The Strong Women Gift Guide: 18 Feminist Gifts For and Featuring Badass Women

“Grown Ass Woman” stamped mantra cuffs, Kamala Harris ornaments and more RBG gifts than you can shake a gavel at make up part of our Strong Women Gift Guide at Bang-Up Betty.

Girl power runs deep at Bang-Up Betty. From our infamous “I’m Speaking” Fly Necklace to our Smash the Patriarchy Lapel Pin, we’re kind of known for making a strong feminist statement. We’re also owned by a strong woman who makes our jewelry by hand and personally selects all the badass feminist gifts for our gift shop and jewelry store in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Here are a few of our favorite gift picks for the strong woman on your list.

Women’s lit is our favorite! This set of no.2 pencils commemorates some of our classic favorite women authors. Each set of pencils comes with the five pencils shown in the photo.

Tell the boneheads to back off with this Don’t Tell Me To Smile Feminist Skull Keychain.

This cute but fierce Ruth Bader Ginsburg oven mitt makes a statement in any kitchen. Get your mitts on it before it sells out again!

These adorable little string dolls fit perfectly on your keys and each have a quote or bit of life history about the person who inspired them. Each string doll keychain comes on an informative card back, too. We’ve got Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Rosa Parks, Medusa and more.

Pick up a tiny feminist hammer and join the cause! These Smash the Patriarchy Lapel Pins are one of our signature designs that never go out of style.

Let this Nevertheless She Persisted Necklace serve as a reminder to persist and resist.

A gift for a goddess! Say it with a mug…This mug is shaped as Philotes, Goddess of friendship, and says to anyone that receives it: “World’s greatest friend!”

Rosa sat so Ruby could walk so Kamala could run. This beautiful print by Arkansas artist Sherry J. Williamson illustrates inspirational quotes from Kamala Harris, Lucille Bridges (mother of Ruby Bridges), and Rosa Parks. It’s available in store at 429 Main Street in Argenta, North Little Rock.

This cute little Ruth Bader Ginsburg paperweight is like a little token of strength and encouragement to keep on your desk.

Think of these hand-stamped custom Mantra Cuff Bracelets as your Wonder Woman cuffs. (Cuffs don't come with super powers, but you do!) These custom cuffs are also available in silver and can be personalized with the phrase or word of your choice.

This Votes for Women puzzle is fun to work and also informational. It’s made up of people who helped pioneer the right to vote for women and it comes with a poster. Puzzle available in store at our Argenta storefront.

People think that Medusa was just a mean old hag that turned men to stone, but really she was a scorned woman and don’t we all want the ability to turn men into rocks? This medusa necklace is from our art history jewelry collection.

We adore women’s lit, and these wooden bookmarks are gorgeous, useful and inspiring gifts. This Zora Neale Hurston bookmark makes our hearts flutter.

“When they go low, we go high.” This gorgeous Michelle Obama magnet will add inspiration to your home.

This RBG handmade ornament is too precious to put away after the holidays end. Keep this cute little Ruth Bader Ginsburg hanging around all year.

These Nasty Woman Statue of Liberty stickers are a Bang-Up Betty original. They’re great for cars, water bottles, laptops and stocking stuffers.

Celebrate our first woman vice president with this Kamala Harris ornament. It’s so cute you’ll want to decorate with it all year long.

“Going high” takes on several meanings in this handmade “Go High” necklace. Inspired by Michelle Obama’s famous words, “When they go low, we go high,” this bronze necklace has the words GO HIGH pressed into a solid bronze mountain range, for when you need some extra motivation to get over the next ridge and revel in your hard work and commitment, or for when you need a beautiful reminder to take the high road and let the bullshit wash under you like water under a bridge instead of splashing around in it.

Bang-Up Betty is snarky, meaningful, well-made jewelry made in North Little Rock, Arkansas, as well as feminist pins, stickers and gifts. Since 2013, Bang-Up Betty has been crafting custom and personalized jewelry and other quirky, nerdy and feminist necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Shop our jewelry alongside unique gifts and local art at our new storefront in the Argenta neighborhood of downtown North Little Rock, Arkansas, located at 429 Main Street.

The Seven Seas Collection: Aquatic Jewelry Inspired by the Extraordinary Creatures in Our Oceans

The Seven Seas Collection is cast bronze and sterling silver jewelry inspired by the extraordinary creatures living in our oceans, from the smallest seahorses jetting through coral reefs to titanic humpback whales migrating thousands of miles across open water and a dozen awe-inspiring animals in between. Each charm, pendant, earring and bracelet design was meticulously hand-sculpted and modeled after sea creatures. Within this glimmering aquarium, you’ll find dolphins, sea turtles, jellyfish, orcas, humpback whales, tropical fish, seahorses, starfish, coral and stingrays. Dive into this collection of beachy, ocean jewelry!

