Wear Your Own Monogram in the Style of Anne Boleyn's Necklace

My monogram just happens to be the same as Anne Boleyn’s, but you can wear your own monogram in the same style of necklace. Photo by Collin Buchanan.

During her time, the infamous, ill-fated Queen of England Anne Boleyn was renowned for her wit, charm, intelligence, interest in the arts, etiquette and fashion sense, among many other attributes she picked up while coming of age at the French Court. Today she is mostly remembered for her gruesome end — beheaded by her husband, Henry VIII, King of England — as well as her part in reforming the church through her scandalous marriage to the king after he divorced his first wife and her incredible daughter with Henry, Elizabeth I.

Late Elizabethan portrait of Anne Boleyn wearing her letter B necklace.

Portraits of Anne Boleyn often depict her wearing a bold, fairly decadent monogram B necklace, with three massive teardrop-shaped pearls hanging from the bottom of the letter B and a short string of pearls holding it around her neck. As a massive royal history nerd with an outright obsession with Anne’s story and someone who shares a monogram with Anne the Queen, I originally made this necklace very self-indulgently, but decided it would be magical for my fellow history buffs and Anne fans to be able to wear their own monogram in the style of Anne Boleyn’s signature necklace.

Nearly every letter of the alphabet is available, so you can wear your own Anne Boleyn style monogram necklace.

I gave this necklace a modern touch, lengthening the chain to a comfortable length of about 17 inches. Half of the chain is elegant, gold-plated chain made with cultured seed pearls, with the back half of the chain being gold-filled cable chain that ends in a gold-filled lobster clasp. The monogram letters are solid brass and measure a little less than one inch from top to bottom. Dangling from the bottom of each letter is one to three pearls, depending on how many could fit onto each letter. Teardrop-shaped pearls are cultured.

Almost every letter of the alphabet is represented, minus a handful with limbs too slender to be drilled and pearls attached. The available letters are shown in the images. Please be sure to find the picture of your desired letter to see how many pearls are attached. See the entire letter collection here.

To complete the royal look, pair your Anne Boleyn necklace with these matching pearl earrings, which perfectly balance the boldness of the necklace with their simple elegance.

Matching Pearl Drop Earrings complete the historically inspired look. Photo by Collin Buchanan.

Because each necklace is made to order, these necklaces are only available here and will not be available for sale in person.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Betty the Boy Cat Bowers: 2007 - 2019

Betty Bowers nuzzled his last goodbyes in the loving arms of his mom, Stacey, before he crossed the Rainbow Bridge Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Everyone present agreed that he had been a good boy—one of the best boys—his whole tiny life. 

In the summer of 2007, on break from college and working part-time at Eubanks Veterinary Clinic in Levy, Stacey discovered a tiny, rambunctious, long-haired tabby kitten in one of the cages in the back. As the story goes, the little critter had been found in a ditch with its unlucky siblings who weren’t able to be rescued. This little kitten had a cloudy eye, a respiratory infection, a crooked tail and a funny mole in its side that an X-ray later revealed to be a BB. Whenever Stacey opened the cage to check on it, the kitten, so eager for love, would take a brave, flying leap onto her chest and she’d wrap her arms around it. Stacey fell in love with the kitten, named Natalie by the kind soul who had recovered it from the ditch, and began the short struggle with her mother to keep the kitten even though Stacey was going back to college out of state in just a few weeks.

The kitten seemed to enjoy car rides at first, being swept home to win over its grandma Sue’s heart while Stacey took lunch breaks from work at the vet clinic. Sue is a sucker for cats, and after only a few visits agreed that the kitten needed some extra love and would stay with her until Stacey finished college. Stacey waited until after Sue had agreed to keep the kitten to reveal how many times it had gotten motion sickness in the car—once inside her purse. 

