Spooky Season Jewelry: 30 Designs to Send Shivers Up Your Spine

At Bang-Up Betty, spooky season is a year-round affair. With dozens and dozens of designs that’ll send a shiver up your spine,, you’ll find a scary amount of good stuff for the fall months and beyond. Here are 30 spooky jewelry designs to get you pumped up for the season, even it’s 12 months out of the year for you too and not just Halloween. Honestly, I could have kept writing this blog forever, but I capped it at 30 pieces. Check out our website for tons more spooky creations.

There are perhaps no more universal and ancient night creatures than the spirits of the dead. They can mean harm or serve to protect the living, but they’re rarely seen by the human eye either way — even rarer in the daylight. These little ghost earrings in our Creatures of Night Collection come in two styles: oval-shaped hoops if you like a longer look, and round hooks if you like a shorter look. Ghost charms come in sterling silver and solid bronze. Ear wires are 14k gold-filled and sterling silver, so they’re hypoallergenic. Find them here.

Show your love of dinosaurs with this modern fossil. This Tyrannosaurs Rex skull necklace is available in gold with a solid bronze cast T Rex skull pendant on a 14k gold-filled chain and in sterling silver with a cast sterling silver T Rex skull pendant on a sterling silver chain. Necklaces are approximately 18 inches long. Find them here.

If the mystifying oracle doesn't put a spell on you, the black glitter in these planchette lapel pins will. Hard enamel lapel pins measure 1.25 inches tall, are gold-trimmed and have a little hole that lets a peek of whatever you're wearing show through. Pins come with a hard rubber back on a cute, giftable card.  Get one for everyone in your coven. Find them here.

These coffin stud earrings are simply to die for. These coffin earrings make the perfect subtle and cute statement and go with everything. Casket post earrings are available in solid bronze or solid sterling silver and come on a cute card back that makes them easy to gift. If you love these coffin stud earrings, you’ll love our matching “dead inside” coffin necklace! Find the Coffin Stud Earrings here.

In Norse mythology, when Loki threw Jörmungandr, also known as the Midgard Serpent, into the sea, it grew so large it encircled the world and grasped its own tail. When it releases its tail one day, the great reckoning Ragnarök will begin, bringing devastation and floods, but the world will rise again from the waters, cleansed and reborn. The Midgard Serpent snake cuff from our Creatures of Night Collection is a powerful yet versatile statement piece. The cuff bracelets are available in solid bronze or sterling silver and are adjustable. As with any cuff, we recommend getting it to the size you desire then wriggling it on and off instead of bending it back and forth each time you take it on and off. Each cuff comes with a decorative card back telling the story of the Midgard Serpent. Find the serpent cuff here.

I’ll smile when I’m dead… This cute but fierce enamel lapel pin measures 1 inch across and is set with black enamel on gold-tone metal, complete with a hard rubber clutch. The pin is soft enamel, which just means that you can feel every gory detail, so it’s pretty satisfying to touch. Tell the boneheads to back off. Find it here.

Ammit: Of Egyptian mythology, this creature is said to have the head of a crocodile, the forelegs and mane of a lion and the hind of a hippopotamus. When Osiris, King of the Underworld, judges a soul unworthy, Ammit devours its heart, casting the poor soul into limbo. The Ammit Necklace from our Creatures of Night Collection features a handmade Ammit pendant on an 18-inch chain. Bronze necklaces are made with solid bronze pendants on 14k gold-filled paperclip-style chains, and silver necklaces are made with sterling silver pendants on twisted sterling silver chains. Each necklace comes on a decorative card back telling the story of Ammit. Find it here.

Because you've got personality to die for, this Suck It Vampire Necklace with Fangs charm is for you. Brass oval measures about one inch long and is hand stamped with the words SUCK IT and complemented by a silver-plated set of vampire fangs. Chain is gold-filled and measures 18 inches long. Stay thirsty. Find it here.

Are you a little batty? Then you’ll adore these little bat stud earrings. These precious little bats make the perfect subtle and cute statement and go with everything. Bat post earrings are available in solid bronze or solid sterling silver and come on a cute card back that makes them easy to gift. If you love these bat stud earrings, you’ll love our matching tiny bat necklace! Find the bat stud earrings here.

This perfect little bat pin is great for those who are a little batty about bats or halloween. The pin measures 1.5 inches across from wingtip to wingtip, is made of soft enamel so you can feel every detail, and has two posts to keep it from spinning around. It’s affixed with two hard rubber backs and comes on a cute card back, so it’s easy to gift. Find it here.

There are perhaps no more universal and ancient night creatures than the spirits of the dead. They can mean harm or serve to protect the living, but they’re rarely seen by the human eye either way — even rarer in the daylight. This little ghost necklace from our Creatures of Night Collection can be worn two ways: as a Y-style necklace by attaching the clasp part-way up the chain or as a standard necklace with the clasp in the front by attaching the clasp to the end link where the ghost charm is. Ghost necklaces are available in bronze on a 20-inch 14k gold-filled chain or in silver with a sterling silver charm and 20-inch sterling silver chain. Each necklace comes on a decorative card back. Find it here.

This handmade bronze spider charm is hand-cast and kiln-fired to perfection in my North Little Rock, Arkansas, studio. It’s the perfect combination of elegant and spooky and can be dressed up or down with ease. Each earring is accented with a round, hand-wrapped bead of rainbow moonstone, mimicking the spiders that weave their webs under the light of the moon. The spiders bodies are set with sparkly cubic zirconia stones that are cast into the bronze charm, which have a golden glow. Each earring measures approximately 1.5 inches long and is made with a gold-filled ear wire. Each pair comes on a cute card back that makes them easy to gift. If you love these earrings, you’ll also love our matching handmade Dainty Spider Necklace. Find the spider earrings here.

We’re obsessed with bats, and this little bat necklace is one of my favorites to make! It’s available in bronze and silver here. This necklace is great for layering. I wear it all the time with other necklaces.

Handmade bronze coffin charms measure approximately 1 inch to 1 1/4 inches across and hang from an approximately 17-inch gold-filled chain that ends in a spring clasp. Charms come either solid bronze with no text or bronze with the phrase “DEAD INSIDE” hand-stamped into the surface. This necklace is also available in silver. Handmade silver coffin necklace is made with a sterling silver chain and a sterling silver coffin charm. Find it here.

Elvira would kill for these brass bat earrings... Or maybe Khaleesi would. It’s all in how you see them. Brass bat / dragon wing measures approximately 2.5 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. Hooks are 14k gold-filled. The wings are hollow, which means they are pretty lightweight, despite their appearance. Find them here.