This collection of aquatic fauna glints like sunken treasure and is named for a sailing colloquialism that spanned cultures, continents and centuries. It evoked greatness, wildness and mystery. The Seven Seas could be filled with lost treasure or lead you to new treasure, but the real treasure was the living, writhing ocean itself and every thriving creature within it. This echoes truer than ever as human industry presses harder on life beneath the waves, making each living thing rarer and more precious.

These stingray drop-style earrings are incredibly fun and lightweight. Each stingray charm measures about 1 1/4 inches from tail to nose. Bronze stingrays hang from 14k gold-filled ear wires, while sterling silver stingrays hang from sterling silver ear wires. Each set of stingray earrings features a pair of stingrays that mirror each other. 

Fun fact about stingrays: Stingrays may look fierce, but they are mostly docile to humans. They spend a lot of their time at the bottom of the ocean half-buried in the sand, which is easy to do when you’re flat. 

Come out of your shell in this adorable yet elegant sea turtle necklace. The sea turtle pendant measures approximately 1 inch long and hangs from an 18-inch chain. Gold sea turtle necklaces feature a cast bronze sea turtle on an 18-inch 14k gold-filled paperclip-style chain, and silver sea turtle necklaces are made of sterling silver with an 18-inch sterling silver cable chain. If you’d like to add some length to your necklace, you can add an extender here. 

Fun fact about sea turtles: Sea turtles have to come to the surface for air, but they can hold their breath under water for 4-7 hours if they’re resting or sleeping. 

You could say that Orcas (aka Killer Whales) can be found in all seven seas because they are found in every single ocean. This solid cast bronze orca tail cuff bracelet is bold and majestic like the animal that inspired it. Two orca tails meet at the front of this cuff, making the opening wearable face out. Orca tail cuff measures 6.25 inches long and is adjustable. This measurement is before taking into account the opening space between the tails which you can adjust to your preference. As with all cuff style bracelets, we recommend squeezing it to about the size you’re comfortable with then wriggling it on and off, not prying it and bending it backwards. This solid bronze cuff is strong and durable, but we want to keep it looking perfect. 

Fun facts about orca whales: Each family of killer whales (called a pod) has its own dialect of communication. Orcas on different sides of the planet don’t speak the same language. 

One of the largest creatures on earth is the fascinating, incredibly intelligent humpback whale. This humpback whale necklace is based on an illustration I carved directly into bronze. The humpback whale pendant measures approximately 1 3/4 inches long and comes in cast bronze or sterling silver. The bronze whale necklace measures 17 inches long and features a 14k gold-filled chain. Sterling silver whale necklaces measure 17 inches long and feature a sterling silver chain. If you’d like to add some length to your necklace, you can add an extender here, but please note it will be added to one side of the chain so the fastener may not sit precisely in the center of the back of your neck since this pendant is stationary. If you love this humpback whale necklace, you’ll love the matching humpback whale earrings.

Fun facts about humpback whales: Humpback whales migrate incredibly far, covering 5,000 miles between breeding and feeding areas. The males create songs that can be heard 20 miles away, and each year they change up the songs. 

One of the largest creatures on earth is the fascinating, incredibly intelligent humpback whale. These diving humpback whale earrings are based on an illustration I carved directly into bronze. The humpback whale pendant measures approximately 1 3/4 inches long and comes in solid cast bronze or sterling silver.

Look stunning in this unique, three-dimensional cast bronze jellyfish necklace. Jellyfish pendant measures approximately 1.5 inches long and hangs from a 20-inch 14k gold-filled chain that can be fastened on any link of the chain so the length is adjustable if you’d like to wear it shorter. If you’d like to add some length to your necklace, you can add an extender here. 

Fun fact about Jellyfish: Many jellyfish glow in the dark because they have bioluminescent organs. They can emit a blue or green glow when touched, which startles predators. 

The gorgeous horned or “knobby” starfish can be found in the warm waters of the Indo-Pacific region. This Horned Starfish Necklace features a cast bronze or sterling silver sea star pendant that measures a little under an inch from limb to limb. Bronze necklaces are made with a 16-inch 14k gold-filled chain, so the entire necklace measures about 16.5 inches long. Sterling silver necklaces are made with sterling silver starfish and sterling silver chain. If you’d like to add some length to your necklace, you can add an extender here, but please note it will be added to one side of the chain so the fastener may not sit precisely in the center of the back of your neck since this pendant is stationary. This starfish necklace is perfect for layering but is a beautiful standout if you want to wear it alone. 

If you love this starfish necklace, you’ll love our starfish cuff and starfish stud earrings. 

Fun fact about horned starfish: These starfish mostly eat coral and sponges, but they’ll chase down sea urchins and snails as well. 

