Bang-Up Betty Voted Best Artisan, Best Gift Shop and Best Jeweler by Arkansas Times Readers

Bang-Up Betty’s jewelry store and gift shop is home to artisan handmade jewelry, Arkansas art, locally made pottery, clever and quirky gifts, and a giant inflatable unicorn named Franny.

Thank you for voting Bang-Up Betty BEST ARTISAN, BEST GIFT SHOP and BEST JEWELER in the Arkansas Times Best of Arkansas 2022! I’m so completely stunned. We’ve only been open 10 whole months in our storefront, and it’s such an honor to be called the “best” when I’ve poured my absolute heart and soul into this space to fill it with joy, sass, color, unicorns and surprises in such a short amount of time. Thank you for entrusting me to make special and sentimental pieces for you over the last nine years. Thank you for sharing your stories with me. Thank you for letting me bring strange, unusual and sometimes just plain pretty creations into the world with my hands every single day. Free unicorn hugs at the shop to celebrate!

Bang-Up Betty’s handmade jewelry includes snarky and feminist styles like the “Ask Me What I’m Reading” necklace, “Nevertheless She Persisted” necklace, “I Dissent” RBG necklace, and “I’ll Cut You” butcher knife necklace.

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 Bang-Up Betty’s unique Arkansas-made jewelry through our “jewelry and stickers” tab, where you can also order custom name necklaces, mantra cuff bracelets, stamped key tags and more. Thank you for voting Bang-Up Betty “Best Artisan” for handmade jewelry in the Arkansas Times’ Best of Arkansas nine years in a row!

Visit our new Argenta storefront at 429 Main Street in North Little Rock! We’re located above Ristorante Capeo. Our hours are:

Wednesday - Friday: 11am - 5:30pm

Saturday 11am - 5:00pm

Check back for extended holiday hours.

Thank you for voting Bang-Up Betty best Gift Shop, best Artisan and best Jeweler in the Arkansas Times Best of Arkansas 2022! Visit us at our centrally located storefront at 429 Main Street in Argenta (downtown North Little Rock. We’re only five blocks from downtown Little Rock!

Opening day at Bang-Up Betty’s storefront! Opened in August 2021, our gift shop and jewelry store offers unique hand-crafted jewelry, Arkansas made products, clever gifts, rainbows, unicorns and joy just across the river from downtown Little Rock in the heart of the Argenta Arts District in North Little Rock.

Mother's Day Gift Guide: 21 Gifts for Moms of All Ages

Cards, candles, jewelry made in Arkansas, and so much more make our Mother’s Day gift guide.

Whether you want to make mom laugh out loud with a “sorry about my teenage years” candle or say “awww” with jewelry made in Arkansas that supports arts education, this Mother’s Day gift guide will help you navigate shopping locally for gifts this Mother’s Day week. Everything on this list is available at Bang-Up Betty’s jewelry and gift store in the Argenta Arts District of North Little Rock, located at 429 Main Street with extended hours this week to take the panic out of last-minute shopping. Stop by Tuesday through Friday from 11-5:30 or Saturday 11-5. We’ve even got a houseplant pop-up in store on Saturday! And if you’re looking for our completely made in Arkansas gift guide, you’ll find it here.

Here are 21 of our favorite gifts for moms of all ages:

These nontoxic, deliciously scented candles come with sweet and hilarious phrases like “sorry about my teenage years,” “hey mom, thanks for the ridiculously good looks,” “hey mom, you’re a badass,” “best mom ever,” and “hey hot mama.” Available in store at Bang-Up Betty.

This charitable necklace made in Arkansas gives back to arts education by supporting Thea Foundation. It’s great for teachers, artists, and art lovers. Available in store at Bang-Up Betty or online.

Give mom a creative project that’s fun and not overwhelming with a colorful DIY embroidery kit. These kits are pre-printed, so you’re never in the dark about where to put your stitches, and with hummingbird, succulent, solar system, feminist librarian and bearded dragon designs, they’re all beautiful. Available in store at Bang-Up Betty or online.

Moms are always picking up the phone, so don’t forget to pick up a card for Mother’s Day! Available in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Give mom a Mother’s Day flower that won’t wilt with this made-in-Arkansas sunflower necklace. Available in store at Bang-Up Betty or online. These beautiful mandala ring dishes made in Arkansas pair perfectly with a piece of jewelry and are available in store as well.