Kelpie: From the lochs of Scotland, this aquatic horse appears friendly at first, luring humans to ride upon its back, then diving with its victims into the lakes and rivers to drown and devour them. Our handmade Kelpie Necklace is available in bronze with a solid bronze kelpie pendant on a 20-inch 14k gold-filled chain or in sterling silver on a 20-inch sterling silver chain. Chains can be worn shorter if desired, as clasp attached to any link on the chain, making these necklaces great for layering. Each necklace comes on a decorative card back featuring the story of the Kelpie. Find it here.

Vampire: Born in Romania, the original vampires were shape-shifting, night-walking, blood-sucking ghouls who could only be killed with a stake through the heart to pin them into their grave, followed by beheading and burning to ensure they’d never rise again to drink from the living. The Vampire Necklace from our Creatures of Night Collection features a pair of fangs accented with a faceted teardrop garnet as a drop of blood. Bronze necklaces are made with solid bronze fangs charm and 14k gold-filled chain; silver necklaces are made with sterling silver fangs and sterling silver chain. Chain measures approximately 17.5 inches. Find it here.

This spooky planchette charm is solid bronze, measures approximately 1 inch tall, and comes in three ways: 1.) blank 2.) blank on one side with “GOODBYE” and cube zirconia on one side or 3.) cubic zirconia with “GOODBYE” on one side and cubic zirconia with “HELLO” on the other side. Find the planchette necklace here.

Because you feel the spirit(s)…

This spooky hand-stamped Spiritual Ghost Necklace is stamped by hand and includes a little vintage brass ghost charm. Solid brass circle measures a little more than 1/2 inch and is stamped with the word SPIRITUAL. Chain is gold-filled, measures 18 inches long, is made in the USA and ends in a spring clasp. It’s frighteningly cute! This is the perfect handmade necklace for the “spiritual, but not religious.” Find it here.

Sometimes it takes a whole army of eyes to keep the evil eye off you. This Evil Eye Strand Necklace features a row of glass eye beads on a stylish paperclip chain. The necklace is approximately 16 inches long, worn higher on the chest, but you can always add an extender to your order here. Chains are 14k gold filled and sterling silver, so they’re hypoallergenic. Find it here.

Ravens are members of the most intelligent group of birds: the corvids. They speak their own language of calls and cries and can be taught human words. Perhaps this is why they’re historically considered to be oracles, symbols of wisdom, omniscient, predictors of coming danger, and able to traverse the realms of both the living and dead. Our Raven Necklace features a raven carved into a circular pendant with an all-seeing eye. Above the pendant is a faceted bead of black onyx. The Raven Necklace is available as a bronze pendant on an 18-inch 14k gold-filled paperclip-style chain or as a sterling silver pendant on an 18-inch sterling silver paperclip-style chain. Chains and pendants are free of nickel. If you’d like your necklace longer, you may add an extender here. Each necklace comes on a decorative card back telling the story of the Raven. Find it here.

Caravaggio’s (Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio) often dark and violent subject matter, paired with his signature chiaroscuro (or use of heavy contrast using light and dark) echoed the dramatic, tumultuous life he lived, peppered with murder, assassination attempts, arrests and exile. His famous Medusa, painted in 1596-97, depicts the moment when the legendary snake-haired gorgon of ancient Greek myth was beheaded by Perseus, and the artist experiments with casting his own face as Medusa’s. My Caravaggio-inspired Medusa head necklace features a cast bronze or sterling silver pendant of Medusa’s head with wild, curling snakes for hair. The pendant hangs from an 18-inch 14k gold-filled or sterling silver chain. The necklace pairs perfectly with my Medusa Serpent Earrings from my Siren Collection inspired by Greek Mythology, and you can learn more about Medusa and those earrings here. Find the Medusa Necklace here.

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.  Find the Orpheus and Eurydice necklace here.

Hades, god of the underworld (also called Hades), is the king of the dead and god of wealth and precious metals (remember the custom of needing a coin under your tongue or over your eyes to pay the ferryman Charon to cross the River Styx?). Besides his abduction of Persephone (which was downright terrible, he is not viewed as an evil god despite his deathly position. He is seen as a just god. 

The place Hades isn’t like the Christian Hell of fire and brimstone. According to legend, Hades is divided into realms: Tartarus, where souls are punished; The Fields of Mourning, where lovers wander and never forget their lost loves; The Asphodel Meadows, which sounds like a pretty ok place to be if you have to be dead; and The Elysian Fields, where exceptional people are treated to a really pleasant eternity. 

The Hades Necklace is a beautiful memento mori. It is elegant and edgy. It evokes a classical feeling reminiscent of the funeral mask of Agamemnon, but it’s also modern. The hand-cast bronze skull measures about 3/4 inch across and is accented with 4 cultured seed pearls as the skull’s teeth. The skull charm is completely handmade and finished with a 14K gold-filled chain that measures approximately 16 inches but can be ordered at 18 inches.  This necklace is also available in sterling silver. Find the Hades Necklace here.

Get caught in this dainty spider’s web…

This handmade bronze spider charm comes in two ways: with or without a shiny cubic zirconia on its back. Spiders are suspended from 18-inch, gold-filled chains that end in spring clasps.

Spider charms may vary in size or finish from spider to spider, as is the nature of handmade items. They’re unique! Each handmade spider charm is hand-cast in bronze and kiln-fired in my North Little Rock, Arkansas, studio. This handmade spider necklace is also available in silver. Each silver spider pendant is hand-cast from fine silver and kiln fired; chains are sterling silver. Find it here.

Jorōgumo: This Japanese creature has the upper half of a beautiful woman and the lower body of a spider. She seduces men, luring them into isolated spaces then spinning her victims into bundles in her web and drinking their blood. Our Jorōgumo necklace features a handmade pendant in bronze or silver that pays homage to the spider lady of Japan. Bronze pendants hang from 20-inch 14k gold-filled chains. Sterling silver pendants hang from 20-inch sterling silver chains. Chains can be worn at shorter lengths if desired, as clasps can fasten to any link of the chain; it makes this necklace great for layering. Find it here.

The U.F.O. earrings feature flying saucers beaming green light in the form of eerily beautiful peridot beads. The gold version of these alien earrings is made with a bronze U.F.O. and 14k gold-filled ear wire. The silver version is sterling silver with sterling silver ear wires. These earrings are made to pair with our U.F.O. Necklace.

In the universe, it’s estimated that there are 100 billion galaxies. The Milky Way galaxy alone has more than 3,200 stars like our sun that have planets orbiting them. Planets like Jupiter and Saturn have dozens of moons, some with atmospheres and water ice. When you consider that, it’s hard to imagine there NOT being life outside of Earth. My U.F.O. necklace and earrings are an homage to the retro imagery of alien flying saucer spacecrafts and the idea that it’s not crazy at all to believe in life out there. Find them here.