During one car ride, Stacey jokingly asked the kitten what it would like to be named, because Natalie was far too long and precious a name in her opinion, just as Ram Jam’s version of “Black Betty” came on the radio, and Stacey took it as an omen. She’s always been a bit embarrassed about the origin of Betty the cat’s name, but the name stuck and would come to mean so much to her over time. Stacey went to PetSmart and picked out a pink rhinestone collar and an engraved name tag for Betty. A few weeks later, the vet revealed Betty to be a boy, but the name was a done deal. 

At the beginning of the summer, Stacey’s heart had been broken for the first time by a boy, and she was taking it incredibly hard. By the end of the summer, a new boy—with four legs, a bad eye and a girl’s name—came along and fixed everything. 

During the two and a half years while Betty lived with Sue and his grandpa Jeff, he was a wild child. He was a high jumper, and would perch on your shoulder like a furry parrot. He was a busybody and got into everything. He was accidentally destructive and once smashed a flatscreen tv; all televisions had to be screwed down going forward. He knew intrinsically how to fetch, and preferred you to throw plastic-wrapped soft peppermints for him to bring back to you. He loved little stuffed toys, especially from McDonald’s Happy Meals, the green lizard being his favorite. His uncle Steven called Betty’s toys his “doodads” and loved to play with him. Betty was wiry and skinny, and he puked all of the time on everything, but his family loved him anyway. 

When Stacey graduated college, she took Betty against his will briefly to Shreveport, which he hated endlessly. For several months he rebelled, even running away once and hiding under a busted toilet in the neighbor’s junkyard. He was especially upset when a chubby, feral , calico kitten came into the house and never left. He never really came around to his sister Pearl, but they learned to coexist after several months of vicious wrestling that resulted in swollen toes and gooey eyes. 

Stacey took Betty and Pearl home to Arkansas when she finally landed a full-time job there. For several years they bounced from rent house to apartment to rent house and met more than their fair share of mom’s new boyfriends. Betty never met a stranger and was friendly to everyone who was friendly to him, but when he knew it was time for his mom to have a fresh start, he would get a little passive-aggressive, sometimes even resorting to peeing in a boy’s laundry if he overstayed Betty’s welcome. From the start, Betty was always there for his mom when her heart got broken. When she met a boy named Collin in 2015, Betty never protested. Collin grew to love Betty about as much as Stacey did, and Betty loved him back. Eventually Betty stopped sleeping with Stacey at night and migrated permanently to Collin’s side of the bed. 

When Stacey started making jewelry in 2013, she lovingly named her little venture Bang-Up Betty after her best friend. People always asked Stacey when they saw her out selling her jewelry if her name was Betty, and she smiled and told them the story of her boy cat named Betty. People loved the story of Betty, and he had his picture featured in a handful of magazines. Once a tv station even stopped by Stacey’s workshop to feature Betty on the evening news. Stacey’s not sure how she’s going to answer the question “Are you Betty?” going forward; she’s expecting it to hurt quite a bit for a long time. 

Until his very last days, Betty loved to sit in the window in Stacey’s workshop overlooking the flowerbed, right in front of her desk while she worked. He loved to soak up the warm sun and get the occasional petting while he napped. Stacey knew for several weeks that Betty might not be around much longer. His health, never very good, was quickly declining. When Betty was ready to say goodbye, Stacey planted him in the flowerbed under the window where he loved to sit. He will always be her delicate little flower. 

Jewelry for Dog and Cat People

Cat Lady Necklace with Whiskers and Dog Mom Necklace with Paw Prints were just added to the Bang-Up Betty jewelry online shop.

With National Puppy Day (and our Puppy Party at Argenta Bead Company!) coming up this Saturday, I’ve gone dog and cat crazy in the studio. To celebrate our favorite furry friends, I’ve created a small line of dog- and cat-centric necklaces — and a wolf, too! It’s kind of a dog, right?

Cat and dog moms will love the line of bar necklaces celebrating their fur babies, and I’ve got a couple of bolder designs in the mix, because it wouldn’t be Bang-Up Betty if there weren’t a curse word here and there. These designs are in the web store now and will be available for sale this Saturday (March 23, 2019) from 1-4 p.m. at Argenta Bead Company in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas, during our Puppy Party. Speaking of, you’ve still got time to order a pet ID tag that benefits Out of the Woods Animal Rescue before the party.

