Gifts & Souvenirs
👜 TimberTote Wooden Purses at Tucson Gallery
A TimberTote looks like it shouldn’t exist—then you pick it up, and suddenly a wooden purse feels like the most natural thing in the world.
Available in-store at Tucson Gallery in downtown Tucson. Call 520-606-5440 to check current stock.
Each TimberTote starts as birch wood that’s carefully cut with a pattern of tiny relief lines called a “living hinge,” allowing the wood to bend and curve without breaking. The result is a graceful, arching wooden body paired with bold colors, custom-printed fabrics, and hardware that feels as special as the art it carries.
At Tucson Gallery, you’ll find a rotating collection of TimberTote purses and accessories, some featuring artwork by our own gallery artists, so you can literally wear a piece of Tucson art on your arm.
✨ So… What Exactly Is a TimberTote?
Think of TimberTote as a collaboration between:
- a woodworker who figured out how to bend wood like fabric, and
- a fashion designer who refuses to make boring bags.
From there, they pulled in even more creatives: tattoo artists engraving designs into the outside panels, muralists whose artwork is printed onto the interior fabrics, and now Tucson Gallery artists whose work shows up on the linings and graphics of select bags.
Each purse is:
- Cut from premium birch plywood, stained in rich colors or natural finishes
- Lined with 100% cotton fabric that’s adhered to the wood before cutting so the inside feels as intentional as the outside
- Finished by hand with hardware, straps, and stitching that match the artwork and stain
- Designed and made in Tucson by the TimberTote team and their artist collaborators
They’re real, functional handbags—but they’re also conversation-starting sculptures that happen to carry your keys.
👀 At A Glance
Details vary by design, but here’s what most TimberTote purses at Tucson Gallery have in common:
- Material: Birchwood exterior with living-hinge relief cuts, cotton interior, quality hardware
- Designs: Classic stains, Fantasy Collection pieces, U of A–inspired styles, and bags featuring Tucson Gallery artwork
- Origin: Designed and handcrafted in Tucson, Arizona
- Price range: Approximately $80–$160 depending on style and collectionLocal First Arizona
- Wear: Adjustable straps or chains, finished interiors, fully functional everyday bags
- Availability: Small-batch runs, so styles come and go—once a favorite design sells out, it may not return exactly the same
❤️ Why You’ll Love TimberTote Purses
TimberTotes get the same reaction over and over:
first a double take, then a smile, then, “Wait…this is wood??”
Here’s what makes them so fun to carry (and to gift):
- They’re jaw-droppingly unexpected.
A wooden purse already stands out. Add rich stains, engraved artwork, and illustrated linings, and it becomes an instant “Where did you get that?” piece.Local First Arizona - They’re genuinely usable.
These aren’t fragile art objects you’re afraid to touch. The living hinge and reinforced construction make them comfortable to open, close, and carry. - The inside is part of the art.
Look closely and you’ll find collaged storybook scenes, fantasy illustrations, university motifs, and original art prints turned into fabric. - They feel local in the best way.
Born from a collaboration inside Proper Shops right here in downtown Tucson, TimberTotes are rooted in the same creative community that powers Tucson Gallery. - They tell people who you are.
Bookish kid? There’s a bookshelves or book-page interior. Fairy-tale lover? Fantasy Collection. Diehard Wildcat? U of A block-A designs. Art collector? TimberTotes featuring work from Tucson Gallery artists.
🪵 Thoughtful Design & Quality Materials
One of the most exciting things about TimberTote is how often other artists are invited into the process. Some bags:
- Feature engraved graphics created by tattoo artists like Jenny Burghard
- Use interior fabrics printed with murals by local artists such as Ignacio
- Showcase special prints and patterns inspired by (or directly featuring) Tucson Gallery artists, available only through our gallery
That means the TimberTote you pick up here might be a three-way collaboration: woodworker, fashion designer, and visual artist—all wrapped up into one wearable piece of art.
🎁 The Perfect Gift for…
TimberTote purses make especially good gifts (including “from me, to me”) for:
- Fashion lovers who collect unusual handbags and small-batch accessories
- Art fans & gallery regulars who want a piece of Tucson art they can carry every day
- U of A alumni & Wildcats superfans who will happily rock a wooden purse with a block A and campus-inspired artTimberTote+1
- Makers & designers who geek out over craft, engineering, and materials
- Visitors to Tucson looking for that one show-stopping souvenir they won’t see back home
- Anyone who hears “You can’t wear wood” and thinks “…watch me.”Local First Arizona
Visit Tucson Gallery
These creative Gifts & Souvenirs (and so much more) are available exclusively in-store. Stop by, explore, and find your favorite piece of Tucson to take home.
📍 Tucson Gallery
245 E Congress St Suite 101
Tucson, AZ 85701
📞 520-606-5440
🕒 Hours:
Monday – Closed
Tuesday – 10 – 8
Wednesday – 10 – 8
Thursday – 10 – 8
Friday – 10 – 8
Saturday – 10 – 8
Sunday – 10 – 5