Medusa, with her hair of snakes, is one of the most ubiquitous images of Greek mythology, but the legends surrounding her are mysterious and often untold. She was a Gorgon, and according to the poet Ovid, Medusa was extremely lovely. Here’s where it gets dark… Poseidon raped Medusa in a temple of Athena’s, and Athena was so outraged by it that she cursed Medusa, turning her into a snake-haired beast who could turn mortals to stone if they looked at her. The hero Perseus went all Tom Cruise in Legend on her and used a reflective shield to deflect her deadly stare so that he could cut off her head, which he gave to Athena to wear on her shield. Poor Medusa. 

The stories about Medusa often overlook how she was respected as a symbol of protection. If the story of Medusa inspires you to smash the patriarchy as much as it does me, you’ll enjoy this Vice article by Christobel Hastings.

The Medusa Earrings feature a pair of handmade bronze snakes that mirror each other. They’re fierce symbols of warning or protection, whichever you choose. The hand-cast bronze snakes measure approximately 1 1/2 inches from tail to head. The earring wires are 14K gold-filled, so they’re hypoallergenic.  These earrings are also available in sterling silver. Find them here.

Apollo, or Phoebus Apollo, is most commonly known as the sun god or god of light. He was also a talented musician, playing a golden lyre; the archer god, shooting a silver bow; the first to teach humans the art of healing; and the god of truth—his light illuminating falsehoods. 

Apollo slew the formidable Python, a serpent that lived in the caves of Parnassus, after a grueling battle during which the snake finally fell victim to the Light God’s precise arrows. I’ve chosen this story to represent Apollo, using a glimmering, coiled serpent with a glowing red eye.

Snakes are incredibly meaningful, often seen biting their tails to symbolize eternity. This serpent is coiled in a shield-like medallion, affixed with a marquise-cut red cubic zirconia that is set by hand and cast directly into the bronze. This handmade bronze charm is finished with a 18-inch 14K gold-filled chain that ends in a spring clasp. Find it here.

Head of a Skeleton with a Burning Cigarette, according to the Van Gogh Museum, was an early work: “This skeleton with a lit cigarette in its mouth is a juvenile joke. Van Gogh painted it in early 1886, while studying at the art academy in Antwerp. The painting shows that he had a good command of anatomy. Drawing skeletons was a standard exercise at the academy, but painting them was not part of the curriculum. He must have made this painting at some other time, between or after his lessons.” 

My Van Gogh-inspired Smoking Skull Necklace is a substantial piece of sculpted cast bronze that hangs from a 14k gold-filled chain that measures 18 inches in total length but can be fastened up the chain wherever you like so that the length is customizable if you’d prefer it to sit higher on your chest. Find it here.

The Aviary Collection: Handmade Artisan Jewelry Inspired by Birds

Birds have a secret language. Many of them, like parrots and cockatoos, famously can be taught human words, and highly intelligent birds, like crows and ravens, have their own language of calls and cries within their species. But birds have a special language to humans— a tongue of significance, symbolism and omen. In my Aviary Collection of jewelry inspired by our feathered friends, I’ve pulled from the legends and histories of some of my favorite birds to create cast bronze and sterling silver tributes to them and the role they’ve played in human lives and storytelling. Find our bird-inspired necklaces and earrings at our North Little Rock, Arkansas, jewelry and gift store or online through the links below.

The tiny Hummingbird feeds almost exclusively on nectar, flitting from bloom to bloom on its wings that beat around 50 times per second (for North American species), making it a fantastic pollinator. In Mexican folklore, the hummingbird is revered for its connection to love and romance. Our Hummingbird Earrings feature tiny, dainty hummingbirds feeding from blossoms. Above each flower is a faceted, iridescent hematite bead. Find our hummingbird earrings here.

The tiny Hummingbird feeds almost exclusively on nectar, flitting from bloom to bloom on its wings that beat around 50 times per second (for North American species), making it a fantastic pollinator. In Mexican folklore, the hummingbird is revered for its connection to love and romance. Our Hummingbird Necklace features a hummingbird feeding from a sunflower. Above the pendant is a line of eight faceted, iridescent hematite beads. Find our hummingbird necklace here.

Unlike many flighted birds with angular feathers, Ostrich feathers are balanced on each side, symbolizing equality, truth and justice. In ancient Egypt, the goddess Ma’at weighed the hearts of the dead against an ostrich feather, and if a heart was as light as the feather, that meant the owner led a virtuous life and could enter paradise. Our Ostrich Feather Earrings are simple yet elegant, featuring an ostrich feather with a quill that extends into the ear wire of the earrings. These feather earrings are available in solid cast bronze or sterling silver. Find our ostrich feather earrings here.

Unlike many flighted birds with angular feathers, Ostrich feathers are balanced on each side, symbolizing equality, truth and justice. In ancient Egypt, the goddess Ma’at weighed the hearts of the dead against an ostrich feather, and if a heart was as light as the feather, that meant the owner led a virtuous life and could enter paradise. Our Ostrich Feather Necklace features a simple yet gorgeous feather on an 18-inch paperclip style chain elegant enough for one of the world’s most elegant feathers. This necklace is available as a cast bronze ostrich feather charm on a 14k gold-filled chain or as a sterling silver charm on a sterling silver chain. Both styles are free of nickel and come on a decorative card back displaying the significance of the ostrich feather. Find our ostrich feather necklace here.

The mythical Phoenix is reborn again and again, combusting and rising from its own ashes. Across cultures, it’s a symbol of strength and perseverance. It’s also a symbol of gentleness, as according to some legends it lives on smoke and dew, never harming another living thing. Our Phoenix necklace features a fierce Phoenix rising from flames, wings fearlessly spread. This necklace is available in bronze with a cast bronze phoenix pendant on a 20-inch 14k gold-filled chain or in silver with a sterling silver phoenix pendant and 20-inch sterling silver chain. The clasp can be fastened to any link in the chain, so you can wear the necklace shorter if you prefer. Find our phoenix necklace here.

Ravens are members of the most intelligent group of birds: the corvids. They speak their own language of calls and cries and can be taught human words. Perhaps this is why they’re historically considered to be oracles, symbols of wisdom, omniscient, predictors of coming danger, and able to traverse the realms of both the living and dead. Our Raven Necklace features a raven carved into a circular pendant with an all-seeing eye. Above the pendant is a faceted bead of black onyx. The Raven Necklace is available as a bronze pendant on an 18-inch 14k gold-filled paperclip-style chain or as a sterling silver pendant on an 18-inch sterling silver paperclip-style chain. Find our raven necklace here.

