A giant guide to gifts made by Tucson makers and small businesses

I used to find myself scrolling endlessly through gift guides online — the ones that suggest I get a smart mug for my mom and a cashmere wrap for my sister.

While there’s nothing necessarily wrong with either of those two gifts, I know I can do better — and I know I can do so locally.

Local First Arizona sums it up perfectly: if a city the size of Tucson shifted just 10% of its spending from chains to local businesses, the transition would lead to 1,600 new jobs, $53 million in new wages and an economic impact of more than $130 million.

When you shop local, your money stays here, Local First Arizona says. “By sourcing more products and services locally, we are investing our dollars to create self-reliant local communities that offer opportunity and prosperity for all.”

Here’s a long list of gifts to give this holiday season — all found through a small business in Tucson.

Make it monsoon all the time

Here in Tucson, we love the rain — so much so that we want to smell the rain on even our cloudless days. Luckily, many local creatives make that scent come alive year-round.

If your gift recipient is a monsoon fan like we are, here are some gift ideas:

• Candles from Cicada and Ārya Tārā
• Fragrance roll-ons from Cicada and Desert Mystic Goods
• Soap from Flowing Waters Soap Co., Wolf Den Soap, Gigglestars Soap Co. and Alo Goods
• Face oil, sunscreen, perfume spray, salves, essential oils and more (plus literal bundles of creosote!) from Sonoran Rosie

A custom charm necklace or bracelet 

The charm necklace trend has taken off for good reason. In Tucson, Sigfus Designs has a full charm bar with hundreds of different charms. There are classic charms of flowers and hearts, but tons of funky picks too: think Goldfish crackers, cheese wheels and tiny bags of potato chips. 

Chains range from $20-$25 for a necklace or bracelet. Charms start at $2 each and go up to $9. The average final total is $35-$55, but that depends on how many charms you choose. After selecting your charms, you'll sit down and assemble the jewelry for your loved one.

Sigfus is located at 3264 N. Country Club Road, open noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.

Soap that reminds you of Tucson

Because of course our local creatives have figured out how to make a bar of soap reminiscent of our favorite desert city!

Magnolia Street Soap Mill creates soap bars carved to look like our beloved "A" Mountain, scented with spearmint, peppermint and lemongrass essential oils.

Mama Bare AZ makes bars with a translucent desert scene in the middle. Hold it up to the light and see how it peeks through! (She also makes candles shaped as cacti wearing Santa hats and cowboy hats, just saying.)

For the person who can never have too many stickers

Hola Chingona is one of Tucson's most treasured stores. It's the concha-shaped purses, the mouse pads that resemble a buttered tortilla, the churro lip scrubs, the "horchata and chill" tumblers, the candles that smell like Fabuloso. 

But on my last trip into the store, they had sheets of taco-shaped stickers, complete with illustrations of popular musicians and names to match. Think "BADbacoa" aka Bad Bunny as a barbacoa taco and "BirRIHANNA" aka Rihanna as a birria taco.

Stickers are $4 each or $8 for the whole pack. Shop here or in person at 412 E. Seventh St., open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. (Hola Chingona has LOTS of other sticker options, too.)

Other iconic sticker makers in Tucson:

• Turtle's Soup, who also has bookmarks and bumper stickers
• Juju & Moxie, who also has tea towels and earrings
• Stickies for Kitties, who raises money for shelter cats
• Darby Hunter Art, who also has fake cake trinket boxes and enamel pins

The self-care category

We all need to treat ourselves once in a while (or all the time). 

Emiliaxocosmetics is a vegan cosmetic line created right here in Tucson. There's lip gloss, eye shadow and neon eyeliner. I get compliments every single time I wear my Super Nova highlighter. But the compliments aren't for me — they're for Emiliaxocosmetics founder Monique "Emilia" De La Torre.

More self-care and cozy items:

• Bubble bath, massage oil and more from Luna Zen AZ
• Body cream, lip balm and more skincare from Artemesia and Earth Based Body
• Bath bombs in lots of fun shapes and colors from Pure Poetry Cosmetics
• Candles, bath salts and room sprays from Di Luna Candles, Light of Mine Candle Supply, Burnt October and Smells Like Dessert Candles

A plant that’ll thrive in our desert (and gifts inspired by nature)

This section goes two ways: a literal plant that will thrive in our desert or a colorful sheet of stained glass shaped like a cactus. Let's start with the former.

You can head to any number of local nurseries to pick up a plant that will happily grow in our climate. Think Drutopia, Harlow Gardens, Green Things, Desert Survivors, Four Arrows Garden and YellowBird Farm. (But really, there are too many nurseries to name here.)

Alternatively, for someone who doesn't have a green thumb but wishes they did, local artist The Glass Desert creates stained glass shaped as potted cacti. No watering necessary!