Brighten up mom’s home with a colorful Arkansas-made macrame plant hanger, available in store at Bang-Up Betty. If you need a plant to go in it, we’re having a houseplant pop-up this Saturday from 1-4pm.

Thank mom for her unsolicited advice with a funny card. Available in store at Bang-Up Betty.

These Arkansas-made tulip ring dishes pair perfectly with a piece of Arkansas made jewelry, and if you’re getting mom flowers, these flower frogs will help gorgeously display them. Available in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Strong women: may we be them, may we know them, may we raise them. Tell mom how strong she is with a “strong as hell” necklace made in Arkansas. Available in store at Bang-Up Betty or online.

What’s better than coffee? Coffee and chocolate! These organic chocolate-covered espresso beans are delightful. Available in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Mom needs a gorgeous umbrella upgrade, and these leafy and ocean-patterned clear umbrellas will keep the rain off in style. Available in store at Bang-Up Betty.

A puzzle is ALWAYS a safe gift in my family. Bonus: I get to borrow it when mom is done working it. This Ruth Bader Ginsburg puzzle is one of several beautiful, clever and fun puzzles we have in store at Bang-Up Betty. And if your mom loves RBG as much as many of the moms in my life, you’ll find several shelves FULL of RBG memorabilia waiting for you here.

Mom is a goddess! Make sure she knows it with this “Athena” column vase. Available in store at Bang-Up Betty.

If mom is a force of nature or needs a little empowerment, these Arkansas made hand-stamped mantra cuffs will do the trick! They’re stamped with powerful phrases like “unstoppable,” “actually, I can,” “get outta my way,” “get shit done,” “hustle,” and more. They’re also customizable if you want to order one online to ship or pick up in store using code LOCALPICKUP, but be sure and order it by Friday.

If mom is a bookworm and a fan of classic romance, she’ll love this Jane Austen planter. Available in store at Bang-Up Betty or online. If you need an air plant to go in it, we’re having a houseplant pop-up Saturday from 1-4pm.

These gorgeous flower pots and planters are handmade in Arkansas, and if you need a plant to go in them, we’re having a houseplant pop-up Saturday from 1-4pm. Available in store.

Keep mom on track with a Dolly Parton-themed to-do list that says “pour myself a cup of ambition.” Available in store or online.

This adorable heart hands hook pillow is a cute reminder that you love mom. Grab it in store at Bang-Up Betty or online.

Sometimes justice and casseroles are too hot to handle. This “I Dissent” Ruth Bader Ginsburg oven mitt is available in store at Bang-Up Betty or online.

Honestly, the most valuable gift you can give a parent is unlimited tech support. This hilarious Mother’s Day card is available in store at Bang-Up Betty.com.

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

2022 Arkansas Made Mother's Day Gift Guide: 14 Locally Made Gifts Mom Will Love

Mid-mod birds, macramé vases, honeybee necklaces, Arkansas-made bath soaks, gorgeous Arkansas art and more make our 2022 Arkansas-made gift guide.

On the hunt for an original Mother’s Day gift? Make it extra special this year with something colorful, delightful and handmade locally by an Arkansas artisan. These handmade creations by some of our favorite Arkansas artists and makers are sure to bring a smile to the moms in your life. Each of these Arkansas-made gifts can be found in-store at Bang-Up Betty’s handmade jewelry and gift store, located at 429 Main Street in Argenta.

North Little Rock woodworker Paul Milholland’s mid century-modern wooden bird sculptures are impeccably made and delightfully fun to display. These birds are one-of-a-kind, so if you see one you need, hurry in before it flies home with someone else! Available in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Every piece of jewelry at Bang-Up Betty’s Argenta jewelry store and gift shop is made in-house, including the popular One Tough Mother necklace that’s a hit even when it’s not Mother’s Day. Available in store or online.

Bentonville water-colorist Joseph Buchanan shows North Little Rock’s iconic Old Mill a lot of love with this gorgeous matted print of his original painting. You’ll also find scenes of Argenta along with the Old Mill. Available in store.

Hot Springs ceramicist Carla Churchwell’s unique handmade flower pots are one-of-a-kind. We especially love her mandala flower pots that match her mandala ring dishes. Available in store alongside a huge assortment of Carla’s pottery.

