Although I haven’t been to the Phoenix Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival since I moved to Tucson, I wanted to update information about the last show I went to and the vendors I met. The 2026 show starts tomorrow (January 29). Not all of these vendors will be there, but plenty more will be participating!
Last year, I went to two days of the Festival – one with my Mom and one with sister-in-law Dinah and friend Kelli.
The first day, we ended up parking in a lot that was actually meant to be for a dog show, which we needed to walk through to get to our Festival.
The second day, I parked there on purpose. We walked past booths of dog stuff and people with impeccably groomed and well-mannered dogs. I really wanted to ask one of them if their dog was available to tutor our little rascal Quijote. But that’s not why we were there.
Walking into the Festival building meant being surrounded by a dazzling array of colors and patterns, handcrafted items, crafty inventions, and big ticket items like long arm sewing machines. It was fun to check in with favorite vendors from the past, meet new ones, and see things I hadn’t before. Continue reading “Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival: Patterns + Fabric”
It’s a new year, but don’t miss these books released by Tucson authors in 2025!
Mural by Jessica Gonzales on the side of Antigone Books, Tucson
Order, order!
I’ve included links to order via Bookshop.org, but you can also check your favorite local bookstore.
Fun fact: Most bookstores that sell new books can order just about anything in print, whether they carry it or not. If they don’t have an online shop, call or stop in.
If you prefer to browse in a brick-and-mortar shop, I’ve listed independent Tucson- and Phoenix-area bookstores that say they have a particular title in stock. (I didn’t bother which stores you can order these books from, because the answer is any of them.)
Barnes and Noble also had a few of these books available in certain stores, so you can check there if that’s the option closest to you.
Her Arizona Trail advocacy, as well as her photography and writing about hiking and the outdoors.
About the Book:
This book is part of the Urban Trails series, published by Mountaineers Books. It’s a look at nearly 50 trails in Tucson and the surrounding areas. Each trail has a several-page description, along with maps and photos. Even before you get to those, there is tons of information about desert wildlife, Tucson culture, hiking tips, and local pronunciation. There’s a handy map and chart that will allow you to quickly find a trail based on location and length, as well as kid- and/or dog-friendliness.
by Sonoran Rosie (Rosie Crocker), illustrations by Hannah Davies
You may know the author from…
Their desert plant-based skincare/self-care products and their artist spotlight in my all holiday market post. They are also the owner of Arizona Poppy Shop and founder of the seasonal Desert Air Market.
About the Book:
Divided into blooming seasons, this book helps you identify key plants and describes their place in the Sonoran desert ecosystem. It explains practical uses for each plant and how they can be responsibly foraged. goes beyond helping you simply identify desert plants, it describes their practical uses and even includes recipes for natural skincare, herbal remedies, and other goodies!
Serena is a prolific artist in a wide variety of media. You may have spotted her ceramics, stickers, or watercolors at a local market, seen her murals at Hotel McCoy, or watched videos about her process and – often surprising – projects. And I’ve heard her DIY eraser stamps made a big splash on TikTok.
Carving stamps from pink rubber erasers is more than just the latest maker trend. It’s about democratizing art, about the freedom that comes with creating using what you have on hand – instead of being limited by expensive supplies.
“…using the less expensive materials is freeing, healing, and I believe will help us gain that confidence in ourselves that we need to trust our creativity.” –Serena Rios McRae
“Drought affects all of us. Whether you’re in the deserts of Arizona, the plains of the Midwest, or urban centers like Los Angeles and Atlanta, water resilience starts at home.”
–Martha Retallick
About the Book:
A practical companion to City Nature, this book goes deeper into the how-tos of creating a lush landscape in the desert. If you’re familiar with Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond by Brad Lancaster, then you’ll be aware of concepts like shaping your yard to capture rainwater and reusing gray water. In this case, however, you have the addition of Martha Retallick’s nature photography with text that is informational, but much less dense.
Image via Water Harvesting 101 Podcast / Martha Retallick.
A follow-up to her previous book, Tree Story: The History of the World Written in Rings, this time Valerie Trouet has collected stories of trees from all over the world. She introduces the book by explaining the science behind studying tree rings, and then presents 10 stories from other dendrochronologists, each about a tree species that has been important in their work.
It is illustrated by intricate woodcarvings by Blaze Cyan, a British landscape artist who feels especially connected to ancient trees and forests.
The monthly “Western Women” column she’s written for the Arizona Star for over a decade. This is her seventh book – and the fifth that focuses specifically on historical Arizona women and girls.
About the Book:
Each of the titular 100 western women gets a short, biographical chapter in the book. They are grouped into broad sections, such as Pioneers, Innkeepers, Educators, Military Wives, and “The Compassionate.” While it sometimes glosses over the more problematic aspects of the stories, there’s enough good information to make it worth the read.
Because each chapter is adapted from a self-contained article, you don’t have to read them in order. You can skip around or skim the table of contents for names that catch your attention.
by Jack Dash, Luke Takata, Native Plant Society Arizona
“Habitat fragmentation is the global challenge that the average gardener has the greatest ability to help solve… Almost anyone can grow native plants and help knit together the fabric of ecosystems that have been torn apart by human activity.”
–The Southwest Native Plant Primer
The book is part of a series of Native Plant Primers by Timber Press. There’s also one for the Southeast, the Pacific Northwest, one just for Texas, etc.
This particular volume describes the diverse bioregions within the Southwest. Besides descriptions of 235 plants that are native to the region and commonly available, it also includes hints on topics like mulching and choosing annuals vs. perennials.
As an affiliate for Etsy and Bookshop.org, I may earn commission on purchases you make after clicking one of my links. It doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps support this site. Thanks!
Happy New Year! Here’s your Happenings List for the first part of 2026. It’s full of ways to support the arts and people making cool stuff, enjoy nature, and explore traditions and history.
Since the first time Phillip and I attended Tucson Comic-Con a few years ago, the event has expanded to take over most of Tucson Convention Center and the adjoining Tucson Arena!
It now spans 3 days full of activities, including panels, fan group meetups, an art zone with free classes, scavenger hunts, costume contests, plus a grand ballroom dedicated to all kinds of gaming – giant board games, a free play arcade, puzzle competitions, role-playing games, and more. Continue reading “Tucson Comic-Con 2025 Highlights”
Updated November 2025. Originally published November 2020.
Lately, I can’t seem to ignore this charming yellow hue that’s a bit more orangey than mustard and more opaque than just plain honey. I’m calling it “honeycomb.”
You can find this sweet shade on artisan goods, as well as things you can make, wear, or eat.
1. Honeycomb with fresh nectar reflecting the tree canopy. Photo by Max Westby, a beekeeper and honey producer in Burgundy, France. (CCL)
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