Inside the Crafter's Studio: Peek Into a Jewelry Designer's Workshop in Arkansas

Arkansas Jewelry maker Stacey Bowers at work on new jewelry designs in her North Little Rock studio.

I'm about to celebrate one year in my studio space, and what better way to do that than invite y'all over? Consider this your invitation to a virtual visit! 

Brilliant, badass photographer Katie Childs recently stopped by to snap some pics of me at work, and while I'm sad to dispel the rumor that I work in the fires of Mordor, I'm thrilled to show off my newest space. Take a peek at how and where your jewelry gets made. All pics by Katie Childs except for the panorama I took to really show off that wall paint ;-) 

Jewelry designer Stacey Bowers selects a piece of brass to stamp with a hammer in her studio in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

North Little Rock jewelry designer Stacey Bowers' studio, where she creates Bang-Up Betty jewelry.

Arkansas jewelry maker Stacey Bowers at work in her home studio in North Little Rock stamping Bang-Up Betty jewelry.

Arkansas jewelry designer Stacey Bowers stamps brass jewelry and more in her North Little Rock studio.

Nevertheless She Persisted, I'll Cut You, Get Shit Done... a few of the many phrases jewelry Arkansas designer Stacey Bowers stamps onto her line of jewelry, Bang-Up Betty.

Arkansas jewelry designer Stacey Bowers poses with a giant cut-out of her nationally celebrated Smash the Patriarchy hammer design.

Betty, the boy cat behind the name Bang-Up Betty, an Arkansas handmade jewelry company.

Betty the boy cat poses with necklaces by Arkansas jewelry designer Stacey Bowers of Bang-Up Betty jewelry.

Nasty Woman, Smash the Patriarchy, I Wanna Dance with Somebody, Hands Off, Witchy Bitch, I Believe in Science... these are few enamel lapel pins created Bang-Up Betty in Arkansas.

Smash the Patriarchy, Buzz Off, Food Over Dudes... a few necklaces by Arkansas jewelry maker Stacey Bowers of Bang-Up Betty jewelry.

Arkansas jewelry designer Stacey Bowers holds Betty, the boy cat who inspired the name of her handmade jewelry business, Bang-Up Betty.

Betty and I are so happy to have your support! Thanks for letting me make keepsakes for you and for letting him sprinkle a little cat hair onto them as they go into the envelope. 

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. 

Pop-Up Shop at Electric Ghost, August 6

Arkansas handmade jewelry designer Bang-Up Betty pairs with Little Rock screen printers Electric Ghost.

Bang-Up Betty is setting up shop at the most magical place on earth! Stop by Electric Ghost Screenprinting (1218 Main Street in Little Rock) between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday, August 6, and pick up the newest summer designs as well as classic favorites in sweet and subversive hand-stamped jewelry, enamel lapel pins, high quality stickers and apparel printed right here at Electric Ghost.

Have brunch at one of the many mouthwatering restaurants nearby, grab groceries at the Bernice Garden Farmers Market, do a little shopping, pot a succulent at Electric Ghost, and make it a great morning in SoMa!

Don't Touch Me Cactus Handmade Necklace by Arkansas jewelry designer Bang-Up Betty

Want to preview what'll be at the pop-up shop? Click here!

RSVP on Facebook and invite friends by clicking here. 

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! 

Gifts That Give Back

Nasty Woman enamel pin, I Believe in Science Necklace and George Michael Lapel Pin by Bang-Up Betty give back to great charities. 

Over the past several weeks, I've launched a lot of new products, and many of those products give back to local and national nonprofits. Thanks to you purposeful shoppers, I've been able to donate around $2,000 to progressive causes near and far in the last year. This convenient gift guide shows you how to shop consciously and what causes Bang-Up Betty is supporting. 

I Believe in Science

I Believe in Science enamel pin, stamped necklace and bumper sticker donate a portion of the proceeds.

$1 from each I Believe in Science sticker and pin and $4 from each I Believe in Science necklace sold at bangupbetty.com goes to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

Think Locally

Strong as Hell bracelet and George Michael Enamel Lapel pin by Bang-Up Betty give back to Arkansas charities. 

You're probably not going to believe this, but Christmas morning I was in the shower thinking about work, because I always think about work in the shower. I was thinking about what pins I'd make in the new year, and I had been planning to make a George Michael pin at some point because he is everything to me. I started thinking about "Last Christmas" and feeling optimistic. I decided to go forward with the pin right then. Fast forward several hours later, after Christmas lunch, I'm opening gifts with the family, and the most precious thing on earth is handed to me... a Wham! Make it Big record. Fast forward LITERALLY 10 MINUTES and my phone lights up with a text: "I'm sorry about George Michael." And that's the story of the best and worst Christmas ever. 

Anyway, I knew I had to make the pin, and to honor George, $1 from each goes to Lucie's Place, and LGBT homeless shelter in Little Rock.

On a much lighter note, I made this Strong As Hell bracelet to benefit Arkansas Women's Outreach, a nonprofit that provides feminine products, underwear and much more to homeless women in Arkansas. 100% of the proceeds from this bracelet go to AWO. So far given them more than $1,500! 

Get Nasty

Nasty Woman Feminist Lapel pin and sticker by Bang-Up Betty give a portion of the proceeds to charity. 

$1 from each of these Nasty Woman stickers and enamel pins sold at bangupbetty.com goes to the American Civil Liberties Union to help combat this bogus administration.