Other plant-ish gifts and items inspired by nature:

• Macrame plant hangers from Melrose Macrame and Knotted by Kiwi
• Stickers and stationery from Made It Mikayla
• Seeds from Native Seeds/SEARCH
• Adorable planters shaped as homes from Plant Casitas
• A hand-painted pot from Desert Dots Art Studio
• Metal yard art from Sonoran Desert Metal
• Dried flower bouquets from Prickly Posies
• Crocheted flowers and succulents from Nopalito Crochet

For the chef in your life

Jackie Alpers is the mastermind behind the "Taste of Tucson" cookbook, which includes recipes of her own and collaborations with several other Tucson chefs. You'll find lots of Sonoran-style recipes, from carne asada to huevos rancheros.

Other worthy options for someone who likes to cook: Cheri's Desert Harvest is known for prickly pear jelly and syrup; The Spice Jam has jam and tea blends; seasonings made locally by Desert Provisions; and saguaro-printed oven mitts from Why I Love Where I Live.

Something witchy

Tucson is blessed with its many metaphysical shops.

You can hop over to Libra & Thorn to find desert-themed tarot cards crafted by owner Melissa Mercilliott. Or you can head to Yōlia Botánica where owner Lulu Tineo creates limpia mists and beautiful floral bundles for smoke cleansing. Then there's Torrie Dueñas, who sells altar candles and crystal-charged skincare at Monsoon Mystics. 

Whatever you choose, from the crystals at Aquamarine Daydream to the astrology books at The Ninth House, there are loads of options for the bruja in your life.

A plushie of their favorite animal

Sometimes you just want a plushie of an angry frog or a smiling axolotl. I don't make the rules!

SoGayCrochet crochets adorable plushies, including giraffes, squids, cats and platypuses. Taylor’d Crochet Creations also creates crocheted stuffies, including octopuses, mini turtles and butterfly hair clips. 

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And over in midtown is Mildred & Dildred, 1725 N. Swan Road, which is a wonderland of toys, puzzles, dress-up kids costumes and stuffed animals including the trendy Jellycat. Good luck going home with just one Palm Pal — they're all adorable. (Side note: this is the perfect spot to go if you're looking for a gift for a kiddo in your life.)

Paper goods, stationery and books

If your gift recipient loves to read, you're in luck. Tucson has enough local bookstores to make your heart sing, packed with tomes written by local authors!

Of course, you can pick up a book on your recipient's to-be-read list, but if you're looking for something more, Rather Keen is the bookish maker of all bookish makers. Think book-themed enamel pins, hats and tote bags.

For fans of journaling, BYNDbooks handcrafts journals inspired by the Southwest using leather and craft paper. Creative Kind has sets of pens with adorable Tucson-themed sayings. Marcy Ellis and Brushes and Boots have nature-inspired designs on greeting cards. Q.street Collective has holographic saguaro paper weights that I think everyone needs.

If you're searching for prints to frame and hang up, try Annotated Audrey, Jesse J. Media, Fork Tailed Media, La Casa del Desierto, Newjack and Elana Bloom.

Your loved one’s favorite snack

I, too, love snacks. Here are some packaged goodies that will hold up as stocking stuffers:

• Agave Pantry — caramels flavored with chai or lavender honey
• Dirty T Tamarindo, 1211 W. Saint Marys Road — candies coated in chamoy
• I'd Smoke That BBQ — smoked nuts and lots of flavored popcorn 
• Monsoon Chocolate, 3630 E. Fort Lowell Road and 234 E. 22nd St. — beloved shop for handmade chocolate
• Popped Artisan Popcorn — my favorite is the prickly pear caramel 🍿
• Tanna's Botannas, 954 W. Prince Road — candies coated in a Mexican spice blend
• Tucson Chocolate Factory — chocolate, including the viral Dubai bar
• Tucson Tea Company — more than a dozen tea flavors 

If you wait a bit closer to Christmas, you might be lucky enough to gift baked goods. There's a long list of bakers we love, but here are a handful: Chez Peachy for cakes, Ducky's Pineapple Banana Bread for banana bread, Holy Focaccia and Carbs & Coffee for focaccia, and 1989 Bakehouse, Novia's Bakery and Ate Kei for cookies.

And if your loved one no longer lives in Tucson but misses it: ship them flour tortillas. 

Desert-themed bolo ties and minimalist-ish jewelry

Say a permanent goodbye to rings that make your fingers green.

When Spring Winders took a jewelers metalsmithing class in college, we all ended up benefiting. She eventually started Heliotrope Metal, creating silver jewelry perfect for any desert dweller, from a quail-shaped bolo tie to a javelina-shaped ring to a necklace of a snake rattle. 

For jewelry that's minimalist-ish, check out Juvelarto Designs, MagJo Designs, Christina Holland Designs, Points Jewelry and Unearthed.

These earrings are the last thing from minimalist

You have your friend who likes dainty jewelry and then there's the friend who wants bubble wands hanging from their ear lobes. (I'm the latter.)

Sigfus Designs, whose charm bar I mentioned earlier, has bowtie pasta that hangs from your ears, plus mirrored scorpions. Coy Creative has tons of monsoon-inspired earrings, plus dangles of cowgirls, ouija boards and other funky shapes. Luna & Saya has neon dangles of marigolds, stacked saguaros and wonky door shapes. Greyrose Art has palm-sized snakes, T. rex skulls and crescent moons.

