Creatures of Night: A Jewelry Bestiary Inspired by Cryptozoology, Mythology and Fantasy

Our newest collection of handmade jewelry is a bestiary of fantastical, sinister and mythological beasts. Inspired by cryptozoology and the cages of Mommy Fortuna’s carnival in The Last Unicorn, this menagerie invites you to steal a glance at some of the most secretive creatures the world has (maybe) never seen. Whether or not you believe in unicorns, kelpies, harpies, ghosts and ghouls, these legends have lived for centuries already and will outlive us for centuries ahead. Join us during Argenta Art Walk from 5-8pm, October 21, for the release of our Creatures of Night Collection at our jewelry store and gift shop, located at 429 Main Street in the historic Argenta Arts District of North Little Rock, Arkansas.

The Kelpie Necklace from our Creatures of Night Jewelry Collection. Also available in sterling silver.

The Kelpie

From the lochs of Scotland, this aquatic horse appears friendly at first, luring humans to ride upon its back, then diving with its victims into the lakes and rivers to drown and devour them. Find the Kelpie Necklace here.

The Vampire Necklace with Faceted Garnet Blood Drop from our Creatures of Night Jewelry Collection. Also available in sterling silver.

The Vampire

Born in Romania, the original vampires were shape-shifting, night-walking, blood-sucking ghouls who could only be killed with a stake through the heart to pin them into their grave, followed by beheading and burning to ensure they’d never rise again to drink from the living. Find the Vampire Fangs Necklace with Faceted Garnet Blood Drop here.

The Ammit Necklace from our Creatures of Night Jewelry Collection. Also available in sterling silver.

Ammit

Of Egyptian mythology, this creature is said to have the head of a crocodile, the forelegs and mane of a lion and the hind of a hippopotamus. When Osiris, King of the Underworld, judges a soul unworthy, Ammit devours its heart, casting the poor soul into limbo. Find the Ammit Necklace here.

The Jorōgumo Necklace from our Creatures of Night Jewelry Collection. Also available in sterling silver.

Jorōgumo

This Japanese creature has the upper half of a beautiful woman and the lower body of a spider. She seduces men, luring them into isolated spaces then spinning her victims into bundles in her web and drinking their blood. Find the Jorōgumo spider lady necklace here.

The Little Ghost Earrings from our Creatures of Night Jewelry Collection. Also available in sterling silver.

Ghost

There are perhaps no more universal and ancient night creatures than the spirits of the dead. They can mean harm or serve to protect the living, but they’re rarely seen by the human eye either way — even rarer in the daylight. Find the Little Ghost Necklace here

The Little Ghost Necklace from our Creatures of Night Jewelry Collection. Also available in sterling silver.

The Little Ghost Hoop Earrings from our Creatures of Night Jewelry Collection. Also available in sterling silver.

The Wampus Cat Necklace from our Creatures of Night Jewelry Collection. Also available in bronze.

The Wampus Cat

This reeking, fiendish, half-human, half-wildcat creature is also a woman scorned. According to legend, a Cherokee woman hid beneath a mountain lion pelt to spy on her husband and was punished by being made to embody the skin for eternity. This pendant is pressed with an illustration by Arkansas artist Chad Maupin of Big Bot Design. Find the Wampus Cat Necklace here.

The Midgard Serpent snake cuff bracelet from our Creatures of Night Jewelry Collection. Also available in sterling silver.

The Midgard Serpent

In Norse mythology, when Loki threw Jörmungandr, also known as the Midgard Serpent, into the sea, it grew so large it encircled the world and grasped its own tail. When it releases its tail one day, the great reckoning Ragnarök will begin, bringing devastation and floods, but the world will rise again from the waters, cleansed and reborn. Find the Midgard Serpent Snake Cuff Bracelet here.

The Unicorn in the Stars Necklace from our Creatures of Night Jewelry Collection. Also available in bronze.

The Unicorn

The rare and breathtaking unicorn lives in the wild forests of Europe, keeping out of human sight. According to medieval legend, it can be lured to rest its head peacefully in the lap of a maiden, making it a symbol of purity and grace. Its spiral horn is said to purify poisoned water and heal illness. Find the Unicorn in the Stars Necklace here.

The Harpy Necklace from our Creatures of Night Jewelry Collection. Also available in sterling silver.

