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Category: Gift Bundles
Get things together for less!
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The Magic of October: Our First Holiday Sale is Here!
October 1st – 31st
Well, would you look at that—October has arrived, and you know what that means around here? It’s time for our very first holiday sale of the season, and honestly, we’re as excited as kids on Christmas morning.
Rex spent the better part of September putting the finishing touches on some truly special pieces, and I’ve been busy dreaming up combinations that we think you’re going to absolutely love. There’s something magical about this time of year—maybe it’s the way the light changes, or how we all start thinking about gathering around tables with the people we care about most.
What We’ve Been Up To
This month, we’re doing something a little different. Instead of just offering individual pieces (though we still love those too!), we’ve curated some bundles and gift baskets that tell complete stories. Think of them as ready-made moments of joy—perfect for treating yourself or for that person who seems to have everything but would treasure something truly one-of-a-kind.
Here’s what’s caught our hearts this season:
Themed Journal & Pen Bundle – $35
Sometimes the simplest combinations are the most perfect. We’ve paired our Comfort Slimline Pen in Fancy Gun Metal & Desert Hybrid ($32 on its own) with a beautiful Southwestern journal ($10) that Rex hand-selected to complement the pen’s warm tones. There’s something deeply satisfying about writing with a pen that feels substantial in your hand while capturing thoughts in a journal that feels like the Southwest itself.
Can’t resist creating your own theme? Choose any pen from our collection and find a journal to match—we love seeing the combinations you dream up.
Bread & Butter Bundle – $60
This one makes Rex particularly proud. Our Hand Carved Walnut Bread Knife ($25) and Walnut Butter Scraper ($45) were practically made for each other. The walnut grain flows like it was meant to be, and together they transform any bread-and-butter moment into something special.
Pro tip from our kitchen: Try them with homemade lavender-lemon sweet bread and lavender-honey butter. Trust us on this one.
Have Yourself a Rustic Little Christmas Basket – $125
Rex’s laser work has been getting some serious attention lately, and this basket shows why. Twenty-nine separate palo verde cookies, each with its own depth and character, complete with eyelets and multi-colored hooks ready to grace your holiday celebrations. It’s rustic Christmas magic, pure and simple.
Getting Witchy With It Basket – $275 (complete) or $250 (just our pieces)
Dawn’s been experimenting with new resin colors, and this Lightning Struck Cherry Mortar & Pestle with Forest Green & Moss resin inlay ($245) is the kind of piece that makes people stop mid-conversation. We’ve paired it with our Green & Gold Hybrid Fancy Gold Slimline Pen ($32), a Cherry Herb Stripper ($20), Vintage Style Journal ($15), plus specialty tea blend ($10) and forest blend incense ($10) to complete the experience.
The Duotone Kitchen Basket – $350 (complete) or $320 (just our pieces)
This is the basket that makes Rex’s eyes light up. The Walnut & Maple Checkerboard End Grain Cutting Board ($125) anchors a collection that includes matching salt and pepper shakers ($80), a French rolling pin ($75), butter scraper ($45), bread knife ($25), honey dipper ($25), plus kitchen towels, hot pads ($15), recipe book ($10), and honey ($10). It’s a complete kitchen story waiting to unfold.
Celebration Basket – $490 (complete) or $420 (just our pieces)
Made with gorgeous Padauk wood (though any wood can be custom ordered), this collection was designed with weddings in mind, but it’s perfect for engagements, anniversaries, or any moment worth celebrating. Champagne glasses ($165), cake serving set ($156), desk pen and holder ($70), wine caddy ($63), matching taper holders ($50), guest book ($20), and taper candles ($5) create a celebration that’ll be remembered long after the last toast.
Rex’s recommendation: Add a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne Yellow Label Brut—it’s one of the top champagnes under $100 and pairs beautifully with these pieces.
A Little Something Extra
Here’s what we love most about these bundles: they’re not just collections of beautiful things (though they certainly are that). They’re invitations—to slow down, to savor moments, to create memories around your table, at your desk, in your kitchen. Every piece carries the story of the wood it came from, Rex’s four decades of craftsmanship, and now, hopefully, your own stories yet to be made.
As always, shipping is included in our pricing because we believe beautiful things shouldn’t come with surprise costs at the end.
Until We Meet Again
Whether you’re treating yourself to something special this October or getting an early start on gift-giving, we’re honored to be part of your story. Every order helps us keep doing what we love most—turning reclaimed wood into treasures that’ll outlast us all.
Thanks for being part of our extended family. We love sharing this journey with you.
Rex & Dawn
P.S. – Got questions about any of these pieces or want to chat about custom combinations? You know where to find us. We’re always here for a good conversation about wood, craft, and the stories that make life beautiful.