Little Rock artist Kristin Sauer designed these Argenta tea towels especially for Bang-Up Betty. This design is also available in store as a print. Tea towels are available in store and online.

A gorgeous faceted drop of citrine is the honey on this bee necklace by Bang-Up Betty. Find this necklace in store and online along with tons of nature-themed jewelry and gifts.

Abbi’s Teas are hand-blended in Little Rock by Abbi Siler, who hand-crafted this custom “Bang-Up Bettea” tea blend exclusively for Bang-Up Betty. It’s an exciting black tea blend with tropical notes and a dash of edible brew shimmer to make your cup sparkle. Find it in store and online.

Hot Springs ceramicist Carla Churchwell’s flower frogs are always a huge hit, and they make especially great Mother’s Day gifts. Place these floral flower frogs on a jar or glass and slide the flower stems through the holes to keep your flowers perky and upright. Available in store.

These luxurious and creative bath soaks come in three cosmic scents and are made in Bentonville by The Bathing Native. Grab them in store or online.

Little Rock macramé artist Amy Darragh (AKA Creative Cords) made these beautiful macramé vases using upcycled mason jars. They’re perfect for holding Mother’s Day flowers, and they’re available in store.

Looking for a Mother’s Day gift that gives back? These “Elect Women” necklaces by Bang-Up Betty give back to Emerge Arkansas, a grassroots organization working to get progressive women elected to office in Arkansas. Available in store or online.

Sherwood-based artist Ashlee Nobel (AKA Lee Lee Arts) created these colorful llama prints based on her original art. They pair well with a “badass mama llama” card. Available in store.

Maumelle-based artist Sherry J. Williamson is known for her dazzling, colorful paintings that utilize meaningful quotes. This greeting card includes a Mr. Rogers quote we think is extra special for Mother’s Day. Available in store.

Bang-Up Betty’s birthstone jewelry is always a big hit at Mother’s Day, especially these customizable Birthstone Cluster necklaces. Available in store and online. Custom birthstone pendants take a few days to make, so it’s smart to order ahead and use code LOCALPICKUP if you’d like to pick it up in store.

Last-Minute-Without-Seeming-Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

A Valentine card that comes with a cotton candy bath fizz packs a little extra treat. Funny magnets like this “princess of feral cats” one fit perfectly inside Valentine cards. Rainbow cake, but make it socks! Celebrity keychains make great gifts for men, women and teenagers. Uncork the Valentine’s Day wine in style with a gold beetle corkscrew. Custom stamped jewelry like this “love nest” keychain are Bang-Up Betty’s specialty. A feather quill pen adds a touch of fancy to your life. Sea salt is one of the many flavors of chocolate and candy at Bang-Up Betty.

From gorgeous locally made jewelry to Arkansas-made candles to cards that are laugh-out-loud hilarious, the Bang-Up Betty gift shop and jewelry store in Argenta has something special for your Valentine and extended holiday hours to take the panic out if you’re shopping at the last minute. Our unusual, quirky and colorful shop is absolutely filled with handmade jewelry, funny and sweet cards, kid-friendly knick-knacks, donut bath bombs, thoughtful home decor and clever gifts, including lots of local pottery, art, candles, tea and more. Here are some of our favorite Valentine’s Day gift ideas that’ll make your sweetheart never suspect they were last minute.

Handmade jewelry, like this “strong as hell” necklace, is Bang-Up Betty’s specialty. Our store is filled with hundreds of pieces of Arkansas made jewelry, so you’re sure to find something perfect for your sweetheart whether they’re into strong, motivational mantras or sweet honey bees and golden unicorns.

Once you pick out the perfect piece of jewelry (may we suggest this dolphin necklace from Bang-Up Betty’s ocean-themed Seven Seas Collection), make sure you have a jewelry box that’s as special as what it contains. A gorgeous incense holder on the table next to it doesn’t hurt either.

Our shop is known for its hilarious and unique greeting cards, and these lovey-dovey cards come with a bath bomb built into them. They’re fun for kids and grown ups.

Light up your loved one’s heart and their home with a fun, colorful decorative pillow. Bang-Up Betty has lots of unique and well-curated home decor to make any space special. We love the heart hands pillow for Valentine’s Day.

This gift shop has a smorgasbord of fun socks, like these snack-themed ice pop, rainbow cake, sandwich and lollipop socks.