This Cat Mom Necklace with adorable stamped whiskers is the purrrrrfect gift for cat lovers.

Aaaoooooo! This Lone Wolf Necklace with a textured brass wolf charm is for those who don’t run with the pack.

This stamped Dog Mom Necklace has the pawfect little paw print accents.

Raise your paw if you speak cat? This stamped Cat Whisperer Necklace shows the world you’re fluent. It comes in “Dog Whisperer,” too!

Because you’re top dog around here. This Queen Bitch Necklace has a solid brass, textured dog charm in the sassiest pose.

How about the sterling silver Dachshund charm on this wiener dog necklace??

Pet ID Tags and a Puppy Party to Benefit Out of the Woods Animal Rescue

Now through March 23, 2019, Bang-Up Betty is hand-stamping pet tags to benefit Out of the Woods Animal Rescue, all culminating in a Puppy Party at Argenta Bead Company on National Puppy Day (March 23).

Local jewelry maker Bang-Up Betty is teaming up with Out of the Woods Animal Rescue during the month of March. Now through March 23, which happens to be National Puppy Day, Bang-Up Betty is hand-stamping pet ID tags to benefit Out of the Woods, with 50% of tag sale profits going to the animal rescue. People who purchase ID tags can either have their tag shipped to them or stop by Argenta Bead Company on National Puppy Day (March 23) to pick up their tag and meet adoptable puppies available through Out of the Woods during a Puppy Party at the bead shop. 

March 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Argenta Bead Company (1608 Main Street, Little Rock), Bang-Up Betty will be stamping pet tags (in limited quantities), but shoppers are encouraged to purchase their tags ahead of time to ensure that they get what they want. Guests are invited to pick up their tags and visit with adoptable furry friends to celebrate National Puppy Day. Bang-Up Betty will also be showcasing dog- and cat-centric jewelry as well as other designs for sale during the party.

Mike the dog, AKA Michael Doglas, models the larger circle pet ID tag. Now through March 23, pet tags bought through bangupbetty.com benefit Out of the Woods Animal Rescue, with a Puppy Party at Argenta Bead Company March 23 to celebrate.

Out of the Woods Animal Rescue is made up of a network of volunteers who foster animals in search of their forever homes.Their mission is to focus on helping people who rescue and care for stray and abandoned animals until an adoptive home is found. They extend all their available resources to these caring rescuers. They also promote the spaying and neutering of all pets and assist low-income families in finding low-cost spay/neuter options.

Bang-Up Betty is offering a selection of fun shapes with standardized fonts and layouts available at (https://www.bangupbetty.com/pet-tags). Shoppers may select their desired tag there through a drop-down menu and submit their pet’s name along with their address and phone number to be stamped onto the tag. 

People interested in learning more about Out of the Woods Animal Rescue are encouraged to visit http://ootwrescue.org for more information or to donate directly to the nonprofit. 

Choose your pet ID tag to benefit Out of the Woods Animal Rescue by clicking here and placing an order before March 23, then come pet the puppies at Argenta Bead Company on National Puppy Day!

Hammered in Arkansas: A Jewelry Maker's Best Moments of 2018

Bang-Up Betty has been stamping handmade jewelry in Arkansas since 2013. Celebrating a 5th anniversary, seeing Julianne Moore wear my jewelry and supporting great charitable causes were among some of the highlights of this Arkansas jewelry maker’s 2018.

Looking back on the year, especially as all my friends are sharing their “best nine” Instagram posts, I always like to pick and choose my personal “best nine” since photo “likes” sometimes don’t do the right things justice (but are always appreciated and welcome!). 2018 was a banner year at Bang-Up Betty. I celebrated some huge milestones, saw celebrities wear my jewelry, got to raise money for several local causes that are close to my heart, and was recognized in some really amazing ways.