Doves are symbols of love and peace, often depicted carrying olive branches or tenderly nuzzling each other. They’re expert messengers, domesticated more than 5,000 years ago for correspondence and companionship. Across cultures, doves have symbolized femininity, motherhood and the moon. They’re sacred in Islam and Christianity; legend says that Muhammad trained doves, and the devil in Christianity can shapeshift into many forms except the dove. Our Dove Hoop Earrings feature a pair of doves, one with wings spread and the other at rest. Each earring measures approximately 1.5 inches across. Dove Earrings are available in solid cast bronze or solid sterling silver. Both styles are free of nickel. Each pair of dove earrings comes on a decorate card back with the story of doves. Find our dove hoop earrings here.

Geese may be the oldest birds domesticated by humans nearly 7,000 years ago. Their close relationship with people has made them sacred in many cultures. The “goose laying the golden egg” dates to ancient Egypt, with the golden egg representing the sun. Ancient Celts considered geese so sacred they weren’t to be eaten. In India, Brahma is shown riding a goose. Geese are migratory, forming a strong V shape together in flight, and geese mate for life. Geese are protectors, fiercely guarding their young and the humans they’re close to. Our Goose Necklace features a goose in flight with fellow geese in V-formation in the background of the round pendant. The Goose Necklace is available as a cast bronze pendant on an 18-inch 14k gold-filled chain or as a sterling silver pendant on an 18-inch sterling silver chain. Find our goose necklace here.

The Peacock is the national bird of India, where it is exalted for its habit of eating snakes—even venomous ones. Its taste for poisonous serpents led to the belief that peacocks can neutralize toxins, making the bird a symbol of purity as well. The Peacock means good luck in many cultures, and the “eye” of its iridescent tail feathers is symbolic of the evil eye in some. Our Peacock Necklace features a peacock set against the imprint of the eye of a peacock feather and encircled by a subtle snake biting its tail. The Peacock Necklace is available as a cast bronze pendant on a 14k gold-filled chain or as a sterling silver pendant on a sterling silver chain. Chains measure approximately 19.5 inches and may be fastened at any link on the chain in case you’d prefer to wear the necklace shorter. Find our peacock necklace here.

The Flamingo, perched precariously on one leg in the shallow water, reminds us to find balance in our own lives. Its whimsical pink coloring makes it stand out among other birds, reminding us to be ourselves, however different we may appear. And its curved neck shapes one half of a heart, forming a whole when it pairs with a mate, which it attracts with its flamboyant dance moves. Our Flamingo Necklace features a pair of flamingos touching beaks to form a heart shape and is topped with two beads of pink rhodochrosite to add a pop of flamingo pink. This necklace is available as a solid bronze pendant on a 14k gold-filled chain or a sterling silver pendant on a sterling silver chain. Necklaces measure approximately 18 inches and can be fastened on any link of the chain, so they may be worn slightly shorter if you prefer. Find our flamingo necklace here.

The Wren is believed to be the bird of witches, and a wren feather can protect you against magical spells. On the Isle of Man in the United Kingdom, wren feathers are thought to protect sailors from shipwrecks because sorcerous wrens can transform into Sirens. On the other side of the Atlantic, Pawnee Native Americans considered the wren a joyous, happy bird because it sings so loudly at sunrise. Our Wren Necklace features a little wren perched on the crescent moon, rich with witchy vibes. This necklace is available as a cast bronze pendant on an 18-inch 14k gold-filled paperclip-style chain or a sterling silver pendant on an 18-inch sterling silver paperclip-style chain. Find our wren necklace here.

The Siren Collection: Handmade Jewelry Inspired by Greek Mythology and Made in Arkansas

The Siren Collection, inspired by my favorite Greek myths, tells the stories of gods and goddesses through handmade bronze jewelry.

I remember the first time I read Edith Hamilton’s Mythology. It was during the 8th grade in an English class, and, keeping in mind that our next assignment would be choosing a Greek god or goddess that we loved or connected with and presenting their story in front of the class in costume, I carefully considered the personality traits of each deity, looking for pieces of myself in each one. Was I a strong, intelligent warrior like Athena? Did I find myself in Poseidon’s love of horses and the sea? Was I as clever as Hermes, or as crafty at Hephaestus? 

In a move that both echoed and fueled the burgeoning moody, contemplative, somber attitude  that really raged during my teen and young adult years and that I like to think has matured like a fine goth wine in adulthood, I chose Persephone, goddess of the underworld. Dressed in a purple-black panel of satin scrap fabric that I draped like a toga over my shoulder and belted with a faux-jewel-encrusted braided belt I found at Goodwill, I told the first-person account through painted black lips of how Hades, lord of the underworld, had stolen me from my mother, carried me to heck, presumably defiled me, and lured me into eating magical pomegranate seeds that would force me to return to the dark realm for half of each year to oversee my death kingdom. I know, I know… pics or it didn’t happen. Thankfully I held onto a single photo of me in this getup that I saved in my secret stash of meaningful trinkets, so I must have been REALLY proud of this presentation. Skip ahead to the Persephone necklace to view my embarrassment. 

Rereading the book a few years ago in preparation for a trip to Greece, I rekindled my love for Greek mythology. I found myself once again, unprompted by homework, looking for traces of myself in the gods. I believe that one of the things that makes the ancient Greek gods so endearing and memorable is how human they are. They are wonderfully flawed in such mortal ways, and, therefore, relatable. Like us, they are jealous, they feel sadness, they miss each other, they fall in love and lust, they can be generous or selfish, they will ruin your life if you sleep with their man. I imagine their devotees thousands of years ago looking for glimpses of themselves in the gods, just as we do now, seeking solace in the gods who had felt their same pain and asking for help from the gods who offered wisdom in the ways they needed. 

Inspired by some of my favorite myths, I created a collection of hand-cast bronze jewelry I hope Hephaestus would approve. Each piece is a symbolic, talismanic nod to a god, goddess or legend. They are handmade with bronze, semi-precious stones, 14K gold-filled chain and ear wires, meaning they’re high quality and carefully crafted. This is the most meaningful collection of handmade jewelry I’ve ever designed, and I hope it speaks to your soul. Maybe you’ll see yourself reflected in the glimmering bronze, or maybe in the stories each piece has to tell. You can shop it all here, or browse the highlights below, peppered with a couple of historical related photos.

The Poseidon Seahorse Earrings and Necklace play on the sea god’s gift of horses to humankind. Sea sediment jasper beads mimic the red tones of coral and the marble of ancient statues.