Don’t forget the kids this Valentine’ Day! Our gift shop is filled with kid-friendly knick-knacks and cards, like these super fun donut bath bombs. Looking for more kid gift ideas? Check out this list of 18 fun and affordable Valentine’s Day gifts for kids and kids-at-heart.

Don’t forget your Galentine, too! We’ve got 18 funny and heartfelt gift ideas for Galentine’s Day here, and it includes tons of affordable, fun things like this women authors pencil set.

You can never go wrong with a really good candle, and we pride ourselves on our selection of completely excellent candles, including these non-toxic soy candles that smell incredible and come with precious phrases on them.

Bang-Up Betty is located at 429 Main Street in the Argenta Arts District of North Little Rock. Extended holiday hours through Valentine’s Day are weekdays (including Valentine’s Day) 11-5:30, Saturday 11-5 and Sunday 12-4. Shop online at www.bangupbetty.com and follow them at instagram.com/bangupbetty and facebook.com/bangupbettyjewelry. Email stacey@bangupbetty.com for custom jewelry and other inquiries.

Make Valentine’s Day Fun and Meaningful With These 20 Gifts from Bang-Up Betty

From sweet and sentimental to hilarious and snarky, Bang-Up Betty’s gift shop and handmade jewelry store in Argenta has something to make your Valentine’s Day extra special. Our unusual, quirky and colorful shop is filled with locally made jewelry, funny cards, thoughtful home decor and clever gifts, including lots of Arkansas-made pottery, art, candles, tea and more. Here are some of our favorite Valentine’s Day picks that will make your sweetie swoon:

Heat things up with delicious hot sauces. Or maybe heat up the conversation with this fun card game geared toward couples. Make them laugh with a pair of “trophy husband” socks, or maybe a keychain of their favorite musician will make their heart sing.

Bang-Up Betty is known for their jewelry, pins, stickers and shirts designed in-house: The bronze infinity symbol necklace is the perfect way to say “forever” and the Art Deco Arkansas earrings are timeless. The “Ask Me What I’m Reading” lapel pin and “Bibliophile" sticker are perfect for book lovers. We’re smitten with these celebrity keychains, including stars and characters like Betty White, Ted Lasso and Dolly Parton. These mandala-patterned heart dishes are made in Arkansas by Carla Churchwell. “Romantic comedy” takes on new meaning with this retro Blockbuster-themed card. Chocolates don’t have to be traditional with these key lime pie and pride-themed chocolate bars.

Bang-Up Betty’s greeting card selection is out of this world hilarious, but it’s also filled with gorgeous and sweet cards, like these locally-made cards by Arkansas artist Sherry J. Williamson. We especially love this Johnny Cash card.

Do you have a sentimental something that you say to your sweetheart? Maybe a pet name or a quote? Get it stamped onto one of Bang-Up Betty’s custom mantra cuffs for a super-special personalized gift. Or pick from their list of inspirational mantras to give your Valentine a little loving motivation.

Light up Valentine’s Day with a candle that looks as lovely as it smells. These non-toxic soy phrase candles come in sweet and snarky phrases. Phrases include “You Got This,” “This Must Be The Place,” and many more.

Give the person who has the key to your heart a keychain with the keys to your love shack or your love nest with a custom stamped keychain. If you’ve got a lovey-dovey phrase or an inside joke, we can also stamp those.

Add a sprinkle of love to your home with a colorful throw pillow that will brighten up your decor. We think our new ice cream cone and heart hands pillows make extra sweet Valentine’s Day gifts, but rainbows are always perfect for everything.

Tell them you only want yo be with them using one of the funniest, cutest greeting cards on earth. We’re huge greeting card fans at Bang-Up Betty and we always have a huge supply of cards that will make you laugh, like this Hootie and the Blowfish-inspired card.

If your significant other has a green thumb, get them a beautiful new flower pot for spring. We’ve also got colorful locally-made macrame plant hangers that brighten up any space.

Get the goddess in your life a beautiful, meaningful piece of handmade jewelry from our Greek mythology jewelry collection. The Aphrodite necklace represents the goddess of love and beauty, the Orpheus and Eurydice necklace tells a dark and beautiful love story, and snakes (like the gorgeous ones in our Medusa serpent earrings) have been love symbols for centuries.

