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Category: Thoughtful Gifting
Gift them something they will use!
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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 โ 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 โ 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 โ “all items must be unique, handmade goods” โ 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 โ 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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Unique Housewarming Gifts – Handcrafted Wood Art for New Homes
Your friends just bought their first house, and you want to give them something meaningful. Something that says “welcome home” rather than “here’s a thing.” We get it โ and we’ve got you covered.
The truth is, most housewarming gifts end up in closets or get quietly re-gifted a year later. But what if you could give something that becomes part of their daily life, something they reach for and smile about every time they use it?
Consider a handcrafted vase set from reclaimed fruit woods. Not only does it give them a beautiful way to display fresh flowers or dried arrangements, but each piece carries the story of the wood’s previous life. Maybe it was part of an old apple orchard, or came from a peach tree that shaded someone’s backyard for decades. Now it’s ready to be part of their new story.
Or think about a Live Edge Bocote Lamp for their reading corner. Bocote is one of those woods that makes people stop and stare โ rich brown with dramatic black streaks that look almost painted. Dawn often pairs it with subtle resin accents that catch the light, creating something that’s both functional and absolutely stunning. It’s the kind of piece that makes guests ask, “Where did you get that?” And they’ll love telling the story.
We’ve learned that the best housewarming gifts are things people didn’t know they needed until they had them. A beautiful cutting board that makes them want to cook more. A decorative bottle stopper that turns every wine bottle into a conversation piece.
What makes these gifts special isn’t just their uniqueness โ though you definitely won’t find anything like them at Target. It’s that they’re made to last. These aren’t things that’ll break or go out of style. They’re heirlooms in the making, pieces that will still be beautiful and functional decades from now.
Every time they use that cutting board or turn on that lamp, they’ll think of you and the thoughtfulness behind the gift. And isn’t that exactly what you want a housewarming gift to do?
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What Makes a “Wow” Unboxing?
(It’s more than just tissue paper โ though we love that too.)
There’s something magic about gift giving. And it’s not just the squeal someone makes when they open your present โ though that’s pretty great too. For us, it’s the whole experience. From choosing the perfect piece (you know the one that practically has their name on it) to the way it’s presented, gift giving is one big love letter wrapped in shredded craft paper.
Hi, I’m Dawn โ and while I’m no Martha Stewart when it comes to gift wrapping (honestly, Rex would agree), I do personally pack and ship every single item that leaves our shop. Every. Single. One. Rex, for all his woodworking wizardry, is a little less enthused about boxing things up. ๐ So, if you’ve ever gotten one of our lovingly packed packages, that’s me in every fold and flourish.
What Makes an Unboxing Feel Magical?
When you’re gifting something handmade โ especially a one-of-a-kind piece like we make โ the wrapping should reflect that same care. Whether it’s a handcrafted pen, a cutting board, or something whimsically carved that defies categorization, here’s how we make it special (and how you can too).
1. The Box: Form Meets Function
Our handcrafted pen boxes are an absolute favorite for gifting โ sturdy, beautiful, and customizable to match the pen inside. Beyond that, we use good ol’ corrugated cardboard boxes for most items because they hold up like champs under trees and on gift tables. Don’t have one handy? Cake and muffin boxes work great too โ just make sure what you’re wrapping won’t wiggle too much.
2. The Filling: Keep It Green, Keep It Gorgeous
We’re all about sustainable gift wrapping, so we use recycled kraft paper or even shredded scraps from our own projects to cushion the goods. Fill the box only halfway โ you want your gift to nestle in cozily, not disappear in a paper avalanche. If you want to throw in some tissue paper for color or flair, go for it. (Bonus points for a sticker or stamp to seal it up.)
3. Add the Love Note
This is your moment. A little card tucked inside, filled with words that only the recipient gets to read? Chef’s kiss. Make it sappy. Make it silly. Make it yours. This small gesture is what elevates a thoughtful gift from nice to unforgettable.
4. Decorate with Intention
Are you wrapping this or decorating it? Because with kraft paper boxes, it’s your call. Add ribbon, a stamp, a pressed flower โ go full Pinterest if that’s your vibe. Or keep it simple with twine and a handwritten tag. Either way, it’s going to be beautiful, because it’s personal.
At the end of the day, gifting handmade pieces is about more than the “thing” โ it’s the feeling that comes with it. So give beautifully. Give thoughtfully. And if that includes something made by us here at Sarkanys Rising, just know a whole lot of heart went into it.
As always, we’re here if you have questions, want to chat about gift wrapping ideas, or need a pen box to match your masterpiece.
Until next time, keep making moments that matter โ and wrapping them like you mean it.
Warmly,
Dawn (and Rex, who still refuses to wrap anything)