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We’re Staying Home for the Holidays (And Bringing Something Special)
This week in the workshop, Rex discovered something we’d almost forgotten – the joy of sleeping in our own bed while still sharing our craft with an incredible community of art lovers.
After a year that has tested us in ways we never expected, we’re beyond excited to announce that Sarkanys Rising will be part of Tucson’s Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair at Reid Park this Thanksgiving weekend. For the first time in what feels like forever, we get to be part of something magical right here in our hometown.
A Fair with Four Decades of Heart
This isn’t just any craft fair – it’s a Tucson tradition that’s been bringing together artisans and art lovers for more than 40 years. Over 140 vendors from across the Southwest gather at Gene C. Reid Park, creating a marketplace where every single item is handmade, unique, and crafted with the kind of care that’s becoming harder to find in our world.
When we read that requirement – “all items must be unique, handmade goods” – we knew we’d found our people. This is exactly the kind of event where stories matter as much as the pieces themselves, where customers appreciate the difference between mass-produced and carefully crafted.
Why This Feels Like Coming Home
After months of cancelled events due to health challenges and financial pressures that seemed determined to test our resolve, the simple pleasure of driving across town instead of across state lines feels like a gift in itself. No over-packing the van & trailer, no wondering if we’ll have everything we need, no sleeping in unfamiliar places while fighting to feel our best.
Instead, we get to wake up in our own home, make sure every piece is perfect, and drive just a few miles to share what we love with a community that gets it. Sometimes the best adventures happen closest to home.
What We’re Bringing (And What We’re Not Telling You… Yet)
You’ll find our full range of handcrafted treasures – those chatoyant mahogany boxes that shift and shimmer in the light, cutting boards with stories that span decades, pens that turn everyday writing into something special, and pieces that defy easy categorization but somehow find their perfect homes.
But here’s where we get a little mysterious: we’re also bringing something extra special that we haven’t talked about before. Starting November 1st, we’ll be launching a gift with purchase program that we’re honestly more excited about than we probably should be. Rex has been working on these pieces in between everything else, and seeing them come together has been one of those bright spots that reminds us why we do this work.
We can’t spill all the details yet (October has its own surprises we want you to focus on first), but let’s just say that anyone who finds us at Reid Park will discover there’s more to the story than what meets the eye.
The Details That Matter
When: Saturday, November 29th (9 AM – 4 PM) and Sunday, November 30th (9 AM – 3 PM)
Where: Gene C. Reid Park, 920 S. Concert Place (west side of the park off Country Club Road)
What to Expect: Over 140 Southwest artisans, all handmade goods, and the kind of community gathering that makes the holidays feel magicalWe’ll have our full range of pieces, from affordable treasures to investment heirlooms, plus those special surprises we keep hinting at. And as always, every purchase comes with the stories, the lifetime guarantees, and the kind of personal connection that turns customers into community.
A Thanksgiving Weekend to Remember
There’s something perfect about spending Thanksgiving weekend surrounded by the work of makers and creators, celebrating what it means to build beauty with your hands and share it with people who appreciate the difference. After a year that challenged us in every possible way, being part of this community tradition feels like exactly where we need to be.
Come find us at Reid Park. We’ll have coffee, stories, and pieces that are just waiting to become part of your holiday celebrations. Plus, if you’ve been curious about that gift with purchase program we keep mentioning, well… let’s just say good things come to those who show up.
Mark Your Calendars
This is our first local event in longer than we care to admit, and we’re ready to make it count. Whether you’re starting your holiday shopping early, looking for something truly unique, or just want to support local artisans doing what they love, we’ll be there with bells on (and probably with Rex demonstrating his craft because he can never resist a good audience).
Thanks for being part of our story, Tucson. We can’t wait to be part of yours.
See you at Reid Park, November 29th and 30th. Come early, stay late, and get ready for some surprises.
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Buy Holiday Gifts Early at Summer Craft Fairs and Festivals
Some of the best holiday gifts you’ll give this year are sitting in booths at summer festivals right now, waiting for someone smart enough to think ahead.
That exquisite Cherry & Golden Walnut Yarn Bowl you spotted at Pine/Strawberry Arts & Crafts fair in July? Tuck it away in your closet, and come December, watch your crafty friend’s eyes light up when they unwrap something they never would have expected. The story makes the gift even better: “I saw this at a festival months ago and immediately thought of you.”
We’ve noticed that our most satisfied gift-givers are the ones who shop festivals during the warmer months. There are practical reasons for this — better selection, no shipping scrambles, more time to plan complementary gifts around a main piece. But there’s something deeper too. Shopping early for someone specific shows a level of thoughtfulness that’s rare in our last-minute world.