If you're into earrings, you should also check out:

• Beads Over Diamonds, who has different styles of beaded earrings
• Garms Charms, who has both bold and minimalist jewelry
• Desert and Stone, who has beautiful small and larger earrings
• Little Rabbit Jewelry, handmade jewelry with vintage pieces

A custom charcoal drawing 

I've said it before and I'll say it again and again. My dream is to one day own a custom Bronwyn Dierssen.

I've twice ordered commissions from charcoal artist Dierssen, once for my editor and another for my stepmom, both using photos of their kiddos. Both were received with cheer. 

Pricing is based off size and medium, but I'll tell you one thing: they're well worth it.

For the animal lover and full-time pet parent

Aall Forms of Life is a scientific illustrator and wildlife biologist who graces us with her designs of Tucson critters that are equal parts scientifically accurate and adorable. She makes stickers, cards, ornaments and prints, along with pet bowties.

For dog parents, check out GreytEscape, which has tons of patterned collars. For treats and toys, try Dogs-N-Donuts, 7743 E. Broadway, and Cones For Bones, 6121 E. Broadway.

We haven't forgotten about our fellow cat parents — Desert Girl Crochet creates cat hats and crocheted cat nip doughnuts!

A coffee mug you know will get used over and over again

One of my all-time favorite mugs is the Flower Power mug created for Arizona Poppy, 150 S. Fourth Ave., by Studio Katagami. It's one of the most popular items in the shop, and for good reason. 

Find other one-of-a-kind pottery, including mugs and trinket dishes from these makers:

• Two Snake Pots
• Happily Becoming
• Marigold Fontana
• Melissa Henshaw Ceramics
• Tough Kitty Designs
• Mehgan on the Moon
• Crooked Tree Ceramics

T-shirts you'll want for yourself

I often stay away from clothing as gifts, but T-shirts are the exception. Here's where to get some fun ones:

• Qmulative is known for their pocket tees — except the pockets are shaped like Arizona!
• At the most recent Made in Tucson market, I couldn't keep count of how many times I saw an attendee wearing a Jos Par shirt. You might spot hints of existentialism and humor here, but also desert vibes. 
• Las Changuis Tianguis is owner Elizabeth Valenzuela's love letter to the Latine community. Find shirts with sayings like "fueled by chisme" and "como chingas."
• Find embroidered tees along with decorated glass tumblers from By Spooky Selena.
• Designer and screen printer Planet Gabu is where you'll find tees, patchwork pants and "love sucks" hoodies.
• My favorite shirt from print shop Cream is their "Mt. Lemon" shirt that not only spells Mount Lemmon incorrectly, but also spells "Tucson" wrong and sports a picture of "A" Mountain.
• True Descendants is an Indigenous clothing company selling T-shirts, hats and more.
• 440 & Co. has a hat and tee that say "Be a good Tucsonan." For obvious reasons, they're must-haves.
• While Gabacho Media has clothing, the brand is most known for their hats with a tiny embroidered saguaro. I bet you've seen one in the wild.

And if you're looking for desert-inspired onesies and toddler clothes, check out Cactus Wren Kids.

When in doubt, go with a gift card 

If the above options are overwhelming (I get it), try a gift card or membership instead. Some ideas:

• A membership to Reid Park Zoo, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson Museum of Art, The Loft Cinema or whatever their favorite attraction is
• An annual pass to Sabino Canyon
• A Downtown Tucson gift card 
• A gift card to a restaurant in Tucson Originals
• A gift certificate for a staycation at a spot like Hacienda del Sol

Where to shop

Many of the above makers will be at markets this season. Here are 13 markets coming up.

This list is by no means exhaustive (and neither is the endless amount of gift ideas), but here are local gift shops that might carry the above goods:

• Arizona Poppy, 150 S. Fourth Ave.
• Bruja, 245 E. Congress St.
• Celestia Collective, 657 W. Saint Marys Road
• Di Luna Candles, 3061 N. Campbell Ave.
• El Be Goods, 160 S. Avenida del Convento
• Galeria Mitotera, 1802 S. Fourth Ave.
• Hola Chingona, 412 E. Seventh St.
• Kira Kira Collectibles, 2903 E. Speedway
• Libra & Thorn, 101 S. Pantano Road
• Mildred & Dildred, 1725 N. Swan Road
• Monsoon Mystics, 657 W. Saint Marys Road
• Pink Moon Mercantile, 845 N. Park Ave.
• Pop Cycle, 422 N. Fourth Ave.
• Prickly Posies, 549 N. Fourth Ave.
• Proper Shops, 300 E. Congress St.
• Saguaro Square, 50 S. Houghton Road
• Sigfus Designs, 3264 N. Country Club Road
• Sonoran House, 1610 N. Tucson Blvd.
• The Lavender Manor, 347 E. Fourth St.
• Tiny Town, 408 N. Fourth Ave.
• Warm Shape, 267 S. Avenida del Convento
• Why I Love Where I Live, 267 S. Avenida del Convento
• Yolia Botanica, 1307 W. Saint Marys Road
• 440 & Co, 440 N. Fourth Ave.