These subtle yet interesting starfish stud earrings are lightweight, look good casually or dressed up, and come in solid bronze or sterling silver. These starfish stud earrings feature the common starfish, which lives in the northeast Atlantic Ocean. Each earring measures about 3/4 inch across.

This playful necklace was inspired by some of the most playful and beloved animals in the ocean—bottlenose dolphins. In this dolphin necklace, a family (called a pod) of dolphins chases each other in circles, with two touching noses cheerfully. Each dolphin charm measures 1 inch across. The bronze necklace is made with 14k gold-filled paperclip-style chain, and the sterling silver necklace features a sterling silver cable chain. Necklaces measure approximately 19 inches including the dolphin charms. If you’d like to add some length to your necklace, you can add an extender here, but please note it will be added to one side of the chain so the fastener may not sit precisely in the center of the back of your neck since this pendant is stationary. This starfish necklace is perfect for layering but is a beautiful standout if you want to wear it alone. 

Fun fact about dolphins: Dolphins navigate underwater via echolocation and can emit 1,000 clicking sounds per second. Those clicks bounce back to them off surfaces, prey and other creatures, letting them know how big those things are, how they’re shaped and where they’re located. 

These subtle yet playful seahorse stud earrings are lightweight, perfect for casual wear and come in solid bronze and sterling silver. Each stud seahorse earring measures a little over 1/2 inch from head to curled up tail. Each set of seahorse stud earrings features two seahorses that face each other. 

Fun facts about seahorses: Seahorses mate for life, and even more incredible—the males carry their young. After mating, the female seahorse places her eggs inside a pouch on the male’s body and he carries them while they gestate. When they’re ready to hatch, the male expels as many as 1,000 young seahorses from his body.

This necklace is like a tiny coral reef you can wear around your neck and keep close to your heart. The coral reef scene in cast bronze features two tropical fish swimming against a background of coral and seashells. At a little less than 2 inches across, this coral reef necklace is a statement piece. The entire necklace measures approximately 18 inches long and is made with a 14k gold-filled chain that can be fastened on any link of the chain, so it can be worn shorter if you prefer. If you’d like to add some length to your necklace, you can add an extender here, but please note it will be added to one side of the chain so the fastener may not sit precisely in the center of the back of your neck since this pendant is stationary.

Fun facts about coral reefs: There are too many to list here! Coral is an animal, not a plant. Coral reefs need sunlight to live and grow. Half a billion people rely on coral reefs for food, and a quarter of all marine life lives in coral reefs. 

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.

11 Unique Styles of Arkansas Jewelry and Gifts Designed and Made in Arkansas

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.

Arkansas Made Mother's Day Jewelry Picks for 2021: Birthstones, Florals, Customizable and More

Mother’s Day feels like it’s coming up faster than ever this year. Don’t let May 9 sneak up on you! Here’s a list of my top picks for handmade jewelry magic that’ll make moms smile, be fun to personalize, and is made in Arkansas so you can feel great about shopping small and local.

Whether mom loves to garden, hike, or just stop and smell the roses, my newest cast bronze jewelry embodies Mother Nature, and most of it can be personalized by adding birthstones. Find the cast bronze sunflower necklace here, the dandelion seed necklace here, the rattlesnake tail necklace here, and the bronze butterfly earrings here.

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 was made by casting real Arkansas rice flowers (from Cornerstone Farm, near Altheimer, AR) in bronze, and it’s also available in sterling silver. 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. Get the Arkansas Rice Flower Necklace here.

If your mom is as into cats as my mom is, she’ll appreciate the Leonardo da Vinci-Inspired Cat and Mouse necklace from my Gallery Collection inspired by art history. If you’re surprised to learn that the man who painted the Mona Lisa spent a lot of his time observing and sketching cats, I’m with you. “Even the smallest feline is a masterpiece of nature” is a quote attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, whose sketches of felines and studies for a painting he intended to finish portraying the Madonna and child holding a cat attest to the artist’s reverence for the animals. For my da Vinci-Inspired Cat and Mouse Necklace, I chose to focus on this playful fact and add a layer of my own friskiness. This necklace features a large cast bronze medallion impressed with the likeness of one of da Vinci’s cat drawings, and I added a hand-sculpted cast-bronze mouse connector charm above the cat to appear as if it’s stalking the mouse. Click here to get the Bronze Cat and Mouse Necklace.

If your childhood was filled with empty threats, immortalize them on a custom keychain to create the funniest Mother’s Day gift ever. Get the Don’t Make Me Turn This Car Around keychain here, or click here to customize your own keychain.