The Harpy

This half-eagle, half-woman beast of Greek and Roman mythology is sometimes depicted with three breasts in popular culture. They abduct, carry away and torture their victims, sometimes doling out punishment from the gods. Find the Harpy Necklace here.

The Cerberus Necklace from our Creatures of Night Jewelry Collection.

Cerberus

In Greek mythology, this ferocious three-headed hound of Hades guards the entrance to the Underworld, keeping the dead from escaping and the living from entering. Find the Cerberus Necklace here.

The Midgard Serpent snake cuff bracelet, Little Ghost Hoop Earrings, Vampire Fangs with Faceted Garnet Blood Drop Necklace, and Little Ghost Necklace from our Creatures of Night Collection.

“Creatures of night, brought to light!”

"Shine" Necklace by Arkansas Jewelry Maker Bang-Up Betty to Benefit Methodist Family Health

"Shine" Necklace by Arkansas Jewelry Maker Bang-Up Betty to Benefit Methodist Family Health

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR (Sept. 22, 2022) – Bang-Up Betty, the gift shop in downtown North Little Rock featuring humorous hand-stamped and hand-cast jewelry crafted in Arkansas, is offering a new piece, created by Stacey Bowers and benefiting Methodist Family Health. The SHINE necklace will be available for purchase from 5-7 p.m. during the Dogtown Throwdown at Bang-Up Betty’s gift shop at 429 Main St. in North Little Rock on Fri., Oct. 14.

The SHINE necklace reflects the nonprofit’s call to action to encourage people to let their light shine so others can be inspired to do the same. Available in bronze and silver, the necklace debuted at Methodist Family Health Foundation’s 9th Annual Southern Stakes fundraiser where it brought in a winning bid of $160. The necklace is available to anyone who would like to let their light shine at Bang-Up Betty’s gift shop in Argenta or online here. Proceeds from the sale of the SHINE necklace will go to Methodist Family Health. The necklace is available in bronze for $58 and sterling silver for $69.

Bang-Up Betty’s inventory includes salty t-shirts, stickers, enamel lapel pins and other gifts and apparel are printed locally or sourced consciously and support local women artists. Methodist Family Health’s mission is to provide the best possible care to those who may need our help and serves thousands of Arkansas children and their families who are abandoned, abused, neglected and struggling with psychiatric, behavioral, emotional and spiritual issues. Founded in 1899 as the Arkansas Methodist Orphanage, Methodist Family Health is statewide continuum of care with programs including the Methodist Behavioral Hospital in Maumelle, psychiatric residential treatment facilities, qualified residential treatment programs, a therapeutic day treatment program, outpatient counseling clinics, school-based counseling clinics, a grief center for children and their families, and the Arkansas Center for Addictions Research, Education and Services (Arkansas CARES).

For more information about the SHINE necklace or Bang-Up Betty, visithttp://BangUpBetty.com. For more information about Methodist Family Health, call 501-661-0720, email Info@MethodistFamily.org or visit http://MethodistFamily.org.

The Speak Up Collection: Jewelry Featuring Wise Words by Women Icons

So often when we’re at a loss for words, we look to those already spoken by people we admire. This collection of handmade jewelry features inspiring quotes by feminist women we look up to, including Maya Angelou, Michelle Obama, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Laverne Cox and Hillary Rodham Clinton. (A couple of them even have Arkansas ties!) Keep a strong mantra close to your heart with these hand-crafted necklaces that are available in bronze and sterling silver on 14k gold-filled and sterling silver chains.

Which quotes are featured in our Speak Up Collection?

“Whatever you choose to do, leave tracks” … as in leave tracks for others to follow. - Ruth Bader Ginsburg

“Who you are authentically is alright” - Laverne Cox

“Choose people who lift you up” - Michelle Obama

“Women’s right are human rights, and human rights are women’s rights” - Hillary Rodham Clinton

“Nothing will work unless you do” - Maya Angelou

“Change takes courage” - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

I started making this collection in the spring of 2022, before the devastating overturning of Roe v. Wade, and after the news I felt even more the need to hold tokens of strength, hope and change close to me, especially because I live in a state with generally drastically different views from my own, where the legislature is constantly threatening human rights. Above all, in naming this the “speak up” collection, my hope is to start conversations.