Thank you so much to everyone who brought a piece of Bang-Up Betty handmade jewelry into their lives or gave it to a loved one this year. Thank you to everyone who came to see me at pop-up craft shows and events. Thank you to everyone who shared social media posts and told pals about my jewelry. Thank you to my stockists across the country who brought my jewelry to their cities. Every year I do this is more magical than the last. Every morning I wake up grateful and astounded at the support my home state of Arkansas has given me. Thank you, thank you, thank you again.

Now, for the countdown…

Janelle Monae wore my I Believe in Science pin along with many other makers’ enamel pins during her Today Show performance.

1.) Janelle Monae wore my pin. The Janelle Monae. She wore my pin. My I Believe in Science enamel pin. She wore it in an assortment of feminist and activist pins on her Today Show appearance. I am still in recovery.

That’s my I Believe in Science enamel pin on the right. On Janelle Monae’s outfit for her Today Show appearance.

At some point in time I packaged that I Believe in Science pin with my own hands and sent it off and it landed on the lapel of THE. JANELLE. MONAE. I am breathless.

Bang-Up Betty has been making artisan jewelry in Arkansas since 2013 and celebrated five years in 2018 with a pop-up in Little Rock.

2.) I had my 5th anniversary. In April of 2018 I celebrated five whole years of making jewelry in Little Rock, Arkansas, and threw a big party complete with this confetti cake that WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL CAKE I MADE. I made a unicorn-shaped cake for the occasion and Betty the cat ATE IT when I wasn’t looking the night before the party. He is a savage.

Betty the cat perches in the Bang-Up Betty handmade jewelry studio. His name and personality inspired the name of the business, and he is a small internet celebrity. Follow him on Instagram at @bettyisaboy.

3.) Betty the cat made the evening news. Anytime I can get Betty the cat in a magazine or on the tv is the best time of my life. In 2018, KARK stopped by my jewelry studio and fell in love with Betty. I think he got more air time than I did and I have no complaints.

Only in Arkansas: Bang-up Betty's creations are not the usual jewelry items.

Arkansas bride: My gleeful expression after saying my vows (that I wrote!) at the Edgemont House in North Little Rock, Arkansas, in September. Photo by Katie Childs.

4.) I got married! This is really number one on the list BUT THE LIST IS OUT OF ORDER. Collin, don’t get mad.

In September 2018, I got hitched to a very wonderful, supportive, encouraging, hilarious, handsome, incredible guy who was totally fine with us having a weird wedding. It was the most fun day of my life and we’ve been keeping the party going ever since we said “I do.” You really can’t stop the party once you buy a six-foot inflatable dancing man for your wedding and can’t return it.

The inflatable dancing man at our wedding at the Edgemont House in North Little Rock, Arkansas, may have been more of a hit than the bride and groom were. Photo by Katie Childs.

Read all about our wedding in this blog post I wrote about how crafty I was and how ridiculous our decor was.

Julianne Moore wears a One Tough Mother Necklace by Bang-Up Betty at a Moms Demand Action conference. A portion of the proceeds from each necklace sold benefits the Arkansas chapter of Moms Demand Action.

5.) Julianne Moore wore my One Tough Mother necklace AND I raised close to $600 for this incredible charity that’s so close to my heart. I had no idea that when one of the loveliest women I know bought a One Tough Mother necklace from me, she meant to bring it to the Moms Demand Action conference and give it to Julianne Moore. Julianne Moore then wore it in a PSA for the organization that encouraged people to vote!

One Tough Mother. This necklace by Bang-Up Betty benefits the Arkansas chapter of Moms Demand Action.

Read more about this necklace and grab one for yourself!

Arkansas jewelry designer Bang-Up Betty’s “Stay Gold” collection is inspired by the Golden Girls and features vintage and limited edition pieces. Plus those big Miami colors!

6.) I made a jewelry collection inspired by The Golden Girls. I had so much fun designing this collection of vintage-inspired jewelry that my husband then photographed for me on our Lanai. Hahahaha. I’m a Dorothy at heart, but the necklace in the image above was inspired by Blanche.