The perfect gift for mothers, grandmothers or anyone with several special people close to their heart. Wear the birthstones of each little one in your brood. Each mixed stone birthstone cluster necklace is unique. You select up to seven (7) stones for your necklace. Click here to get the custom birthstone cluster necklace from my Birthstone Cluster Collection of jewelry. Be sure to order this one ASAP! The pendants take a few days to make.

If you love the custom birthstone pendant necklace but think mom would be more into a stackable strand version or you’re looking for a custom birthstone necklace that costs a little less, check out the custom birthstone strand necklace here.

And if you already found a necklace here and you’d just like to add a personal touch to it, it’s affordable and easy to add a birthstone or two or three to your necklace. These birthstones are gemstone chips, and they’re the perfect addition to a vertical bar necklace or charm necklace. Just add the necklace you want to your cart (may we suggest the custom vertical bar necklace?) and then add this listing with your chosen birthstone to your cart. Create your own custom birthstone jewelry! These birthstone chips look great with vertical bar necklaces and charm necklaces, but we don’t recommend them for horizontal bar necklaces. Click here to add a birthstone to your necklace.

These dainty, Art Deco Arkansas state necklaces and earrings are simple and beautiful. These little bronze or 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. Find the Art Deco Arkansas Jewelry here.

Custom name necklaces are a great gift for Mother’s Day! Keep those you love close to your heart, figuratively and literally with this sweet, classic custom name necklace stamped by hand. Click here to get the Personalized Name Necklace.

Is mom your missing puzzle piece? Get a friendship necklace for you and one for mom with these puzzle piece necklace sets. Handmade bronze puzzle piece charms are about one inch across and hang from gold-filled chains. Please note that the pieces don’t fit PERFECTLY together, as is the nature of hand-cast charms (they’re all unique!). But they are cast from matching puzzle pieces. They are available with a decorative, Art Deco pattern or without a pattern and also available on 18-inch and 20-inch chains. Find the Missing Puzzle Piece Friendship Necklaces here.

Is your mom the queen of Bingo? Get her a trophy she can wear to let the world know she plays for keeps. Find the Bingo Queen Necklace here. It’s cast from a real Bingo chip!

My Rose Window Necklace was inspired by the stained glass windows of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and would make a perfect Mother’s Day gift for moms who love to travel and need to stop and admire all the beautiful churches when they do. Find the Rose Window Necklace here. It’s part of my Gallery Collection of jewelry inspired by Art History.

Is the mom in your life a total goddess? Then I bet she’d love something from my Siren Collection of jewelry inspired by Greek mythology. This necklace is the Hera Peacock Necklace inspired by the queen of the Greek gods. Find the whole Siren Collection here to see which god or goddess fits your mom.

If you’ve found a necklace mom will love, but you think she’d like a little bit longer chain for it, add one of these extenders to your order and I’ll attach it to her necklace so it’s ready to gift when it arrives! Get a necklace chain extender here.

Thank you for shopping small and shopping local this Mother’s Day!

The Gallery Collection: Art History Jewelry

The Gallery Collection is jewelry inspired by art history, long walks in monumental museums, and the little-told stories of the images and symbols that shape our view of the past and present.

The Gallery Collection is jewelry inspired by art history, long walks in monumental museums, and the little-told stories of the images and symbols that shape our view of the past and present. This collection of art history jewelry by no means even begins to encompass the vast history of art, which spans every inhabited place great or small across the globe and includes every culture on our diverse planet. Consider it more like a room—a small gallery—wherein I’ve hung a handful of meaningful works to contemplate and paid homage to them with my own method of interpretive reproduction. 

Given the time, assets and freedom, I could have never stopped making this collection; that is to say that if your favorite artist isn’t featured, well, neither is mine. I also explicitly chose works by artists who were active in the early 20th Century and before, as I felt uncomfortable re-interpreting works by living or recently living artists for sale. 

This collection is dedicated to my brother Steven, who was an avid reader and lover of all things history and art. He especially loved Gauguin, and as you’ll learn from my Van Gogh-inspired necklace, had an affinity for a certain painting by the artist. 

If you’ve ever gazed up at the dreamy glow of sunlight diffusing through a rose window in a Gothic cathedral and marveled at the lengths to which mankind will go to create divine wonder on earth, you’ll cherish the Rose Window Necklace, inspired by the stained glass rose windows of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

If you’ve ever gazed up at the dreamy glow of sunlight diffusing through a rose window in a Gothic cathedral and marveled at the lengths to which mankind will go to create divine wonder on earth, you’ll cherish the Rose Window Necklace, inspired by the stained glass rose windows of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. This cloisonné style enamel pendant measures about 1.5 inches across and hangs from a 14k gold-filled chain that measures 20 in total length but can be fastened up the chain wherever you like so that the length is customizable if you’d like it to sit higher on your chest. The pendant is nickel-free zinc alloy. 