Bang-Up Betty is located at 429 Main Street in Argenta. Hours are Thursdays and Fridays 11-5:30 and Saturdays 11-5 with extended Valentine’s Day hours coming soon. Shop online at www.bangupbetty.com and follow them at instagram.com/bangupbetty and facebook.com/bangupbettyjewelry. Email stacey@bangupbetty.com for custom jewelry and other inquiries.

18 Fun, Affordable Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Kids and Kids-at-Heart

These cute cat-in-the-box pencil and eraser sets are perfect Valentine’s Day treats for kids and kids-at-heart.

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for love birds. Be sure to pick up something fun and thoughtful for the kids in your life so they can feel just as special as the grown-ups on Valentine’s Day. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite kid-friendly gifts at Bang-Up Betty to help you make this Valentine’s Day extra sweet. These gifts are available at our gift shop at 429 Main Street in the Argenta neighborhood of North Little Rock, and many of them are available through our website if you’re wanting to shop small from afar.

Would you call me corny if I said these donut bath bombs are the bomb? These donut bath bombs are made in the USA from natural ingredients and are available in fun scents like Unicorn, Rainbow and Pineapple Whip.

This adorable little heart hands hook pillow makes the perfect loving accent to any chair, sofa or bed and would go great in a kid’s room.

Encourage your child to write down their thoughts with this beautiful purple glitter clam notebook. The pages are unlined, so it’s good for doodles and drawings too.

The perfect little camping-themed nightlight to tell scary stories in the dark or keep the boogeyman away. Press down on the flame and the nightlight lights up.

Older kiddos will love our waterproof vinyl stickers for their trendy water bottles, phones and iPads. Bonus: the stickers fit perfectly inside a Valentine’s Day card.

Bookworms will love these book enamel lapel pins for their backpacks and shirts. These enamel pins are good for older kids since the pin part is sharp.

Whether they’re a little mystical or a little science-y, this moon phase wall art will look pretty in their big kid room. This printed, laser cut wooden wall art shows the phases of the moon in mystical detail. The moons are are linked together and attached to a wooden loop to hang them on a wall or a hook or other object.

Write your best Valentine’s Day wishes in this locally made dandelion card by Arkansas artist Sherry J. Williamson.

There’s nothing cats love more than empty boxes, and there’s nothing I love more than cats. This cute cat in a box pencil and eraser set has a cat eraser nestled inside a tiny cardboard box. Choose your kitty color at checkout.

These jumbo rainbow erasers make cleaning up mistakes extra fun. They’re colorful and fun and will light up any pencil box.

This “you’re like really pretty” card makes the sweetest Valentine’s Day card for a kid who is precious inside and out.

This quality wooden bookmark is inspired by vintage library checkout cards, comes in two colors and is the perfect gift for a reader.

This adorable planet Saturn hook pillow is the perfect accent for any chair, sofa or bed and would look stellar in a kid’s room.

Kids are always losing things! Get them a pack of three of these awesome lip balms so they’ll have a spare or two.

These sea salt bath soak packets are as beautiful as the soaks are luxurious. We especially love the “Anti Bad Vibes” bath soak for teenagers.

Say elloooooo and I love you with this Labyrinth-themed greeting card.

The variety of beautiful flora and fauna in our world is truly astounding. This Beautiful World Flash Cards game is an educational set of flash cards full of creatures great and small and it’s great for ages 5 and up.

Speaking of games, the Bang-Up Betty gift shop is loaded with fun puzzles and bingo games for kids. We’ve got puzzles 100 to 1,000 pieces in themes like unicorns, mushrooms, women’s history, science, nature and more.

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 Bang-Up Betty’s unique Arkansas-made jewelry through our “jewelry and stickers” tab, where you can also order custom name necklaces, mantra cuff bracelets, stamped key tags and more.

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.

2021 Arkansas Handmade Gift Guide: 14 Gifts by Arkansas Artists

Necklaces made with Arkansas rice, creepy baby sculptures, ceramic incense houses that puff through their chimneys and wintery candles are just a handful of Arkansas made gifts we love.

