2023 Arkansas Made Mother's Day Gift Guide: 21 Gifts by Arkansas Artists

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.

Spring never ends when you're wearing this cast bronze or sterling silver handmade daffodil necklace or earrings. These necklaces and earrings were designed using the texture of actual petals during the casting process. Atop each flower is a bead of yellow jade to echo the sunshine color of living daffodils. Find the Daffodil Necklace and matching earrings by Bang-Up Betty online here or at our jewelry and gift shop at 429 Main Street in Argenta.

The queen bee deserves a beautiful handmade, framed bee by Little Rock artist Studio Dust Co. Available in store at Bang-Up Betty.

If mom loves to knit or crochet, she’ll adore this handmade yarn bowl or ceramic thimble vase by Fayetteville, Arkansas artist Pyrogenic Arts.

This gorgeous watercolor print of the Old Mill in North Little Rock is a little piece of spring you can keep on your wall year round. Find these prints and many more Arkansas scenes by Bentonville artist Joseph Buchanan in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Sometimes gorgeously simple isn’t as simple as it seems. These monogram initial necklaces are each made from hand-cast bronze and fired in a kiln. Each piece is uniquely handmade. The chain is an elegant paper-clip style chain that’s 14k gold-filled, so it’s hypoallergenic. Find these Monogram Initial Hexagon Paperclip Chain necklaces online here or in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Meow! These incredible wooden cats by North Little Rock artist Paul Milholland have moveable heads so you can position the cat looking at different angles. Find these sculptures in store at Bang-Up Betty.

We love flowers that never die! these gorgeous ceramic floral ring dishes by Hot Springs artist Carla Churchwell are available in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Moms and birds go together like birds of a feather. If you’re mom is into birdwatching, be sure to check out our new collection of bird jewelry called the Aviary Collection by Bang-Up Betty. Find it online here or at our store in North Little Rock.

Let mom know how loved she is by so many with this handmade print by North Little Rock artist Chelsea Allen. Prints available in many styles and colors in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Mom’s morning coffee routine needs an upgrade. These gorgeous handmade mugs by Hot Springs artist Carla Churchwell come in loads of different styles and are available in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Birthstones are beautiful and meaningful, and if you order one of Bang-Up Betty’s birthstone cluster or strand necklaces in advance we can customize the stones you’d like, so you can mix and match your family’s birthstones. Birthstone necklaces by month are available in store or online here.

Tell mom how much she means to you with a handmade card. These colorful and meaningful greeting cards by Maumelle artist Sherry J. Williamson are available in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Have I mentioned how much we love birds? These wire-wrapped bird nest necklaces are available in silver and gold and also with your choice of white or blue pearl eggs. Bird nest necklaces are available in store at Bang-Up Betty or online here.

Elevate the art situation in mom’s house with a stylish triptych of prints by Little Rock artist Banimilk. Find these prints and much more of her work in store at Bang-Up Betty.

What do you get the mom who has everything, including anxiety and too much on her to-do list? A ceramic worry wart by Hot Springs artist Carla Churchwell. You tell it your worries so you can set them free. Find a huge selection of Carla’s worry warts in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Let mom know she is a rainbow with one of these gorgeous handmade macrame wall hangings by Little Rock artist Amy Darragh of Creative Cords. These rainbow macrame hangings are available in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Does mom have a generous spirit? Then she’d probably love one of these “shine” necklaces by Bang-Up Betty that benefits Methodist Family Health in Little Rock. Find them in store or online here.

Show mom you love her with a little handmade wooden ring dish created by North Little Rock artist Paul Milholland. Find these gorgeous hearts in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Make mom’s kitchen so much cuter with a one-of-a-kind handmade ceramic spoon rest by Hot Springs artist Carla Churchwell. Find a huge selection of Carla’s spoon rests at Bang-Up Betty.

If mom is into horoscopes, she’ll love one of these gorgeous, colorful hand-printed works of art by Little Rock artist Bri Peterson. We’ve got the entire collection of zodiac prints in store at Bang-Up Betty.

These beautiful handmade flower vases by Hot Springs artist Carla Churchwell are the perfect way for mom to bring what she’s growing in her garden indoors to enjoy. Find a wide selection of Carla’s vases in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Bang-Up Betty is snarky, meaningful, well-made jewelry made in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Shop our handmade artisan jewelry alongside clever gifts and local art and crafts at our Argenta storefront located at 429 Main Street in North Little Rock above Ristorante Capeo.