Poseidon ruled and dwelled in the sea. In classical art, he is often seen riding a wave in a chariot drawn by aquatic horses, as he was the one who first gave horses to man and was revered for that gift. It is said that when he rode atop the waves, his chariot calmed the turbulent seas. 

I’ve chosen to represent the powerful Poseidon using the daintiest of sea creatures—the seahorse. The Poseidon necklace and earrings feature handmade bronze seahorses, cast from an actual seahorse skeleton I found in a vintage shop. The hand-cast bronze seahorse charms measure approximately 3/4 inches long and are paired with red sea sediment jasper beads that have a beautiful marbleized appearance. The necklace chain is 14K gold-filled, 18 inches long and ends in a spring clasp. The earring wires are 14K gold-filled. This necklace and earrings set is available in .999 fine silver upon request. 

The Poseidon Seahorse Earrings and Necklace play on the sea god’s gift of horses to humankind. Sea sediment jasper beads mimic the red tones of coral and the marble of ancient statues.

Using a vintage stamp, I hand-cast this bronze full moon pendant to represent the moon goddess Artemis necklace. The crossed arrows above the moon are for her infamous silver arrows.

Artemis, huntsman to the gods and lover of nature and all wild things, was also a protector of the youth. Sister and counterpart to Apollo, Artemis is the moon goddess, and is represented by the moon and a pair of crossed arrows in the Artemis Necklace. 

This handmade bronze pendant of the full moon was hand-cast using a vintage stamp and is accented with a smaller bronze charm featuring two crossed arrows, as Artemis was known for her silver arrows. The bronze moon pendant measures a little less than one inch across and hangs from an 18-inch, 14K gold-filled chain that ends in a spring clasp.  This necklace is available in .999 fine silver upon request. 

Each full moon bronze necklace is handmade in my North Little Rock, Arkansas, studio. It can also be made in fine silver upon request.

Medusa was a misunderstood character in Greek mythology. The Medusa Serpent Earrings are made of hand-cast bronze. Think of them as snakes in your hair.

Medusa, with her hair of snakes, is one of the most ubiquitous images of Greek mythology, but the legends surrounding her are mysterious and often untold. She was a Gorgon, and according to the poet Ovid, Medusa was extremely lovely. Here’s where it gets dark… Poseidon raped Medusa in a temple of Athena’s, and Athena was so outraged by it that she cursed Medusa, turning her into a snake-haired beast who could turn mortals to stone if they looked at her. The hero Perseus went all Tom Cruise in Legend on her and used a reflective shield to deflect her deadly stare so that he could cut off her head, which he gave to Athena to wear on her shield. Poor Medusa. 

The stories about Medusa often overlook how she was respected as a symbol of protection. If the story of Medusa inspires you to smash the patriarchy as much as it does me, you’ll enjoy this Vice article by Christobel Hastings.

The Medusa Earrings feature a pair of handmade bronze snakes that mirror each other. They’re fierce symbols of warning or protection, whichever you choose. The hand-cast bronze snakes measure approximately 1 1/2 inches from tail to head. The earring wires are 14K gold-filled, so they’re hypoallergenic.  These earrings is available in .999 fine silver upon request. 

The Medusa Earrings make a lovely match with the Apollo Serpent Necklace.

The Medusa Earrings feature a pair of handmade bronze snakes that mirror each other. They’re fierce symbols of warning or protection, whichever you choose.

Gray-eyed Athena, the wise, warrior goddess of Greek mythology, is represented with her signature owl in the Athena necklace.

The fierce warrior goddess Athena (Pallas Athena) sprang fully-grown and clad in armor from her father Zeus’s head. Zeus trusted her to carry his mighty armor and thunderbolt. She was a protector and partial to craftsmanship and agriculture. Poseidon may have given horses to man, but Athena tamed them. She was wise and often referred to as “gray-eyed,” and her symbol is the owl. 

The Athena Necklace features an intricate perched owl centered within a shield, combining Athena’s signature bird with strong, warrior imagery. The owl pendant is handmade from bronze and accented with a blue-gray, faceted bead of jade.

Poseidon may have given horses to man, but Athena tamed them. She was wise and often referred to as “gray-eyed,” and her symbol is the owl. The Athena necklace tells her story.

I like to think Zeus, king of the gods, wielder of the mighty thunderbolt, would approve this necklace and earrings set created to represent him.

Zeus, King of the Gods and wielder of the mighty thunderbolt, was lord of the sky and bringer of rain. He was the most powerful of all the deities and resided in Olympus. He was known for his ravenous sexual appetite and his many love affairs with gods and mortals alike. 

Representing Zeus is a stunning bronze handmade lightning bolt pendant, hanging from a gorgeous 14K gold-filled chain. The lighting bolt charm in the Zeus Necklace measures approximately 1 1/2 inches long and is hand-cast and kiln-fired. 

The Zeus Necklace is made to be paired with the Zeus Lighting Bolt Gold-Filled Hoop Earrings. These 14K gold-filled hoops measure 1 inch across and are affixed with handmade bronze lighting bolts slightly smaller than the charm of the necklace.

Snakes are incredibly meaningful, often seen biting their tails to symbolize eternity. This serpent is coiled in a shield-like medallion, affixed with a marquise-cut red cubic zirconia that is set by hand and cast directly into the bronze. The Apollo Necklace represents the light god’s conquering of the Python.

Apollo, or Phoebus Apollo, is most commonly known as the sun god or god of light. He was also a talented musician, playing a golden lyre; the archer god, shooting a silver bow; the first to teach humans the art of healing; and the god of truth—his light illuminating falsehoods. 

Apollo slew the formidable Python, a serpent that lived in the caves of Parnassus, after a grueling battle during which the snake finally fell victim to the Light God’s precise arrows. I’ve chosen this story to represent Apollo, using a glimmering, coiled serpent with a glowing red eye in the Apollo Necklace.

Snakes are incredibly meaningful, often seen biting their tails to symbolize eternity. This serpent is coiled in a shield-like medallion, affixed with a marquise-cut red cubic zirconia that is set by hand and cast directly into the bronze. This handmade bronze charm is finished with a 18-inch 14K gold-filled chain that ends in a spring clasp.  This necklace is available in .999 fine silver upon request. 

The Hades Necklace is a beautiful memento mori. It is elegant and edgy. It evokes a classical feeling reminiscent of the funeral mask of Agamemnon, but it’s also modern.

Hades, god of the underworld (also called Hades), is the king of the dead and god of wealth and precious metals (remember the custom of needing a coin under your tongue or over your eyes to pay the ferryman Charon to cross the River Styx?). Besides his abduction of Persephone (which was downright terrible, he is not viewed as an evil god despite his deathly position. He is seen as a just god. 