See more of the Stay Gold collection and read more about what inspired it here!

Bang-Up Betty was voted Best Artisan for the fourth year in a row in the Arkansas Times’s Best of Arkansas for jewelry design.

7.) Y’all voted me Best Artisan in the Arkansas Times’s Best of Arkansas issue! For the fourth year in a row! I am so incredibly grateful for the support my fellow Arkansans have given me over the years. Thank you for giving me the courage to keep making jewelry and putting myself out there.

You also voted my jewelry best in Arkansas Handmade Products in AY Magazine’s Best. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Bang-Up Betty jewelry was voted best in Arkansas Handmade Products by AY Magazine readers.

Bang-Up Betty’s Love is Queer Bracelet 100% benefits Lucie’s Place, a shelter for homeless LGBT in Little Rock, Arkansas.

8.) I got to support Lucie’s Place by making things. Earlier this year, I dedicated this Love is Queer bracelet to Lucie’s Place, donating 100% of the profits to the nonprofit organization that provides shelter for homeless LGBT in Arkansas. I love being able to use my craft to raise money for progressive nonprofits in the state of Arkansas and across the country.

My new Birthstone Cluster Collection features rough, raw and natural gemstones and is inspired by nature. Photo by Collin Buchanan.

9.) I released the Birthstone Cluster Collection, which is inspired by nature and features raw, rough-cut and natural gemstones to celebrate the wearer. Happy birthday to you! These necklaces are by far my favorite things to make right now and can be personalized. Grab your custom birthstone necklace, or maybe one celebrating your child or another loved one!

Arkansas Jewelry Designer Bang-Up Betty Featured on THV11

Since 2013, Bang Up Betty has been serving up unique and fun handmade jewelry from Arkansas!

THV11 contacted me recently to chat about how I got started making jewelry, what inspires my handmade jewelry, what my bestsellers for holiday gifts are, and, of course, Betty the cat.

This interview with Ashley King airs Friday, December 14, 2018, during the 8 p.m. premiere of their new show, The Vine. It’ll be an Arkansas Christmas special focusing on what’s wonderful and local, and I’m so honored they chose to showcase my handmade jewelry.

I’m proud to be an Arkansas-based jeweler supporting local nonprofits and making folks laugh and smile with my jewelry!

Arkansas jewelry maker Bang-Up Betty at work stamping custom jewelry at Moxy Modern Mercantile. Bang-Up Betty handmade jewelry is designed and made locally in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Find Handmade Jewelry and Gifts in Arkansas for the Holidays

A glimpse inside the studio of artisan jewelry designer Bang-Up Betty, who will be stamping jewelry on location at two Little Rock boutiques in December.

Come watch me work this December, and shop local and handmade for the holidays!

Arkansas jewelry designer Stacey Bowers of Bang-Up Betty will be onsite with a huge selection of hilarious and sweet hand-stamped jewelry, enamel pins, koozies, stickers and more at two Little Rock boutiques in December. She'll also be stamping custom orders ONSITE! Pick your phrase, your metal, your charms and watch it happen before your eyes. Whether you need stocking stuffers or that perfect special something, she's got you covered. You could even get your whole gift list knocked out between Bang-Up Betty and the clever, quirky gifts at Moxy and the local art and delicious tea at Abbi’s Teas and Things!

Sunday, December 2

Moxy Modern Mercantile

1419 Main Street in Little Rock

11 am - 3 pm

Sunday, December 16

Abbi’s Teas and Things

2622 Kavanaugh Boulevard in Hillcrest, Little Rock

2 - 6 pm

December 7- 8

Fayetteville friends, catch Bang-Up Betty jewelry in Fayetteville, Arkansas, December 7-8 at the Nerd Prom and Winter Wonderland hosted by Cattywampus Co-op!

Find funny, sweet and feminist jewelry in our online shop or at one of the several shopping events held in Arkansas in December, where Bang-Up Betty will be stamping and making jewelry onsite so you can take it home with you right then and there.

Photography by Katie Childs.