Made in Arkansas Gift Guide 2022: 21 Gift Ideas by Local Artisans and Makers

There’s nothing more special than a handmade gift. At Bang-Up Betty, we’re focused on finding and supporting Arkansas artisans and artists who make art and gifts we truly love. Our jewelry and gift store in downtown North Little Rock showcases 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 20 of our favorite local gifts that you can find at Bang-Up Betty:

Hot Springs ceramicist Carla Churchwell stocks our store with tons of her cute and creative pottery, and we especially love her rainbow and cardinal ornaments for the holidays.

You better believe our fridge at home is stocked with this incredible locally made hot sauce called Opera Sauce. We’re total hot sauce snobs and we give this one two thumbs way up.

If you’ve ever wondered why our store smells so good, it’s because of these candles. Dogtown Scents candles are made in North Little Rock, come in several delightful winter scents, and we’ve even got our own glittery signature Bang-Up Betty scent.

North Little Rock artist Paul Milholland is known for his groovy wooden bird sculptures (which we carry!), and these handmade wooden Arkansas magnets are like collectable pieces of art for your fridge.

Hot Springs pottery maker Carla Churchwell’s little ceramic trees are perfect for building a tiny Christmas village for your holiday decor.

Our handmade Shine Star Necklace comes in bronze and sterling silver and benefits Methodist Family Health in Arkansas. It’s the perfect gift that gives back. Find it in store or online.

Bentonville water-colorist Joseph Buchanan’s beautiful Arkansas landscapes make gorgeous gifts, and this year he’s made holiday cards of scenes like the snowy Old Mill and War Eagle Mill so you can easily mail them to your loved ones who are far away.

Made in North Little Rock, Deal Family toffee is the best toffee we’ve ever tasted. You better come buy it before our staff eats all of it!

These beautiful floral Arkansas keychains by Clever + Tidy let you carry a little Arkansas with you wherever you go.

Made in Maumelle, these colorful Summit Valley Soaps smell as good as they look.

Santa Claus is definitely coming to Dogtown because we’ve been really good this year. These adorable Dogtown ornaments by Heather Reed of Thriftpologie will look perfect on your tree, and the matching reusable cups are great hostess gifts. These will be sold exclusively at Bang-Up Betty starting November 18!

Hot Springs ceramics artist Carla Churchwell’s completely adorable wildlife trinket dishes are always a huge hit when she brings them to the shop. They always go quickly, so hurry in for one!

Sherwood-based illustrator and graphic designer Ashlee Nobel of Lee Lee Arts + Design is one of our crowd favorites, and her new collection of spooky creature prints is beautiful any time of year.

Our custom, hand-stamped mantra cuffs are some of the most popular gifts in our shop. Whether you love a good motivational phrase, have an inside joke, or simply would like a loved one’s name, we can stamp pretty much anything onto one of these bracelets. If you’re looking for more custom jewelry options, we also make custom name necklaces as well as tons of other personalized creations.

The bookworm on your gifting list will love a thoughtful book by a local author. May we recommend From Cotton to Silk: The Magic of Black Hair by artist and writer Crystal C. Mercer or But First, Save 10: The One Simple Money Move That Will Change Your Life by Sarah Catherine Gutierrez? These titles and more are available in store at Bang-Up Betty.

Arkansas artist Studio Dust Co. keeps it creepy crawly yet gorgeous with these handmade, framed works of wooden art.

We gotta love a mug that matches our shop! You can feel like you’re at Bang-Up Betty while you drink your morning coffee in one of these groovy rainbow mugs by CSF Design.

Lapel pins make perfect stocking stuffers. We’ve got dozens of designs at Bang-Up Betty, including these crowd favorites that say “dogs are my love language,” “cats are my love language” and “ask me what I’m reading.”

Maumelle-based painter Sherry J. Williamson is one of our absolute favorites, and you’ll find a huge selection of her colorful, inspirational prints and greeting cards at Bang-Up Betty.

Our handmade jewelry is far out (and our jokes are corny). Our Space Age Collection of space-themed jewelry is perfect for any hopeful cosmonaut. We’ll be wearing the Eclipse Earrings to pump ourselves up for the total solar eclipse coming to Arkansas in 2024. Check out the Space Age Collection in store or online.

We can’t get enough of these handmade ceramic stemless wine glasses by Hot Springs artisan Carla Churchwell. Grab a whole set of them or just one for yourself while supplies last at Bang-Up Betty.

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 clever gifts and local art at our Argenta storefront located at 429 Main Street in North Little Rock above Ristorante Capeo.

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!