The place Hades isn’t like the Christian Hell of fire and brimstone. According to legend, Hades is divided into realms: Tartarus, where souls are punished; The Fields of Mourning, where lovers wander and never forget their lost loves; The Asphodel Meadows, which sounds like a pretty ok place to be if you have to be dead; and The Elysian Fields, where exceptional people are treated to a really pleasant eternity. 

The Hades Necklace is a beautiful memento mori. It is elegant and edgy. It evokes a classical feeling reminiscent of the funeral mask of Agamemnon, but it’s also modern. The hand-cast bronze skull measures about 3/4 inch across and is accented with 4 cultured seed pearls as the skull’s teeth.

Hades, god of the underworld (also called Hades), is the king of the dead and god of wealth and precious metals (remember the custom of needing a coin under your tongue or over your eyes to pay the ferryman Charon to cross the River Styx?). The Hades Necklace, made of hand-cast bronze, features 4 cultured seed pearls as the skull’s teeth.

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.

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. 

A modern take on the pearl necklace, this Aphrodite Necklace borrows from the story of the Greek goddess’s seafoam birth.

This necklace is so regal, it’s fit for a queen of the Greek gods. Hera’s symbol is the beautiful peacock, which I’ve used to represent her in the Hera Necklace.

Hera was the queen of the ancient Greek gods and worshipped as the protector of marriage and  married women. Her daughter, Ilithyia, helped women in childbirth. Married to Zeus, king of the gods, an infamous skirt-chaser, Hera knew how to hold a grudge. You just didn’t cross Hera. Hera’s symbol is the beautiful peacock, which I’ve used to represent her in the Hera Necklace. 

The Hera Necklace, featuring a peacock, was inspired by the queen of the Greek gods in Greek mythology.

Grab the bull by the horns. The Minotaur Necklace was inspired by the half-man, half-bull monster of Greek mythology.

Half human and half bull, the ferocious and beautiful Minotaur dwelled in the labyrinth made by Daedalus to contain it. Youths were sacrificed to the Minotaur inside the winding maze, from which they couldn’t escape. With the help of Ariadne, who tells him that Daedalus’s trick to reemerging from the labyrinth is to unwind a ball of thread as he traveled inside so that he could retrace his steps, the hero Theseus volunteered himself to be sacrificed, then found and slew the Minotaur with his bare hands. 

The Minotaur Necklace features a handmade solid bronze bull’s skull, affixed to a 14K gold-filled chain by its horns. Two round beads of howlite accent the necklace, mimicking the marble of ancient Greek sculpture.

Howlite beads top each horn of the Minotaur Necklace, echoing the marbled look of Ancient Greek sculptures.

The Persephone Necklace features a substantial handmade bronze pomegranate cast with glittering red, round-cut cubic zirconia stones representing the seeds Persephone ate in Greek mythology.

As a maiden, Persephone was snatched by Hades, god of the underworld, and brought to his dark realm, where he, smitten by her, held her captive and wed her. Her mother Demeter, goddess of the harvest, was so utterly heartbroken that she wandered the earth in search of her daughter, letting the crops wilt and the landscape wither in her sadness. The people starved, and Zeus had to do something to intervene, so he bade Hades return Persephone to her mother, but not before Hades lured Persephone into eating pomegranate seeds (whether it was one seed, four seeds or six seeds varies by legend). Because she ate from the pomegranate, she was made to split her time above ground with her mother and below ground with her dark lord husband. Each year when winter comes and the earth withers, Persephone is underground and her mother mourns. Hence, Persephone is the reason for the seasons. 

Persephone’s story is such a dark tale, but it is her multidimensionality that makes her so unique. She is a goddess who dies, unlike the other gods, and she rises from the dead. After being abducted, she is never again the carefree maiden she once was; she is forever somber. She is often depicted as sympathetic for her deceased constituents, as in the case of Orpheus and Euridyce. “But in their grief and at the hour of death,” Edith Hamilton wrote in Mythology, “men could turn for compassion to the goddess who sorrowed and the goddess who died,” speaking of Persephone and Demeter. 

The Persephone Necklace features a substantial handmade bronze pomegranate cast with glittering red, round-cut cubic zirconia stones representing the seeds Persephone ate. The pomegranate charm is hand-cast bronze, approximately 1 1/4 inches long, and the stones are set by hand and cast directly into the metal.

As promised, the only photo of me in my 8th grade handmade Persephone costume that was inexplicably laminated and made into a cut-out bookmark. Long live black lipstick.

The Siren Collection wouldn’t be complete without matching earrings! These Gemstone 14K Gold-Filled Hoop Earrings mix and match with necklaces within the Greek mythology collection. This pair is moonstone and meant to match the Artemis Moon Necklace, but they stand alone easily.

Hoop earrings, in their beautiful, elegant simplicity, are always in style and go with absolutely everything. Dressed up or dressed down, hair up or down, hoops are always a yes. These hoop earrings are 14K gold-filled, so they’re hypoallergenic, and they measure an inch across, so they’re not too big and not too small. Accenting each hoop is a semi-precious stone of your choice. Stone choices include: Garnet (teardrop), Pearl (round), White Marbled Howlite (round), Lava Rock (round), Blue-Gray Jade (faceted round), Moonstone (teardrop), Marbled Obsidian (round). These 14K gold-filled hoop earrings were made to match the Siren mythology collection, but they stand perfectly on their own. They are also available in sterling silver hoops.

Mix and match these 14K Gold-Filled Gemstone Hoop Earrings with necklaces in the Siren Collection. They’re also available in sterling silver.

I chose imagery very special to Bang-Up Betty while representing Hephaestus. The Hephaestus Necklace features two crossed hammers, just like the Bang-Up Betty logo.

It’s probably not surprising that I, as a metalsmith and craftsperson, have a special affinity for Hephaestus, the god of fire and the forge and (together with Athena) patron of the arts and crafts. In his workshop, Hephaestus created armor and weapons for the gods with the help of his handmaidens that he forged from gold. Although he forged weaponry, he was a gentle and peaceful god. While in Athens, I had the honor of visiting a temple dedicated to him. 

I chose imagery very special to Bang-Up Betty while representing Hephaestus. The Hephaestus Necklace features two crossed hammers, just like the Bang-Up Betty logo. The handmade bronze pendant measures approximately one inch across and is forged in a kiln in my studio in North Little Rock, Arkansas. I think the fire god would be proud. A fiery red cubic zirconia is set by hand and cast into the bronze.

Visiting the temple of Hephaestus, whom I like to think is the Greek mythology patron saint of Bang-Up Betty, in Athens a few years ago.