Rose windows are a major staple of Gothic architecture and can be found in major Gothic cathedrals across France and elsewhere. Though the stained glass of the Notre Dame rose windows is not original, the windows did survive the 2019 fire that damaged much of the cathedral. 

My Caravaggio-inspired Medusa head necklace features a cast bronze or sterling silver pendant of Medusa’s head with wild, curling snakes for hair.

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 form my Siren Collection inspired by Greek Mythology, and you can learn more about Medusa and those earrings here.

For my da Vinci-Inspired Cat and Mouse Necklace, I chose to focus on this playful fact and add a layer of my own friskiness. This necklace features a large cast bronze medallion impressed with the likeness of one of da Vinci’s cat drawings, and I added a hand-sculpted cast-bronze mouse connector charm above the cat to appear as if it’s stalking the mouse. 

If you’re surprised to learn that the man who painted the Mona Lisa spent a lot of his time observing and sketching cats, I’m with you. “Even the smallest feline is a masterpiece of nature” is a quote attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, whose sketches of felines and studies for a painting he intended to finish portraying the Madonna and child holding a cat attest to the artist’s reverence for the animals. For my da Vinci-Inspired Cat and Mouse Necklace, I chose to focus on this playful fact and add a layer of my own friskiness. This necklace features a large cast bronze medallion impressed with the likeness of one of da Vinci’s cat drawings, and I added a hand-sculpted cast-bronze mouse connector charm above the cat to appear as if it’s stalking the mouse. 

The entire length of the necklace including the cat and mouse charm is about 17.5 inches, and the chain is 14k gold-filled. It can be fastened up the chain if you prefer a shorter look. It’s also available with JUST the mouse charm on a 16- or 18-inch chain. 

These cast bronze and sterling silver hand earrings were inspired by a pair of earrings she actually owned and painted into her work in Self Portrait, Dedicated to Dr Eloesser, a 1940 work depicting her in the pair of oversized hand-shaped earrings that she was also photographed wearing. This self-portrait is a widely circulated painting of hers, and Frida fans will recognize the nod to the hand earrings, which were given to her by fellow artist Pablo Picasso when she visited Paris. 

With Frida Kahlo’s bold dissection of herself, the way she painted pain and suffering, culture and ideas, into self-portraits that stared brazenly and honestly back at her, it’s safe to say she created one of the boldest, most-recognizable styles in art history. The life behind her art was so compelling, it’s no wonder why she’s the favorite artist of so many people the world over. She was my favorite artist for years beginning in adolescence, and she’s still one of my very favorites; in my closet somewhere is a study I painted of one of her works in high school. 

These cast bronze and sterling silver hand earrings were inspired by a pair of earrings she actually owned and painted into her work in Self Portrait, Dedicated to Dr Eloesser, a 1940 work depicting her in the pair of oversized hand-shaped earrings that she was also photographed wearing. This self-portrait is a widely circulated painting of hers, and Frida fans will recognize the nod to the hand earrings, which were given to her by fellow artist Pablo Picasso when she visited Paris. 

These cast bronze or sterling silver hands are left and right hands to mirror each other and suspend from 1-inch wide hypoallergenic 14k gold-filled or sterling silver hoops. 

My Georgia O’Keeffe-inspired floral cow skull necklace combines the artist’s motifs of skulls and flowers in a solid cast bronze pendant that hangs from an 18-inch 14K gold-filled chain that can be fastened at shorter lengths if that’s your preference. 

Georgia O’Keeffe is simultaneously one of the most celebrated woman artists of the 20th Century and one of the most misunderstood. You’ve definitely seen her work, the most well known of it being large-scale, magnified views of colorful, beautiful flowers. You’ve probably also heard that the flowers are erotic representations of female anatomy. This interpretation of O’Keeffe’s work has been perpetuated for decades and widely accepted, despite the artist’s lifelong struggle to debunk the sexual interpretations foisted onto her work by male art critics and the “male gaze.” 

Inspired by the New Mexico landscape and culture she fell in love with and called home, O’Keeffe’s work often included animal skulls. Sun-bleached and weathered presumably by the desert, the skulls are hauntingly beautiful memento mori. Her well-known 1931 work Cow’s Skull: Red White and Blue elevates the weather-beaten skull to national symbol.

My Georgia O’Keeffe-inspired floral cow skull necklace combines the artist’s motifs of skulls and flowers in a solid cast bronze pendant that hangs from an 18-inch 14K gold-filled chain that can be fastened at shorter lengths if that’s your preference. 

The beautiful, mysterious Unicorn Tapestries have captivated human hearts for centuries, much like the mythical beast they portray. My Unicorn Tapestries Necklace, complete with carnelian rosary-style chain, pays homage to the tapestries.

