed stamped cuff bracelets and more.

“I’m an avid reader, and I love to talk about books, discover new titles at the library, and swap books among my friends. I grew up going to Laman Library, and the Argenta Branch is right across the street from my new shop on Main Street,” Stacey said.

Find Bang-Up Betty at www.bangupbetty.com, Facebook.com/bangupbettyjewelry, Instagram.com/bangupbetty and opening soon at 429 Main Street in Argenta.

North Little Rock's library system offers services and borrowing privileges to all Pulaski County residents and, through the Gateway program, those in surrounding areas. Anyone is invited to visit Laman' s Main Branch, at 2801 Orange Street, or Argenta Branch, 420 Main Street. To apply for a library card, those living or working in Pulaski County may show a valid driver's license or identification. If your license doesn't reflect your current address, other forms of identification, including a bill or piece of mail showing the correct address are accepted. Those from outside Pulaski County may request the Gateway application through their local library. Visit lamanlibrary.org or call the library for details.

The perfect sticker for people who love to read! Express your reading obsession with this ”Ask Me What I’m Reading” illustrated book sticker. The sticker shaped like a stack of books is durable vinyl and weather resistant, so it’s great for cars and water bottles, plus it’s also great for laptops, e-readers and phone cases if you’re more of an electronic book lover.

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.