The Adonis Necklace and Earrings feature a beautiful face, reminiscent of classical marble sculptures, with bright, dazzling round-cut cubic zirconia stones for eyes.

Adonis possessed otherworldly beauty and was the mortal lover of the goddesses Aphrodite and Persephone. As an infant, the abandoned Adonis was found by Aphrodite and given to Persephone to raise. Then he became a total hottie and the two fought relentlessly over the right to carnally possess him. Zeus eventually got fed up with their feud and mandated that Adonis spend part of the year below ground with Persephone, part of the year with Aphrodite, and the other part with whomever he chose, and of course he chose Aphrodite because he wasn’t brave enough to handle the goth Queen of the Dead Persephone, who probably was into some kinky shit, I’m just saying…

Adonis was gored by a wild boar and died in Aphrodite’s arms, his blood mingling with her tears to create the anemone flower. 

The Adonis Necklace and Earrings feature a beautiful face, reminiscent of classical marble sculptures, with bright, dazzling round-cut cubic zirconia stones for eyes. The pendant is handmade of bronze, and the stones are set by hand and cast directly into the metal.

Starry eyes for star-crossed lovers… Adonis was the lover of both Aphrodite and Persephone. When he died in Aphrodite’s arms, his blood mingled with her tears to create the anemone flower. See the Adonis Earrings and Necklace here.

The hand-cast bronze Acropolis Column Earrings are an ode to strength and beauty. Like everything in the Siren Collection of jewelry inspired by Greek mythology, they are available in .999 fine silver upon request.

The Acropolis Column Earrings are an ode to strength and beauty. Thousands of years after civilizations fall, their artwork and culture survives, like the columns standing on the Acropolis in Athens and the mythologies we keep telling.

These earrings are hand-cast in solid bronze, but small enough to be lightweight. Their decorative tops are in the Corinthian style.

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.

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. 

In this piece of handmade jewelry, I imagine the couple Orpheus and Eurydice in the happy hours of their union, before the viper struck, and how I hope their eternity looked in the underworld together.

The Siren Necklace and Earrings feature a handmade bronze shark tooth I made using an actual shark tooth. The shark tooth is vintage, being one that I’ve had since I was a tiny child.

If you hear the sweet song of the Siren, you better hurry up and get right with your god. According to legend, the Sirens were enchanting creatures who lived on an island in the sea and lured sailors to their death with their beautiful voices. No one knew what the Sirens looked like, because no one lived to tell the tale. 

The Siren Necklace and Earrings feature a handmade bronze shark tooth I made using an actual shark tooth. The shark tooth is vintage, being one that I’ve had since I was a tiny child. The necklace and earrings are accented with gold metallic-plated hematite beads, making them look even more like sunken treasures.

The Siren Shark Tooth Necklace and Earrings were inspired by the savage sirens of Greek mythology. According to legend, the Sirens were enchanting creatures who lived on an island in the sea and lured sailors to their death with their beautiful voices.

Shop the entire Siren Collection here. This collection was forged over many long, thoughtful months. Thank you for visiting this glimmering moment of my life with me. A huge thank you to my husband Collin Buchanan for painstakingly and beautifully photographing this entire collection for me.

Midsummer Night's Gleam: A Mini Collection of Handmade Jewelry Celebrating Summer's Small Gifts (Plus a Murder Hornet)

Midsummer Night's Gleam: A Mini Collection of Handmade Jewelry Celebrating Summer's Small Gifts (Plus a Murder Hornet). Each bronze charm in my newest collection is made by hand, many using antique French stamps, kiln-fired to perfection, and accented with gorgeous gemstones.

With summer officially starting this week, things are heating up, and even though I know the absolutely oppressive fire and humidity of an Arkansas summer is just on the sizzling, heat-wave horizon, I can’t help but savor the little gifts of the season. My garden is at its peak. And by that I mean it’s blooming and green and the sun hasn’t scorched it to brittle twig skeletons yet, which it ALWAYS does, because I am a lazy gardener and beloved by mosquitos and would rather not leave the safety of my screened-in porch. I got to eat real-life Arkansas strawberries plucked off a vine (that I didn’t grow) and was reminded of the pure ambrosia that is a locally grown strawberry in this state. My butterfly bush is TRYING, DAMN IT, despite all of my best efforts to completely ignore caring for it. And murder hornets are still a crisis that exists on the internet for me, but let’s be real, they’re coming. This year cannot be trusted.

ANYWAY. I’m still social distancing, which means I have ample time to create jewelry, and it’s a bonus that making things relieves stress, because, as mentioned, 2020 is rank. To keep spirits up, I created a mini collection of handmade bronze jewelry using different gorgeous gemstones, like amethyst, strawberry quartz and garnet and hand-cast bronze charms, most of which were made using vintage French stamps straight from France, which makes them extra special in my opinion.

I called this mini collection “Midsummer Night’s Gleam.” Each piece of handmade bronze has a warm, golden glow, and the gemstones are bright, punchy colors. The bronze is tarnish resistant, and the chains are gold-filled, so the necklaces hold onto their shine, even in a sweaty southern summer. The earrings are simple, lightweight and elegant. They pair with messy, long, quarantine hair, as you’ll see in the photos, and they also look stunning with an updo.

These handmade butterfly necklaces are fit for a monarch…

Each butterfly charm is hand-cast and kiln-fired bronze, handmade in North Little Rock, Arkansas. You can choose from two style of ornately patterned butterfly charms, the “long” and “short” butterfly. The “long”butterfly has a long body, and the “short” butterfly is mostly wings with a little head on top. Each necklace is finished with round, yellow quartz beads that are hand wrapped, and your choice of a 16-inch of 18-inch gold-filled chain that ends in a spring clasp.

This flower ain’t delicate…

This bronze pansy flower charm is hand-cast in my North Little Rock, Arkansas, studio using an antique French stamp before being kiln-fired to perfection. Each flower charm is truly unique. A faceted, teardrop-shaped amethyst tops the pansy charm.

A necklace for those who love all the small, pretty things in nature…

This handmade bronze ladybug and leaf charm is hand cast in my North Little Rock, Arkansas, studio using an antique French stamp before being kiln-fired to perfection. Each bronze ladybug charm is dotted with cubic zirconia stones that are set into the ladybug’s back. Each charm will have slight variations, as each necklace is unique. To top it off, two round beads of red bamboo coral accent this piece

Because if they kick your hive, you’re going to do more than sting…

The unofficial animal mascot of 2020 has to be the Murder Hornet, which inspired this hand-cast, kiln-fired bronze charm that was made using an antique French stamp. Each bronze charm is cast by hand in my North Little Rock, Arkansas, studio. This necklace is accented with flat-cut, teardrop-shaped garnets that resemble little blood drops.