Leave Tracks RBG Quote Necklace

“Whatever you choose to do, leave tracks” … as in leave tracks for others to follow your work and built on it. - Ruth Bader Ginsburg

This RBG quote encourages you to let others build on the work you’re doing, and reminds us that change sometimes takes time, but it also makes me think about all the organizations out there who have already been laying the foundation and doing the work to make the change you want to see. Be sure to seek out the effective, grassroots organizations in your area, support them, and follow their tracks before you set out completely from scratch on your own.

This pendant pressed with a powerful RBG quote and a set of footprints measures approximately one inch across and is available in bronze or sterling silver. The chain is 20 inches long and the clasp fastens onto any link in the chain, so you can wear it longer or shorter. Silver chains are sterling silver and gold chains are 14k gold-filled. As with all of our necklaces, we can make them longer with extensions.

Who You Are Authentically Laverne Cox Quote Necklace

“Who you are authentically is alright” - Laverne Cox

The diamond shape of this handmade necklace featuring a powerful quote by trans actress and icon Laverne Cox is complemented by two tiny Herkimer diamonds (double-pointed quartz crystals) on each side, a nod to the adage that diamonds are formed under pressure. This necklace is available in sterling silver with a sterling silver chain or bronze with a 14k gold-filled chain. These necklaces are about 18 inches long, and as with all of our necklaces, we can make them longer with extensions. The pendant part of the necklace measures about 1 inch across.

Nothing Will Work Unless You Do Maya Angelou Quote Necklace

“Nothing will work unless you do” - Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou holds a special place in the heart of Arkansans, as she spent part of her childhood in Stamps, Arkansas. This handmade pendant features an especially motivational Angelou quote to remind us to work hard for the change we want to make and is accented with a floral motif and a bird as a nod to her book of poetry “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” The pendant measures about 1 inch across and is available in bronze or sterling silver on a sterling silver or 14k gold-filled chain. The chain is 20 inches long and the clasp fastens onto any link in the chain, so you can wear it longer or shorter. Silver chains are sterling silver and gold chains are 14k gold-filled. As with all of our necklaces, we can make them longer with extensions.

Choose People Who Lift You Up Michelle Obama Quote Necklace

“Choose people who lift you up” - Michelle Obama

First Lady, author, activist and icon Michelle Obama was speaking of her daughters with this quote encouraging them to choose partners who lift them up rather than drag them down, but this quote spoke to me far beyond the romantic connotations. Even in friendships, work partnerships and family relationships, it’s so important to be there for the people who are there for you— for the people who want more FOR you and don’t stand in the way of who you are authentically, try to control you or use you for personal gain. For me, it’s a personal mantra of self-care to hold close those who hold me close for the right reasons. This handmade necklace features a pendant with Michelle Obama’s words encircled in a twisted, decorative frame like a work of art.

This necklace is available in sterling silver with a sterling silver chain or bronze with a 14k gold-filled chain. The entire necklace is about 18 inches long, and as with all of our necklaces, we can make them longer with extensions.

Change Takes Courage AOC Quote Necklace

“Change takes courage” - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

If anyone has the courage to make change, it’s U.S. representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. I’m constantly in awe of her ferocity and strength, which is why I paired her quote with an anatomical heart, the symbolic source of courage and bravery. These pendants measure approximately 3/4 inch across and are available in sterling silver with a sterling silver chain and bronze with a 14k gold-filled chain. Chains are 18 inches long, and as with all of our necklaces, we can add extenders.

Women’s Rights are Human Rights HRC Quote Necklace

“Women’s right are human rights, and human rights are women’s rights” - Hillary Rodham Clinton

I’ve heard this quote said so many times by so many people, and only recently I learned that Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke it in a 1995 speech. Almost 30 years later, it’s still extremely pertinent. With this pendant, I played off the mirror-like effect of the words with a reversible, framed, mirror-shaped pendant, where one side says “women’s rights are human rights” and the backside says “and human rights are women’s rights.” These pendants measures about one inch long and are available in bronze on a 14k gold-filled chain or sterling silver on a sterling silver chain. Chains are 18 inches long, and as with all of our necklaces, we can add extenders.

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 and “Best Gift Shop” in Arkansas in 2022!

Visit our 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.

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.

