Arkansas Made Love: 27 Locally Made Valentine Gifts by Arkansas Makers and Artists

Fall in love with locally made! Here are 27 gifts made by Arkansas makers and artists that are sure to make your heart flutter.

Fall in love with locally made! Here are 27 gifts made by Arkansas makers and artists that are sure to make your heart flutter. Heat things up with Arkansas made hot sauce and glittery candles, watch love grow with locally made macrame planters and ceramic vases, adorn your sweetheart in symbolic Arkansas made jewelry, and share your heart in cards by Arkansas artists. Plus, shopping small and local always adds a touch of extra special to any gift. All of these Arkansas gifts can be found at Bang-Up Betty in downtown North Little Rock, located at 429 Main Street in Argenta, where you’ll find tons of clever gifts, local arts and crafts, hundreds of pieces of artisan jewelry, and so much more for every occasion.

What’s better than hearts? Butts shaped like hearts. North Little Rock artist Chelsea Allen makes these clever felted butts, smiles, eyes and more. Find them in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Heat things up with Arkansas made hot sauce! This salsa macha by local food truck Lili’s is absolutely delicious. Find it in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Give the floral gift that keeps on giving with a locally made vase that’ll stay fresh all through flower season. Find these ceramic vases by Carla Churchwell and many more in store at Bang-Up Betty.

This dragonfly necklace will make your love’s heart flutter. Find this dragonfly necklace made by Bang-Up Betty in store at Bang-Up Betty in Argenta or online here.

Don’t forget the Valentine card! Maumelle-based artist Sherry J. Williamson creates these heartfelt greeting cards you can pour your sentiments into. Find these and many more in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Hearts, hearts, hearts! These adorable little handmade ceramic hearts by Hot Springs artist Carla Churchwell come in lots of sizes and are perfect for holding rings and other little trinkets. Find them in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Sweeten things up with locally made toffee by North Little Rock artisans Deal Family Creations. We’re anxiously awaiting their return to the Argenta Farmers Market, but until then you can find their toffee at Bang-Up Betty.

Bang-Up Betty’s Speak Up Collection is jewelry featuring quotes by inspirational women like Michelle Obama, Maya Angelou, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and others, including this “change takes courage” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez quote anatomical heart necklace. Find the collection online here or in store at Bang-Up Betty.

What’s better than a really good locally made candle? A really good locally made candle with glitter in it! Find these candles by North Little Rock maker Dogtown Scents in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Cheer up your home with a beautiful print by an Arkansas artist. Bang-Up Betty carries prints by several local artists, including these sweet retro mushrooms and “hello sunshine” prints by Sherwood-based Lee Lee Arts + Design.

These lapel pins bring a bit of flair to any outfit. Bang-Up Betty has dozens of designs, including these “cats are my love language,” “dogs are my love language” and “bibliophile” pins available online here or in our Argenta storefront.

Spring and planting season is almost here! Get the green thumb in your life a locally made macrame plant hanger by our favorite macrame genius Creative Cords Macrame. Find bright, beautiful macrame plant hangers in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Did you know that snakes are love symbols? Even Queen Victoria had a snake ring Prince Albert gave her to symbolize their forever love. This modern cuff in Bang-Up Betty’s Creatures of Night Collection is available in bronze and sterling silver in store or online.

Speaking of critters, these handmade mystical cat mugs and vases by Hot Springs pottery artist Carla Churchwell are absolutely perfect and they’re available in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Clean up with locally made soap in Arkansas, angry uterus, pride and trans flag styles. These delightfully scented soaps are made in Maumelle by Summit Valley Soaps and are available in store at Bang-Up Betty or online here.

Speaking of bath products, these Arkansas made bath soaks by Northwest Arkansas maker Bathing Native are clever and delightful. Find them in store at Bang-Up Betty.

While your love is enjoying that locally made bath soak, they might love a good book to read. Bang-Up Betty caries several books by local authors, including “Queers on What We Wear” by Megan Volpert. Find it in store at Bang-Up Betty.

How about a creative experience? Get your sweetheart a ticket to a makers night at Bang-Up Betty, like a mushroom jewelry workshop or a mocktails and drink markers class. Browse workshops here.

Among the many prints by local artists at Bang-Up Betty, you’ll find watercolor works by Northwest Arkansas painter Joseph Buchanan, like this one of Victorian Argenta landmark The Baker House, the absolutely incredible boutique bed and breakfast next door to our gift shop. What would be really cute? Getting your love a romantic stay at The Baker House and telling them with this print that they can keep forever to remind them of the experience. Print available at Bang-Up Betty.

Show your love is forever with a handmade infinity symbol necklace by Bang-Up Betty. Each pendant is completely handmade and kiln-fired in our North Little Rock jewelry studio and available online here or in our storefront.

Get your sweetheart a portrait session (how about a boudoir session??) with photographer Katie Childs. Katie’s creativity is endless, and she makes everyone feel and look their brightest. She’ll also be doing mini portrait sessions at our Argenta Art Walk event February 17. Contact Katie Childs here.

These adorably creepy ceramic incense burners by Russellville artist Baby Creep are painted with Valentine candy hearts to make them extra cute. Find them in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Get your sweetheart a little something sweet from Daisy Pastry Shoppe, a 70s-themed mother-daughter baking duo based in North Little Rock. They’ll be our February Third Friday Argenta Art Walk artist at Bang-Up Betty. Order online from them here or catch them at our shop from 5-8pm February 17. Photo by Matthew Lamar. Find more info on this month’s Argenta Art Walk here.

A little something for you, a little something for your person…. This hand-cast bronze necklace set features two heart halves that fit together and each say “my person.” Get them online here or in store at Bang-Up Betty.