The beautiful, mysterious Unicorn Tapestries have captivated human hearts for centuries, much like the mythical beast they portray. The symbolism, weavers and occasion for which they were commissioned is still largely unknown. Created in the late middle ages, the tapestries surely hung on the walls of an aristocrat’s home; large tapestries were beautiful and functional, helping to insulate cold walls and provide privacy between areas of the home. 

My Unicorn Tapestries Necklace is modeled after one side a vintage locket depicting The Unicorn In Captivity, popularly considered the final panel of the tapestries, in which the unicorn is subdued in what appears to be happy captivity. The unicorn rests beneath a pomegranate tree bursting with ripe fruit dripping onto the unicorn’s back. The creature is encircled by a small fence and held by a loose tether, but appears to be content. 

Unicorns were sometimes considered to symbolize Christ, so I chose a rosary-style gold-plated chain beaded with carnelian, a stone that has been used for centuries to create carved seals that people used as signatures. The chain measures 18 inches long. 

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. 

Of Vincent Van Gogh’s prolific portfolio, what immediately comes to mind are his warm, sunny floral landscapes and flowers; colorful, swirling self-portraits; dizzying Starry Night; and interiors of peculiar perspectives. But you’ve also probably seen this dark but somewhat amusing painting of a skeleton with a lit cigarette in its teeth. This painting has a particular place in my heart because it held a special place in my brother’s heart; he liked it enough to get a tattoo of it. 

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. 

Van Gogh’s troubled life and mysterious death are well-known, including acts of self-mutilation, a stint in an asylum, and a suicide that was theorized to be murder by some. I think people who can turn suffering into beauty as Van Gogh did universally captivate us.

My Judith Slaying Holofernes Necklace is a nod to the gruesome, powerful scene by Artemisia Gentileschi, with Holofernes’ severed head above two daggers and a garnet drop of blood.

There’s something scintillating about seeing Artemisia Gentileschi’s image of Judith Slaying Holofernes, a biblical scene also depicted by Caravaggio and other male artists of the Baroque era, and realizing that this c. 1620 painting of a robust, ruthless Judith mercilessly and dutifully slicing the head from Assyrian general Holofernes was painted by a 20-something-year-old woman. If you don’t know the story behind the painting, Holofernes is about to ransack Judith’s city, but he drinks too much before the siege, allows beautiful Judith to enter his tent thinking it’ll be a good time, and Judith cuts off his head while he’s drunk. It’s kind of a lovely feminist twinkle in the Bible if you ask me. What’s so special about Artemisia’s work, (besides finding a well-known woman artist of this era being like finding a needle in a haystack) is the strength and brutality of Judith. Many other works depicting the theme portray Judith as a seductive, demure or more delicate beauty, but Artemisia went really Rosie the Riveter with her Judith, giving her impressive arms that hold Holofernes down while she violently saws off his head, him writhing and blood spurting everywhere. 

My Judith Slaying Holofernes Necklace is a nod to the gruesome, powerful scene by Artemisia, with Holofernes’ severed head above two daggers and a garnet drop of blood. The cast bronze or sterling silver pendant hangs from an 18-inch 14K gold-filled or sterling silver chain and is accented with a flat-cut, teardrop-shaped garnet (also the January birthstone if that’s your month).

My Calder-inspired mobile earrings evoke the spirit of Calder’s hanging mobiles and modern aesthetics, suspending cast-bronze circles from hand-bent wire connected to 14k gold-filled hypoallergenic ear wires. The bronze discs are set into motion by your movement.

Alexander Calder’s background in engineering and mathematics intertwined in his prolific artistic works, of which he is probably best known for his hanging sculptures, dubbed “mobiles” by artist Marcel Duchamp. Calder’s earlier mobile works included motors to give them movement, but he found the predictability of the motor-driven movements monotonous, so he began to suspend the mobiles, allowing airflow to give natural kinetic motion to the sculptures. Calder’s dynamic portfolio included jewelry, paintings, theatrical sets and so much more.

My Calder-inspired mobile earrings evoke the spirit of Calder’s hanging mobiles and modern aesthetics, suspending cast-bronze circles from hand-bent wire connected to 14k gold-filled hypoallergenic ear wires. The bronze discs are set into motion by your movement.

Many of Mucha’s illustrations feature beautiful female profiles and shapely feminine bodies haloed by the floral and geometrical patterns signature of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles, and this is where I chose to draw inspiration for the Alphonse Mucha-Inspired Art Nouveau Cameo Necklace.  