11 Unique and Amusing Father's Day Gifts

Dads are always the hardest people to shop for, but this guide to 11 unique and amusing Father’s Day gifts gets creative with a mix of Arkansas-made and far out clever gifts to surprise Dad. Each of these excellent gifts, from locally made toffee to “pull my finger” keychains, can be found at Bang-Up Betty’s jewelry and gift store in the Argenta Arts neighborhood of downtown North Little Rock (429 Main Street).

Make Dad laugh out loud with a custom stamped keychain. You can grab one of these “Pull My Finger” or “Don’t Make Me Turn This Car Around” keychains online or in store, and you can also order a custom phrase keychain of your choice.

This clever astronaut bottle opener is the perfect addition to dad’s bar and an excellent conversation piece.

Your outdoorsy dad needs a new handmade mug! These gorgeous one-of-a-kind mugs come with Bigfoot, camping themes, sailboats, fishing themes and more, and they’re made in Arkansas.

Turn grilling out up to 11 with these incredible hot sauces. They’re our absolute favorites at the the shop, and we offer a wide range of heat levels. Just ask us and we’ll help you pick one out!

This ceramic and metal dachshund letter holder is perfect for home and office, and it’s just so clever.

Nature and exquisite craftsmanship merge in artist Paul Milholland’s handmade wooden birds. We especially love the tall birds that have natural movement to them. Each bird is one of a kind. Available in store.

Make dad laugh with his favorite celebrity on a keychain. Our favorite dad picks are The Dude, Ted Lasso, Samuel L. Jackson and Johnny Cash, but we have tons more in store.

If dad loves the open road, he’ll adore this Argenta print featuring our favorite neighborhood drugstore with a biker driving by. Arkansas artist Joseph Buchanan’s North Little Rock watercolors are available in store, with scenes of the Baker House and the Old Mill as well.

Don’t forget the card! We LOVE cards at Bang-Up Betty, and we specialize in funny ones.

Does Dad have a sweet tooth? Look no further than delicious, locally made Deal Family toffee. Available in store unless we eat it all first.

Give politics a softer touch with this Presidential Pets mug that features some of the cutest White House pets and their adorable and ridiculous names.

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.

The Space Age Collection: Jewelry Inspired By Our Universe

Whether you prefer traveling by space shuttle or flying saucer, our new space-themed Space Age Collection of jewelry has something out of this world for you.

Inspired by our universe, its mysteries, and its infinite surprises, our Space Age Collection of jewelry explores our galaxy and beyond through bronze and sterling silver depictions and interpretations of the solar system, space travel, our neighboring planets, and neighbors we’ve yet to discover. This collection of space jewelry invites you to bring life’s hugest mysteries to your mind and body with uncommon and creative designs and encourages you to embrace how small we are inside this universe.

The Solar Eclipse Necklace is a beautiful, movable necklace featuring a sterling silver moon eclipsing a bronze sun. The moon pendant can slide from side to side to reveal the sun behind it. This mixed metal piece plays up the glow and contrast of silver and bronze, making them work together in a harmonious, interesting piece of jewelry. Choose from an 18-inch 14k gold-filled chain or an 18-inch sterling silver chain for your eclipse necklace.

Wear this necklace to watch the next solar eclipse. There will be a partial one on April 30, 2022, and another partial solar eclipse on October 25, 2022. We’ll get another total solar eclipse in North America in October of 2023.

Our Solar Eclipse Earrings are made to match our Solar Eclipse Necklace.

The two largest planets in our solar system are Jupiter and Saturn. When they’re closest to the earth in their orbit, Jupiter is 365 million miles and Saturn is 746 million miles from us. Eleven planets the size of earth could fit across Jupiter’s middle. Both Jupiter and Saturn are colossal in size and, much like the sun, are made mostly of dense hydrogen. Each planet has a menagerie of moons orbiting it: Saturn has 82 known moons, Jupiter 79.

With the Jupiter and Saturn Hoop Earrings, I’ve drawn attention to the many moons of these planets by focusing on a handful. Jupiter’s moon Europa could have a liquid water ocean under its icy surface. With more than 400 volcanoes, Jupiter’s moon Io is the most geologically active known object in the solar system. Ganymede’s internal ocean may contain more water than all of the oceans on earth combined. Saturn’s moon Titan is bigger than the planet Mercury and is the only moon known to have a dense atmosphere. Saturn and Jupiter with their moons are like their own solar systems in a way, their gravitational pull heating the insides of their surrounding moons so that they teem with activity. It’s believed by many that if we’re going to find another within our solar system where life could form or already exist, it’s here.