These simple and elegant drop earrings pair with the necklaces in my Midsummer Night’s Gleam collection, but they stand perfectly alone.

Choose between faceted strawberry quartz rondelles, faceted amethyst teardrops, or flat cut garnet teardrops. Each earring is made with approximately one inch of gold-filled chain and a gold-filled ear wire.

Expect slight variations in each gemstone, as is the nature of handmade jewelry. Each pair of earrings is truly unique.

This handmade necklace is as sweet as you are…

This bronze strawberry charm is hand-cast in my North Little Rock, Arkansas, studio using an antique French stamp then kiln-fired to perfection. Each necklace is truly unique. Atop each little strawberry charm is a faceted strawberry quartz rondelle that’s wire-wrapped by hand.

Simple, Elegant Birthstone Jewelry, Just In Time For Mother's Day and Wedding Season

Simple, elegant birthstone strand necklaces and earrings make perfect Mother’s Day, birthday and bridesmaid gifts this spring. You can even select your own stones to create a custom multi-stone birthstone strand necklace.

For more than a century, birthstones have been a delightful way to celebrate your children, loved ones and yourself in a simple, gorgeous, meaningful way. To me, birthstones are a language for people who know birthstones, much like folks who are really into astrology sort of have their own language. This proud Virgo has always adored her birthstone—sapphire. But I notice immediately when I meet a person wearing other birthstone jewelry. I can see right away that someone very dear to them is an August baby. Or maybe their sweet grandmother left them her collection of amethyst jewelry because they shared a February birth month, much like my incredible grandmother gave me her September gemstones because she adored that we shared a birth month. I like to guess which precious person their birthstones represent, and if I’m lucky, they’ll share the story.

Last year I created a collection of birthstone jewelry that is still very dear to my heart, especially because I originally created it to give to my bridesmaids, mother, mother-in-law and my honorary bridesmaids at my wedding (See all of my handmade and heirloom wedding jewelry here!). This spring I added to it with a line of necklaces and earrings that are simple, elegant, straightforward pieces the layer well when you’ve already got a special necklace you wear all the time or you just can’t pick one necklace to wear. My Birthstone Cluster Strands represent all of the colors of the year and come on individual card backs that explain just what they mean and why these stones are important. Their matching earrings are just as elegant and versatile and also pair perfectly with my original Birthstone Cluster Necklaces, which feature pendants made of birthstones.

Below is a sample of the many birthstones and styles available now. To view the full collection of Birthstone Cluster Necklaces, Birthstone Cluster Strands, and Birthstone Cluster earrings, click here.

Faceted sapphire stones represent September’s birthstone in our simple, elegant birthstone jewelry collection that’s perfect for layering. Find the matching faceted sapphire earrings here.

The January birthstone, garnet, with its rich crimson hue, is particularly luxurious and elegant. Garnet is named for the latin word for pomegranate because of its luscious color. Garnet is associated with creativity, purification, love, strength and protection. Find our January Birthstone Jewelry here. Photo by Collin Buchanan.

The May birthstone, emerald, with its rich green hue, is particularly exciting and energizing. Emerald is associated with love, domestic bliss, friendship and positive actions. Find our May Birthstone Jewelry here.

September and August birthstones shine in the light on these birthstone cluster earrings. The August birthstone, peridot, with its otherworldly green hue, evokes magic and mystery. Peridot, a form of olivine, is associated with protection, happiness, well-being and transformation. The September birthstone, sapphire, with its deep blue hue, is rare, cool and dreamy. Sapphire, a variety of corundum, is associated with wisdom, spirituality and kindness. Find our September and August birthstone jewelry here. Photo by Collin Buchanan.

Choose your stones to create your own custom multi-stone birthstone necklace and represent everyone in your brood.

Our original Birthstone Cluster Necklaces feature birthstones set into cluster pendants and are customizable with stamped discs that fit up to three letters. Monograms, the word “mom” and a heart shape fit perfectly. Photo by Collin Buchanan.

The November birthstone, citrine, with its amber hue, is particularly warm and inviting. Citrine, a variety of quartz, is associated with clarity, energy, creativity and imagination. Each birthstone necklace comes on a card back that explains the stone’s significance. Find our birthstone jewelry here.

'Stay Gold' Retro Jewelry Collection Draws Inspiration from The Golden Girls

Blanche Necklace and Green With Envy Necklace, part of Bang-Up Betty's retro collection of Golden Girls-inspired jewelry

I'm turning 30 tomorrow, and while I know these BY FAR are not my golden years, I wanted to do something big to celebrate change, getting older and taking risks.

Last year, my husband (we got married days ago, that still sounds weird) and I bought our first house. Around that time I decided I hated minimalism and obsessively watched The Golden Girls (one of those things may have influenced the other). I took a style risk and painted the solid white house mint green and coral and filled it with tropical plants and rattan furniture and embraced the pink tile in the kitchen (you’ll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands).

Since I discovered Nine Inch Nails in about the 8th grade, I’ve worn almost exclusively solid dark colors. Designing a pink and green house inspired by Blanche Devereaux’s bedroom is a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiig shock to my system.

Naturally, this color adventure made me realize that most of my jewelry has also been monochromatic like the rest of my style. I decided to stop denying myself the pure joy and exhilaration that I get from looking at and decorating myself in big, bright, wild colors.

The Stay Gold Collection is a designer’s first immersion in color, with brass bases and stamped accents that stay true to the Bang-Up Betty style and the materials I love to work with.

Below are a few highlights from the Stay Gold Collection. See the full collection here. I hope you enjoy this limited, small-batch collection featuring retro and vintage pieces. Like these warm summer nights spent on the lanai, they’ll be gone soon.

Rose Necklace and Earrings with Hammered Brass Accents, part of Bang-Up Betty's retro collection of Golden Girls-inspired handmade jewelry

Pineapple Queen Necklace, part of Bang-Up Betty’s ‘Stay Gold’ collection of retro jewelry inspired by The Golden Girls.

Stay Gold Necklace, the signature piece in Bang-Up Betty’s newest collection of retro jewelry inspired by The Golden Girls

Pink Peacock Necklace, part of Bang-Up Betty’s “Stay Gold” Collection of retro jewelry inspired by The Golden Girls

Pink Petal Earrings with Vintage Tassels, part of Bang-Up Betty’s “Stay Gold” collection of retro jewelry inspired by The Golden Girls

Special thanks to my brand-spanking-new hubby for taking these pictures on our little lanai.