There’s nothing more special than a handmade gift, and at Bang-Up Betty’s new gift shop in downtown North Little Rock, we’re focused on showcasing unique, unusual and excellent Arkansas-made items that you can bet will bring a surprised smile to your loved ones’ faces this holiday season. Not only is every piece of jewelry (and there are hundreds) made here in Arkansas by us, our storefront is stocked with art, pottery, candles, and more by artists all across the state of Arkansas. Here are a few of our favorite local gifts that you can find at Bang-Up Betty:

Dogtown Scents candles are made in North Little Rock and smell better than any candles we’ve found at big box stores. We’re big candle snobs, so I was excited to try these out at home and am happy to report that they make our home smell lovely and they really fill up a room. It’s so frustrating when you buy a candle and you can’t even smell it once you burn it, but we were NOT disappointed with these. At $17 they’re a great price, too.

We’re delighted by anything whimsically creepy, and these ceramic baby sculptures get our giggle boxes going. They’re made in Russellville by ceramicist Baby Creep. They’re $20, and I’d love to see you fill a whole wall with them. There is a hole at the back of each so it can hang or sit on a surface.

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 Arkansas Rice Flower 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.

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. Bronze Arkansas necklaces are $58, and sterling silver ones are $67.

North Little Rock artist Sulac created these original works of art for Bang-Up Betty, and we adore these beautiful painted ladies. Each piece comes framed, so they’re ready to gift. At $50-$80, they’re also affordable original artworks. We have a shelf full of unique original ladies waiting for you in store.

Springdale-based artist Sigrid Lorfing creates astoundingly beautiful, intriguing and colorful works of art, with prints available at Bang-Up Betty. Her work really lights up a room and starts a conversation. Sigrid’s prints are $40 in the shop.

Hot Springs-based ceramicist Carla Churchwell’s playful pottery brings a smile to our faces. These funny face pots serve two purposes: they’re egg separators and they’re also succulent pots that you can water through the mouths. These little cuties are $20 at Bang-Up Betty.

These custom keychains made in North Little Rock by Bang-Up Betty make great stocking stuffers. You can customize them to say a funny inside joke, an inspirational phrase or something else special to you. They’re $22, and make great co-worker gifts too!

North Little Rock artist Miranda Young-Rice makes these gorgeous printed tote bags. Her whimsical animal art is also available as bandanas, prints and cards at Bang-Up Betty. These totes are $25 and available in store.

We love these cat skeleton prints by Sherwood-based artist Lee Lee Arts so much that we asked her to make this design into the label for our Bang-Up Betty-inspired craft brew “Betty’s Ninth Life.” If you missed the beer while it was in circulation, you can grab the original print at our shop. They’re $25.

These completely adorable ceramic houses by Hot Springs artist Carla Churchwell are actually incense holders! You put a cone of incense under the house and it puffs delightful-smelling fragrance out of its chimney. They’re $18 in store.

These greeting cards by Maumelle-based artist Sherry J. Williamson are little works of art so beautiful you’ll want to frame them. At $5 each, you can load up and save them to use all year long.

Speaking of RBG, our I Dissent necklaces are made in North Little Rock and benefit the Arkansas Association of Women Lawyers’ scholarship fund. This hand-stamped I DISSENT necklace is like a contemporary dissent collar, nodding to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I’ve paired the stamped bar with a silver-plated gavel charm, because there are many tools for smashing the patriarchy.

We just got these beautiful Argenta prints by Bentonville watercolorist Joseph Buchanan and they're incredibly special, not just because they're gorgeous paintings of my favorite neighborhood, but they're also by my talented, kind, wonderful father-in-law. He's very humble, and I have to brag on him. His work has been featured in national publications, ad campaigns and in his children's wedding invitations. I'm very thrilled to share his work with you at our shop. There are two styles of Argenta prints, and each is $20.

Our shimmering Bang-Up Bet-Tea tea looks as good as it tastes! Bang-Up Betty teamed up with Abbi’s Teas and Things in Little Rock to create this hand-crafted custom loose leaf tea blend exclusive to Bang-Up Betty. It’s an exciting black tea blend with tropical notes and a dash of edible brew shimmer to make your cup sparkle like our jewelry.

What’s in our Bang-Up Bet-Tea blend: black tea, blue cornflowers, passionfruit, mango, cinnamon, papaya, lemongrass, ginger, hibiscus and black brew glitter. Each bag is $14 and brews approximately 12-15 servings.

Bang-Up Betty is snarky, meaningful, well-made jewelry made in North Little Rock, Arkansas, as well as funny and feminist pins, stickers and gifts. Shop our handmade jewelry alongside unique gifts and local art at our new Argenta storefront located at 429 Main Street in North Little Rock above Ristorante Capeo.