Getting his start in Paris as a magazine illustrator, Czech-born illustrator Alphonse Mucha is one of the greatest names of the Art Nouveau movement that flourished at the turn of the 20th Century. His theatrical posters of actress Sarah Bernhardt catapulted his career in the mid 1890s, leading to prestigious projects with clients like JOB cigarette papers, Beers of the Meuse, Moët-Chandon champagne—all of which became vastly celebrated works in his collection. At the turn of the century he designed a calendar for La Plume which depicted a woman’s head encircled by Zodiac signs, which led to his The Seasons series. Many of Mucha’s illustrations feature beautiful female profiles and shapely feminine bodies haloed by the floral and geometrical patterns signature of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles, and this is where I chose to draw inspiration for the Alphonse Mucha-Inspired Art Nouveau Cameo Necklace.  

At the center of this cast bronze or sterling silver medallion pendant is the profile of a young woman with billowing vintage hair surrounded by an Art Deco fan pattern. The chain measures 18 inches and is 14k gold-filled or sterling silver. 

These cast bronze Corinthian Column Earrings celebrate one of the most decorative column styles. You might recognize them from my Siren Collection inspired by Greek mythology because I’m reviving (pun intended) them from that collection.

One of the first things we learned to identify and appreciate in my college art history classes was architecture styles, and columns were an enormous (no pun intended) part of that. Being able to identify a column helps you date the work, even if that work isn’t thousands of years old, but part of a revival period. These cast bronze Corinthian Column Earrings celebrate one of the most decorative column styles. You might recognize them from my Siren Collection inspired by Greek mythology because I’m reviving (pun intended) them from that collection. Columns interweave with art history just like Greek mythology does, and I felt the column earrings belonged just as much with the Gallery Collection as they do the Siren Collection. 

The column charms of the Corinthian Column Earrings measure about 1.25 inches long and are wire wrapped by hand to hang from hypoallergenic 14k gold-filled ear wires. 

2020 Retrospect: Finding the Gems in a Rough Year

2020 was undeniably one of the worst years in probably all of our lives, and it’s almost impossible to find any redeeming aspects besides Joe Biden winning the presidency 2,584 times, but a few moments stick out as special in my heart.

2020 was undeniably one of the worst years in probably all of our lives, and it’s almost impossible to find any redeeming aspects besides Joe Biden winning the presidency 2,584 times. It certainly was no bang-up year for me personally. I typed a whole paragraph listing the atrocities of the year on a personal and global scale and then deleted it because, well, I thought it was too dark for a blog post I’m using to try to lift my spirits and document some of the good things that managed to shine through it all. In the spirit of hope and trying to turn lemons into lemonade or at least some sort of off-brand, 10-years-expired fruit barrel sugar water I used to beg my mom to buy me at the Hostess outlet bakery, here is a list of moments that I don’t want to forget from the worst year.

Towards the beginning of the pandemic, I posted these hand-stamped SOCIALLY DISTANT heart necklaces and gave $5 from the sale of each one to a person on our local virtual tip jar list of people who were out of a job or had reduced hours from the shutdowns. I got to give tips to dozens people in the Little Rock community from the necklace sales.

2020 brought the birth of Bang-Up Bingo! During the spring, I hosted several virtual bingo games and gave away handmade jewelry, funny enamel pins, feminist stickers and more at no cost, just for funsies and to bring a little sunshine to our indoor existences. This screenshot really embodies my enthusiasm for my favorite Bingo call.

This year, I created these I DISSENT gavel necklaces as a nod to our most dearly departed RBG and donated proceeds to the Arkansas Association of Women Lawyers’ scholarship fund. Through the sales of this necklace I was able to donate $432 and will continue the donations into the new year.

This year, Arkansas Times readers voted me Best Artisan for handmade jewelry in the Arkansas Times Best of Arkansas, and my favorite little gift shop Stifft Station Gifts got runner-up for Best Gift Shop. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!!

In the spring, back before Michelle Obama made it cool as hell to wear a “vote” letter necklace, I taught a virtual workshop on how to make a similar style of necklace. Pet names, feminist sentiments, and funny words were a big hit, but I guess we should have all been making them say VOTE! If you want to stay up to date about my virtual and future in-person workshops, join this group on Facebook.

I guess sitting at home gave me a lot of time to think, because I released four collections of handmade jewelry in 2020, the most dear to me being the Siren Collection of jewelry that was inspired by Greek Mythology. This is my favorite collection of jewelry I’ve ever made in my life, and I hope to make more like it in 2021. Check out the full Siren Collection here.

I, especially as a white person, certainly can’t capture the emotions of this summer in one entry, and I have very mixed emotions about just wanting to throw 2020 in the trash and ring in a new year. 2020 taught us so much and was maybe the closest we’ve gotten to shaking up change over the epidemic of racial injustice within our justice systems, education systems and beyond. We CANNOT forget the summer of 2020. We can’t forget Breonna Taylor and George Floyd and what brought people across the WORLD into the streets during a pandemic to shout BLACK LIVES MATTER. It was uplifting to see so many people come together to help bail out protestors in our city, and I was happy to put my hammer to work where I could to raise money for the Little Rock Freedom Fund. I posted a few rounds of these hand-stamped cuffs to raise funds that went immediately to the bail fund, totaling about $950 with 100% of the funds going straight from donors to the fund in exchange for a cuff. .May we fight just as hard in 2021 as we did in 2020, if not 1,000 times harder.

