Tucson's Arizona Poppy Offers $25 Local Finds

From handmade candles to whimsical earrings, the downtown shop highlights the work of Tucson artists and makers.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 9:35pm

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A high-contrast, silkscreen-style grid of brightly colored, neon-hued desert-themed objects like cactus-shaped candles, ceramic incense holders, and embroidered patches, conceptually representing the unique, handcrafted products available at the Arizona Poppy shop in Tucson.Arizona Poppy's vibrant selection of locally made, desert-inspired goods brings a playful, artistic flair to everyday items.Tucson Today

Our weekly $25 shopping challenge takes us to Arizona Poppy, a downtown Tucson shop that showcases a variety of budget-friendly, locally made products from candles and incense holders to earrings and embroidered patches. The store features the work of several Tucson-based artists and designers, including Laterite Designs, Tough Kitty Designs, Warm Shape, and Paige Mariesa.

Why it matters

Arizona Poppy represents the vibrant local maker community in Tucson, providing a platform for artists and designers to sell their unique, handcrafted goods. In a time when many small businesses struggle, the shop's focus on supporting the local creative economy is noteworthy.

The details

At Arizona Poppy, shoppers can find an array of locally made products within a $25 budget. Highlights include bright red, handmade candles by Laterite Designs, a cactus-inspired ceramic incense dish from Tough Kitty Designs, a collection of earrings featuring mushrooms and fried eggs from Warm Shape, and nature-inspired embroidered patches by fiber artist Paige Mariesa.

  • The weekly $25 shopping challenge took place on April 9, 2026.

The players

Laterite Designs

A local business that creates handmade candles in various shapes, including cherries, prickly pear cacti, pink mushrooms, and marigolds.

Tough Kitty Designs

An artist collective that creates a variety of products, including the cactus-inspired ceramic incense dish featured at Arizona Poppy. The artist behind Tough Kitty Designs, Linnie Damm, draws inspiration from vintage, metaphysics, pop culture, and Tucson's desert landscape.

Warm Shape

A local business that opened in 2022, selling t-shirts, hats, mugs, bookmarks, keychains, stickers, clothing, skin care, herbal remedies, ceramics, and more, all created by local artists and makers. The shop's collection of earrings featuring cartoonish mushrooms and fried eggs is highlighted.

Paige Mariesa

A local fiber artist who creates nature-inspired embroidered patches featuring desert creatures like roadrunners and quails, as well as local flora and mushrooms.

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What they’re saying

“Linnie Damm works across multiple mediums and gathers inspiration from all things vintage, metaphysics, pop culture, and Tucson's desert landscape for her artwork.”

— Linnie Damm, Artist, Tough Kitty Designs

“Warm Shape, owned by Linus Schief, opened in 2022, and sells locally designed t-shirts, hats, mugs, bookmarks, keychains, stickers, clothing, skin care, herbal remedies, ceramics, and more, created by local artists and makers.”

— Linus Schief, Owner, Warm Shape

The takeaway

Arizona Poppy showcases the vibrant local maker community in Tucson, providing a platform for artists and designers to sell their unique, handcrafted goods. The shop's focus on supporting the local creative economy is a testament to the city's thriving small business and artisan culture.