Festival shopping offers something department stores can’t: the story. When you give someone a handcrafted pen, you don’t just say “I got you a pen.” You say “I met this veteran woodworker at a festival, and he told me about the wood in this piece, and I thought you’d appreciate the craftsmanship.” The gift becomes a narrative, not just an object.
There’s also the serendipity factor. You can’t plan to stumble across the perfect piece — it has to find you. Rex often talks about customers who weren’t looking for anything specific but left with exactly what someone on their list needed.
Early festival shopping also means you get first pick of truly unique pieces. By December, artisans have sold their most striking work. In the fall, you have access to pieces that will never be made again — one-of-a-kind items that can’t be found on any website (everything we sell is on ours though! LOL) or in any store come holiday season.
We’ve started keeping a “gift notes” file for customers who buy pieces months ahead of when they’ll give them. “This cutting board is for my son’s wedding in October.” “The resin pendant is for Mom’s birthday in February.” It helps us remember the stories behind the purchases and adds a personal touch when we see them again.
The anticipation factor is underrated too. There’s something wonderful about having that perfect gift already chosen and waiting, knowing that while everyone else is fighting crowds in December, you’re already done — with something infinitely more thoughtful than anything they’ll find in the rush.
So next time you’re wandering through a summer festival, don’t just think about what you want for yourself. Think about the people you love, the occasions coming up, the joy of giving something that no one else will have thought to find.
The holidays are coming whether you’re ready or not. But the perfect gifts for them? Those are available right now.
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How to Choose the Perfect Artisan Gift Set for Anyone
The perfect gift set doesn’t start with browsing our website or walking through our festival booth. It starts with thinking about the person you’re shopping for — really thinking about them. What makes them smile? What are their daily rituals? What would make them feel seen and understood?
We’ve learned that the best gifts aren’t necessarily the most expensive or elaborate ones. They’re the ones that make someone think, “They really get me.” That happens when you match the gift to the person’s soul, not just their hobbies.
Take the writer in your life. Sure, you could go for the obvious choice — a Designer Style Pen & Letter Opener Set or our fantasy-worthy Jupiter Pen. But dig deeper. Is this someone who loves the romance of analog writing, or someone who appreciates functionality above all else? A dreamer might fall in love with the Jupiter Pen’s mystical name and stunning resin work. A pragmatist might prefer the clean lines and perfect balance of our Executive Style pen set.
For the person who loves to entertain, think about their style. Are they the type who throws elaborate dinner parties, or do they prefer intimate gatherings? A Romeo & Juliet Cutting Board paired with Decorative Bottle Stoppers works for the formal entertainer. For someone who’s more about casual wine and cheese with friends, maybe a set of Cheese & Cracker Boards.
The maker or crafter in your life presents wonderful opportunities. That Cherry & Golden Walnut Yarn Bowl isn’t just about organizing their supplies — it’s about honoring their creative practice. Add a matching Cherry Crochet Hook, and you’re celebrating not just what they make, but how they make it. You’re saying their hobby matters enough to deserve beautiful tools.
We see personality in wood choices too. Some people are drawn to the dramatic contrast of walnut with its rich browns and striking grain. Others prefer the warm, consistent glow of cherry. Bocote lovers tend to be bold — they’re drawn to that wood’s dramatic black streaking and exotic origins. Pay attention to what catches their eye when you’re together.
Dawn’s resin work opens up even more personality matching. Someone who loves ocean colors might be drawn to blue and green swirls. A person who’s earthy and grounded might prefer the warm oranges and golds. The bold personality who’s never met a color they didn’t like? They’re perfect candidates for our most dramatic multi-colored pieces.
The key is thinking beyond the obvious. Yes, the cook needs kitchen tools, but what kind of cooking do they love? The person who bakes bread every Sunday might treasure a handcrafted rolling pin. The one who’s all about fresh ingredients might prefer a beautiful cutting board that makes vegetable prep feel special.
Sometimes the best gift sets combine the expected with the surprise. A pen for the writer, yes, but also a beautiful letter opener that makes even opening bills feel ceremonial. Kitchen tools for the cook, but also a decorative piece that brings beauty to their workspace even when they’re not actively cooking.
We create from premium materials woods sourced from Cook Woods and Woodworkers Source, resins from Alumilite with micas from P-Town Subbie. Each set is as unique as the person receiving it.
Because the best gift sets aren’t just random pairings of related items. They’re curated collections that say, “I see who you are, I celebrate what you love, and I wanted you to have something as special as you are.”