Never passing on a chance to fuck with Faulkner County’s stinkiest state senator, I made this magical little hand-stamped heart necklace that said JEZEBEL WEAVING A SPELL after one of he-who-must-not-be-named’s little internet tantrums against one of his constituents. Obviously I auctioned this off on Facebook for $125 that went to Arkansas Abortion Support Network. It was the only proper thing to do.

2020 did manage to produce the finest sour ale this city has ever seen (If I do say so myself, and I do), in the form of this partnership with the brewers of East Sixth Brewing Co. (Hey, Becca and Josh!!!) and my good friend Ashlee Nobel of Lee Lee Arts + Design. Together we created this tribute beer to the late, great Betty the boy cat. You can still grab a pack of it at your local liquor store. I grabbed some last night from 107 Liquor in Sherwood.

The year was 2020. The godforsaken election was heating up. A political goddess took the stage opposite a turd in a white toupée, and naturally a fly landed on his head. The next morning I made a necklace to commemorate the hilarious occasion. The necklace said I’M SPEAKING and had a tiny fly charm. I thought, “Tee hee hee hee, what a funny pic to share that no one will really care about buying,” and WOW WAS I WRONG. This fly necklace may be the only thing I make for the rest of my life. Just kidding. Kind of.

And, after stamping approximately 1,543,567,546.67 I’m Speaking fly necklaces, I turned into an actual fly. I blogged my DIY fly costume here in case you want to know how it was made.

2020 was a cruel monster to small businesses, and Bang-Up Betty didn’t come out unscathed. I’ll always remember the two magical months of January and February when we were open for regular shopping and had some really fun creative workshops. You never know when a global pandemic is going to wipe through like a wad of endangered toilet paper and smear you off the map. We had to close Stifft Station Gifts this month, and this beautiful little best-kept-secret gem in Little Rock will be sorely missed. Bang-Up Betty is online as always and will resume pop-ups, craft shows and in-person events as soon as it’s safe and not a moment sooner.

I had to give a shout out to my most loyal virtual students, Girl Scouts! This year I did multiple virtual workshops, from charm necklaces to beaded spiders, with some of the region's brightest young crafters and I hope we have many more Zoom dates in 2021.

I think the biggest gem of 2020 had to be getting a new president elected. The lines of enthusiastic voters across the country was so inspiring to see, and personally it was such a huge motivation to see all of you post photos of yourselves voting while wearing Bang-Up Betty jewelry. From the Vote So Hard enamel pin, to the VOTE necklace, to the I’m Speaking Fly Necklace, it made my heart nearly explode seeing it all. Thank you!

The Handmade Signature Bang-Up Betty Mug Made Locally In Arkansas

As if I needed another reason to sip coffee and tea literally all day long while I make jewelry, this handmade mug is my new obsession! It was made in Arkansas by local ceramicist Valerie Goetz, and it has the perfect handle. Arkansas pottery meets Arkansas jewelry.

I’m obsessed with a great handmade mug, so I had one of my favorite local Arkansas potters create a beautiful mug with my logo on it that I can sip tea from every day, and I had her make a handful more of them in case you appreciate a gorgeous handmade coffee mug as much as I do. I’ve long been a huge fan of Arkansas ceramicist Valerie Goetz (AKA “Native Works”), and when I saw her making logo mugs recently, I knew I had to have one of my own.

This handbuilt mug has the perfect handle, too! I’m an amateur ceramicist myself, and I appreciate a perfect handle on a mug more than anything; it’s big enough to fit my whole hand inside. Each mug is made completely by hand, meaning they’re all a little bit different and unique. They are hand-glazed as well. I love that each one is slightly different. It’s like you’re holding a moment of that ceramic artist’s life because you can see and feel the work put into making each one by hand.

Hello, new favorite mug! Time to clear out the cabinet because you’re the only one for me. Arkansas jewelry meets Arkansas pottery with this beautiful handmade coffee mug made especially for me by Arkansas potter Valerie Goetz.

I have just a handful of these gorgeous Bang-Up Betty handmade mugs, made in Arkansas, that would make awesome holiday gifts if you have a friend who loves pottery and likes to support local. They would pair nicely with some phenomenal local tea from Abbi’s Teas and Things (might I suggest the Banana Nut Too, Cherry Fig, or Turmeric Sunrise?)!

This unique handmade mug is dishwasher safe, but Valerie doesn’t recommend microwaving it.