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Darby Hunter first heard about trinket trade boxes when an account from Phoenix popped up on her Instagram feed.
As it turns out, Phoenix has dozens of trinket trade boxes — like little free libraries but for trinkets.
“I was just really jealous that Phoenix had like 30 trinket trade boxes and we had none. When I went up there and messed with the trinket trade boxes, I was like, ‘That’s it. I have to do it. We have to do one in Tucson.’ I love knick-knack trinket-y things. I wanted trinkets! I wanted all the trinkets in the whole wide world.”
After visiting 10 of the boxes in the Phoenix area, she opened her own — Tucson’s first — in April. It hangs on the wall inside the Golf N’ Stuff arcade, 6503 E. Tanque Verde Rd., and is locked to ensure people don’t take from the box without dropping off an item to trade first. (For all you trinket lovers reading this: the code is 520.)
“I just love how whimsical trinkets are. You can have a little tiny creature inside of your pocket all the time,” says Darby, who is a maker most known for her silly stickers and other art. “Finding little miscellaneous stuff is so fun.”
While Darby plans to open more trinket boxes in Tucson, so far her favorite find from a trading box is a tiny shelf that came stocked with even tinier jars of jams and marmalades. The teensy containers have labels and fabric tweed bows tied around them.
But her all-time favorite trinket in her collection is a two-inch Monchhichi that sits in her daily view.
What exactly counts as a trinket? Think tiny toys and figurines, squishies, stickers, patches, pins, keychains and more treasures that can fit in one hand.
“I’m for any kind of trinket that is inside of those boxes. You never know what you’re going to find,” Darby says.
More than anything, Darby hopes trinket trading becomes more popular in Tucson — not a trend, but something whimsy, playful and monetarily free that will forever bond the community.
Luckily, Darby’s dream might be turning into a reality — since she opened her trinket trade box, six more have popped up in Tucson with at least one more on the way. Here’s where to find them all.
Note: Some trinket trade boxes are added to the World Wide Sidewalk Joy, a worldwide map run by an artist in Portland, Oregon. As new trinket trade boxes open, I’ll update this list.
Golf N’ Stuff by Darby Hunter Art
I have long loved Darby Hunter‘s art. It’s silly and absurd and unhinged in all the best ways. When she announced she’d be opening a trinket trade box, it made perfect sense.
Info: Inside Golf N’ Stuff‘s arcade, 6503 E. Tanque Verde Rd. The code for the box is 520. Open during arcade hours: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.
Sigfus Designs by Desert Goth Club & Tucson Love Letter
In February, Desert Goth Club hosted a trinket trade party that I wanted so badly to attend. While I couldn’t make it to the party, I thought it was a genius idea and I wanted to get involved. We ended up opening a trinket trade box of our own at Sigfus Designs, which is home to a giant charm bar.
Info: Inside Sigfus Designs, 3264 N. Country Club Rd. Open during store hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday for the summer.
Sunset Glass Gallery by Aphyx Studios
Aphyx Studios is the artist behind the trinket box that hangs on the wall at Sunset Glass Gallery, which is a smoke shop, glassblowing studio and event space. Sunset unveiled the trinket box with a trading party in May.
Info: Inside Sunset Glass Gallery, 2725 E. Grant Rd. Open during store hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. To visit, you must be age 21 and up or age 18 and up with a med card.
The Wonder Swap by Mother Chalker
Trinket trading came to Vail when The Wonder Swap opened in May. The purple box hangs on a neighborhood wall often surrounded by chalk art (the box’s owner is chalk artist Mother Chalker!). Pay attention to the Instagram page because there are occasional themed takeovers!
Info: East Via Cerro Del Molino in Vail. Only available during daytime hours.
Team Avery Trinket Trade by My Dead Doll
This neighborhood trinket trade box originally started with kindness rocks in 2020, followed by a free library a year later. Now there’s a box dedicated to trinkets! The neighborhood box is run by jewelry artist GOREgeous and there are trinket updates on TikTok here!
Info: Located at 4523 E. 16th St.
The Crow’s Curiosities Trinket Box by Casa Mapache
Tucked into a Little Free Library in an east-side neighborhood are several trinkets to trade. The family behind the stand calls their library Casa Mapache, which translates to Raccoon House, inspired by the wildlife seen in their front yard each night.
Info: Located at 5932 E. 18th St. inside the Little Free Library.
Tucson Trinket Treasure Trove by Downtown Ali Cat
Fabric artist Downtown Ali Cat opened a trinket trade box in early June, located in a residential part of the Mercado District. As their art studio gets too full, they add the cutesy items to the trinket box outside!
Info: Located along South Avenida del Sembrador in the Mercado District.
Pop Cycle by Desert Goth Club, Tucson Love Letter & Darby Hunter Art
This time, Desert Goth Club and I are teaming up with Darby Hunter Art to install a trinket box created by all three of us! The box will live at Pop Cycle after Aug. 24.
If you’d like to celebrate trinkets before then, join us from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23 down the street at the Coalition Space, 311 E. 7th St. It’ll be a trinket trade party where you can swap trinkets with others, plus we’ll have free crafts! Bring a trinket, take a trinket. 🙂
Info: After Aug. 24, the box will be available inside Pop Cycle, 422 N. Fourth Ave., during store hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
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