A little birdie told me you’re pretty good at picking out Valentine’s Day gifts… like these handmade wooden bird magnets and sculptures by North Little Rock artist Milwerk Modern. Find them in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Looking for just a little something to tell your hot slice what a hot slice they are? These Hot Slice Pizza Stickers by Bang-Up Betty are the perfect little bite to hide inside a Valentine card. Get them online here or in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Say what you wanna say with a custom keychain for your loved one. Choose from dozens of funny already made keychains in store at Bang-Up Betty, or order a custom keychain online here.

The Handmade Shop Local and Online Arkansas Gift Guide 2020

Every holiday season, I like to round up some of my current favorites in a little gift guide that highlights Arkansas artisans, artists and makers to help you shop small and shop local. Normally I’d show off new finds from craft shows or new things at our shop, but since I’m shopping online as much as possible this year to keep myself at home, I thought I’d focus on Arkansas made gifts you can have delivered straight to your door. From pottery to lapel pins, tea to trinkets, this guide has stocking stuffers and heartfelt gifts that will make this holiday season magical despite how strange this year is. Handmade gifts make the best gifts!

Every time I see potter Mariah Hatta share one of her adorable ceramic pigs, it makes me squeal with delight. Mariah creates unique pottery under the name House of Terriers, and right now she’s part of the Arkansas Art Center’s virtual Museum School Sale, so these little piggies can cry “wee wee wee” all the way home to your tree without you having to leave the house. Check out Mariah’s work here. This gift is also great for hog callers. Woo pig!

This year, my good friend Ashlee Nobel of Lee Lee Arts + Design collaborated with East Sixth Brewing Company and me to create a beer inspired by Bang-Up Betty, and we used Ashlee’s incredible cat skull art in the design for the beer we named Betty’s Ninth Life. This clever cat skull art print lives in my studio now, and you can get Ashlee’s beautiful art on everything from pillows to blankets to hoodies. Check out her new yoga collection for the yogis on your list! See Ashlee’s work here.

A couple of months ago, I released my Siren Collection of handmade bronze jewelry inspired by Greek Mythology. This jewelry is handmade in Arkansas by me, and I chose to feature the Artemis Moon Necklace with crossed arrows in this gift guide. The Artemis necklace is elegant, meaningful an mystical, much like the rest of the Siren Collection. See the whole collection of handmade Greek mythology jewelry here.

I’m absolutely OBSESSED with Abbi’s Teas and Things in Hillcrest, and I’m so proud of how she’s gone the extra mile to keep her business safe during the pandemic. You can find Abbi Siler at her outdoor tea stand Wednesdays and Saturdays, or you can shop her blends online. Right now I’m all about the Cherry Fig, but I also highly recommend the Banana Nut Roo, Turmeric Sunrise and Cherry Chamomile. Shop Abbi’s Teas online here.

I’d say it’s a happy coincidence that my favorite little gift shop in Little Rock also stocks lots of Arkansas made products, but Cindi Booth is too wonderful a curator of handmade goods to chalk it up to serendipity. Candles are like booze; they almost always make a great gift. And these locally made candles come in adorable vintage-style jars, so they look great in your home. You can shop TONS of incredible things on the Stifft Station Gifts website. Here is a link to the candles in many scents.

Funny and feminist enamel lapel pins and stickers make perfect stocking stuffers, coworker gifts, teacher gifts and angsty teenager (or angsty grown-up) gifts. My line of enamel pins is huge, so you’ll likely find something perfect for a funny, sassy person in your life. Shop Bang-Up Betty enamel pins and stickers here.

Speaking of great enamel lapel pins, Little Rock textile artist, poet and author Crystal Mercer released a collection of enamel pins this year that are phenomenal. Choose from “Black Glow Matters,” “An Arrest Is Not Enough,” her Duafe Pin or Normalizing Nipples pin, and be sure to check out the Kickstarter she just announced for her forthcoming book “From Cotton to Silk: The Magic of Black Hair,” to be released by Et Alia Press. Check out Crystal’s work here.

And speaking of Et Alia Press, the bookworms on your list are bound to love something from this local “small press for big voices.” Be sure to check out “The Hospice Doctor’s Widow” by Jennifer O’Brien or “But First, Save 10” by Sarah-Catherine Gutierrez. I read Sarah-Catherine’s book a couple of months ago and I couldn’t recommend it enough for pointers on how to get your savings on track. Check out Et Alia press here.

I’ve been a fan of Tub Tonics for a long time. Andrea knows how to make a damn fine bath bomb. Like the skull bath bomb in the intro photo to this gift guide? Amazing! Andrea makes perfect little gift sets on her site too, so you can cross someone completely off your list in one place. Check out her soaps, bath bombs, gift sets and more here.

I’m in love with macrame by Creative Cords. Amy Darragh’s wall hangings, like the pink one in my intro photo to this gift guide, make my heart sing, but I’m extra in love with her adorable macrame Christmas ornaments she’s been sharing lately. Check out Creative Cords macrame here.

I’m always in awe of the way Erin Pierce of Organized Chaos Collection harvests beauty all around us in the form of Arkansas plants, insects, spider webs and other natural things and turns them into breathtaking art and jewelry. Erin takes pride in finding and pressing her own flowers to make these gorgeous sun catchers. See more of Erin’s work here.

Whether you want perfectly cute cookies for the holidays, need a great cookie mix to make your own, or are looking for recipes to make holiday desserts from scratch, Sarah DeClerk of Ann Potter Baking has you covered! She even has DIY cookie kits you can order online to decorate yourself, and she JUST released a cookbook! Check out Ann Potter Baking here.

This year, it’s more important than ever to shop small, and I hope this Arkansas gift guide helps you cross a few names off your list while getting those warm and fuzzies you get when you support an awesome small business you believe in. Happy (and safe!) holiday shopping!