While COVID-19 has thrown us all off balance, people are helping each other get back on their feet in some lovely ways – sharing their art, connecting people with resources, checking in on family and friends, donating where they can, helping the “helpers” on the front lines, and buying from their local mom-and-pop shops and restaurants. (All from a safe distance, of course!)
I’ve rounded up a list of various goodies to help you stay well, support independent artists and businesses, and give back.
Free to Download
Adobe: Resources for creativity at home!
- Coloring book pages by designers and illustrators. Each week, there’s a new set of pages with themes like “gratitude” and “alphabet.”
- Short films about design.
- Public domain images and fonts to liven up your paper craft projects!
- Tips for photographing your plants and pets.
Badge Bomb: Fun stay-at-home-themed coloring pages, activity sheets, and stickers you can print and color.
Bluprint: Patterns for sewing face masks and instructions for folding no-sew masks.
Native Seeds/SEARCH:
- Tips for collecting and saving seeds from your garden.
- Lots of resources for gardening in desert climates.
Why I Love Where I Live:
- Coloring pages by Southwestern artists.
- Backgrounds for your phone or Zoom meetings by Tucson-based Saywells Design, including mask-wearing cacti.
Workshops
Debbie Allen Dance Academy: Founded by Debbie Allen of Fame fame, DADA is a non-profit organization with programs to expand young people’s access to dance + theater.
- $3 dance classes on weekdays (signup via Zoom required).
- Free Instagram Live classes on weekends.
Lisa Congdon: A couple of free online classes from an artist whose work always makes me smile.
- Sketchbook explorations – 4 part series of mixed media exercises.
- Drawing for kids – weekly videos on drawing basics.
MyIntent:
- Free classes to begin and end each day (yoga, meditation, journaling, etc.)
- A big list of free self-care resources.
Rohit Gijare: Virtual dance classes on Sundays…
- $5 semi-classical or Bolly fusion workshop with the Bollywood Boulevard choreographer.
- $8 for both classes with code BOTH.
- Free classes demonstrating a variety of art, craft, cooking, entrepreneurship, and other skills.
- Premium membership free for 2 months. (New members only.)
Shop
Arts and Artisans: 40% off everything through April 30.
Badge Bomb:
- Free colorful sheet of “Coronavirus Reward Stickers” by artist Gemma Correll with every order!
- 25% off all items in the Stay Home + Stay Busy collection.
- Free shipping on US orders over $30 + international orders over $75.
Bookman’s: For every $25 gift card purchase, Bookman’s will add a $5 reward. For every $100, get a $25 reward!
Doggie Drawings Shop: Artwork by Lili Chin 20% off. This includes Dogs of the World prints and cute enamel pins of different dog breeds.
Dogs and Donuts: Free delivery in Tucson for orders over $15.
Downtown Tucson Partnership: DTP Gift Card Incentive Program…
- Buy a $25 gift card for one of over 60 downtown businesses through the Downtown Tucson Partnership + receive a free $10 bonus!
- Participating businesses include restaurants, museums, shops, bars/breweries, salons, fitness centers, a hotel, and a theater.
- DTP will announce each round of gift card sales on its site. (Hint: They’ve mostly gone on sale on Fridays starting at 6am and sold out FAST!)
- They’ve also gathered a lot of resources to help Tucsonans navigate life during the pandemic.
Hotel Congress: Additional $25 when you purchase a $100 gift card.
L.A. County Yarn Crawl Shops:
- Knitting Tree – Sale on discontinued and overstocked items.
- Wildflower Studio – Shibui Knits Maai $14/skein (regular $17.50) + free digital pattern for M.1 scarf by Shelli Anderson with purchase of 4 skeins.
- Zoe’s Knit Studio – Free shipping (or curbside pickup) on select kits. Email info@zoesknitstudio.com for details.
MAST (at Mercado San Agustin): Free shipping on U.S. orders with promo code MARCHON. Or 25% off any one item made by Mellow, Sofie, or Tasha with code LEANON.
- 50% off sitewide with code HERWORD50 (through May 10).
- We featured a MyIntent necklace in a previous gift guide.
- Today: buy 1 art print, get one 50% off!
- Free domestic shipping on orders $40+.
- I know founder/artist Melissa through the Phoenix design community, and she is a stellar human being!
- Bolt of the Week 25% off.
- All bolt BATIKS and precut bundles 15% off (half-yard minimum).
- Select colors of King Tut thread $19.95/2000 yard cone (regular $29.95).
- Closeout fabrics $8/yard, while supplies last.
- We met this vendor at the Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival.
- 20% off Bai Long Xu (White Dragon Whiskers) Loose Leaf Sheng Puer tea.
- Free delivery within the continental U.S.
- Select tea ware on sale.
Spirit of the Artisan:
- $10 tapestry tote bag special!
- Another one of our favorite Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival vendors – now with an online shop!
- Free shipping on orders over $15 with code 2020IG.
- Buy a mask and they’ll donate one to a local organization!
Food (Arizona)
Phoenix Area
Cartel Coffee Lab, Tempe:
- Free shipping (except subscriptions) with code STAYHOME.
- Pickup available at original downtown Tempe location (on Ash).
Crown Public House, Phoenix: Weekday specials on green chili mac, wings, pizza, and more.
Peixoto Coffee, Chandler:
- Buy 3 bags of coffee, get one free.
- Free shipping or curbside pickup.
- Make a donation to help them provide hot coffee to overnight hospital workers.
Republica Empanada, Mesa: $2 beer or $10 mix-and-match six pack with any order.
Tucson
Several Tucson restaurants are offering $30 takeout meals for two, as part of Tucson To-Go! Even though it’s presented by Sonoran Restaurant Week, this deal is ongoing.
Agustin Kitchen (at Mercado San Agustin): Burgers and sandwiches (a.k.a. “handhelds”) are buy one, get one free from 2-4pm daily. Walk-up or call-in orders.
Beaut Burger (at MSA Annex): Buy one, get one free vegan burgers weekdays from 4-5pm. Walk-up orders only.
Cartel Coffee Lab, Tucson:
- Free shipping (except subscriptions) with code STAYHOME.
- Pickup available at Grant and Campbell.
Cup Cafe (in Hotel Congress):
- 20% off Cup Cafe dishes to-go. New menu includes family style meals!
- $2 off all pies and cakes by the slice.
Check out Tucson Foodie’s takeout guide or the lists that Brunch Babes Tucson has aggregated of current food, coffee, and alcohol options!
Yuma
Julieanna’s:
- Ziggy’s On-The-Fly takeout menu has value-priced versions of their signature items.
- Free delivery in Yuma. Curbside or patio pickup also available.
- One of our Yuma favorites!
What is helping you find a sense of community during this time?