The Jupiter and Saturn Hoop Earrings come as a pair with one earring depicting Jupiter with moons and the other featuring Saturn with moons. Gold earrings are made of bronze with 14k gold-filled ear wires that are hypoallergenic. Silver earrings are made of sterling silver with sterling silver ear wires. These planets may be huge in real life, but these earrings’ 2-D design makes them lightweight and comfortable to wear.

One of the most recognizable and easy to find constellations from almost anywhere in the world is Orion, which is part of the reason why I love it so much and chose to make the Orion Constellation Necklace. This necklace features a multi-pointed star shape with the constellation of Orion carved through it. Hold this pendant up and let the light shine through the points of the constellation, chiseled through the pendant with little star-shaped points. The gold Orion necklace features a bronze pendant on a 14k gold-filled 18-inch chain, and the silver Orion necklaces features a sterling silver pendant on an 18-inch sterling silver chain.

The Orion constellation contains two of the 10 brightest stars in the sky, Rigel and Betelgeuse, and several nebulae as well as the Trapezium cluster. It’s a hotbed for stargazing. I love when I can find Orion in the twilit sky even before the sun’s glow has faded all the way from the sky.

The constellation is named for the hunter Orion in Greek mythology and is the shape of a kneeling hunter with bow strung to shoot.

In the currently estimated 100 billion galaxies swimming in the sea of the universe, here we are, sitting on a pale blue dot inside our own Milky Way galaxy, which is 52,850 light years across. If that doesn’t make you feel small, I’m not sure what will. The Milky Way Galaxy Cuff is a band of stars with a golden glow, much like the galaxy as seen from earth. The stars peek through to the inner side of the cuff, so you can hold it up and see the light through them. At one end of the cuff is a sun and the other a crescent moon.

The stars peek through to the inner side of the Milky Way Galaxy Cuff Bracelet, so you can hold it up and see the light through them.

Our transport to another world, the space shuttle carries us beyond our planet. The Space Shuttle Necklace features a hand-carved bronze or sterling silver space shuttle pendant aiming at the Red Planet of Mars, a planet NASA hopes to take humans to for the first time in the 2030s.

The Sun Stud Earrings in our Space Age Collection are a subtle, creative and unusual design, with the sun posed to look as if it wraps around the earlobe rather than sitting in front of it. These radiant discs come in solid bronze or sterling silver, and are versatile enough to wear with anything. I love these sun earrings paired with our Solar System Necklace. Actually I love them paired with everything in our space jewelry collection.

This Solar System Necklace is inspired by the models and scales of the solar system we use to learn the planets. At the center is a bronze or sterling silver sun, followed by the nine planets of our solar system represented by different colorful gemstone beads.

Have you ever looked into the sunset, felt the warmth on your face and considered that this huge ball of light in the sky is actually 93 million miles away from us and appears this large and feels this warm? The distance between the sun, Earth and our neighboring planets is hard to imagine.

Gemstone beads represent each planet in our Solar System Necklace, with a bronze or sterling silver sun at its center.

The Earthrise Crescent Earth Necklace, featuring a bronze crescent earth, was inspired by the famous “Earthrise” photo. During the first manned mission to the. moon in 1968, the astronauts held a live broadcast from lunar orbit, in which they showed a photo of earth taken from their spacecraft on the moon’s surface. It showed the Earth in a waxing phase like we see the moon from down here. During the broadcast, astronaut Jim Lovell said, "The vast loneliness is awe-inspiring and it makes you realize just what you have back there on Earth."

The U.F.O. Necklace features a flying saucer beaming green light in the form of eerily beautiful peridot beads. The gold version of this alien necklace is made with a bronze U.F.O. and 18-inch 14k gold-filled paperclip-style chain. The silver version is sterling silver with an 18-inch sterling silver cable chain. This necklace is made to pair with our U.F.O. earrings.

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

Our U,F.O. Flying Saucer Earrings with Peridot beads are made to match our U.F.O. Necklace.

Looking for U.F.O.s to take me home in my alien costume at our Space Age Collection jewelry photo shoot…

… but also bringing it back down to earth as an astronaut.