Let’s Color Plastic Monkeys, Mermaids, Elephants, and Tiny Umbrellas Back to Life!
If you grew up in the ‘60s or ‘70s, you might remember the real stars of any fancy drink — those tiny plastic charms clinging to the rim. Maybe it was a monkey swinging from your Shirley Temple, or a pink elephant floating above the fizz. As a kid, I didn’t care what was in the glass… I just wanted that charm! I’d collect them like treasure, each one a glittery souvenir from a grown-up world of Tiki bars, velvet lounges, and pineapple slices on toothpicks.
These quirky drink companions were basically the Happy Meal toys before Happy Meals — and I’ve brought them back to life (minus the sticky fingers) with a set of vintage-inspired coloring pages! You’ll find all the classics: the monkey, elephant, mermaid, and camel — plus the tiny plastic sword that once skewered cherries and orange wedges. And of course, no retro cocktail is complete without a paper umbrella or two.
Two of the pages even invite you to play mixologist — add your own garnishes, umbrellas, and fruity flair. Go wild with the colors and create something Trader Vic himself would envy!
✨ Click the link for your free download and let’s toast to a splash of nostalgia, one crayon at a time. 🍹
You know when you find something so one-of-a-kind, it feels like the thrift gods smiled directly at you? Yeah. That’s this 1970s green velvet skirt.
A Handmade Boho Dream
Say hello to our latest vintage treasure: a true 1970s green velvet broomstick skirt that practically hums with boho vibes. She’s soft. She’s swishy. She’s got the kind of effortless drama that makes people stop and say, “Where did you get that?”
How to Style It
This isn’t the kind of skirt you tuck away for a special occasion. This is the skirt you wear to the farmer’s market, the backyard concert, the Tuesday you just felt cute.
Style Tips:
Pair with classic tennis shoes (for chasing dreams or buses)
Add a mandala tee and big, unapologetically pink earrings
Toss on a hand-painted denim jacket and become walking art
The vibe? Cosmic flower child meets artsy downtown cool.
Vintage, Handmade, One-of-a-Kind
This green velvet skirt is handmade and vintage, which means there’s only one. When it’s gone, it’s gone. So if your heart’s doing a little flutter right now… that’s your sign.
Get the Look
Go ahead. Get the skirt. Throw on the jacket. Be the walking art gallery you were born to be.
Hey there, creative souls! Let me introduce you to something that’s been in the works for a while now—the Poodoodle Journal. It’s more than just a notebook; it’s a creative companion designed to help you unleash your ideas, without the pressure or perfectionism that often holds us back.
The Birth of the Poodoodle Journal
The idea for the Poodoodle Journal came from my own struggle with the dreaded blank page. You know, that empty stare-down where your mind goes blank and creativity feels miles away? Sound familiar? I’ve been there too many times to count, and I realized: we need something to help us embrace that initial mess, the not-so-perfect ideas, and the glorious “oops” moments.
That’s where the Poodoodle comes in.
I wanted to create a space where anything goes. A place to doodle, brainstorm, make lists, scribble down half-baked ideas, and write without judgment. The Poodoodle Journal is here to remind you that creativity doesn’t need to be perfect to be beautiful. Whether your ideas are fresh, funky, or even a little funky-looking, it’s all good. The journal’s name alone is a playful nod to this—because sometimes a little fun (and a little nonsense) is exactly what we need to spark our best ideas.
Poodoodle Journal Features
140 dotted pages: The dots give you just enough structure for sketches, bullet points, and creative layouts, but they don’t box you in. It’s all about flexibility.
5.5″ × 8.5″: A compact size that’s perfect for tossing in your bag, yet spacious enough to let your ideas stretch out.
Wire-bound for easy use: No awkward flipping or bending. It’s ready to go, wherever you are.
And here’s a little bonus inspiration on the back cover:
That’s right. Not every idea has to be a stroke of genius. Sometimes, you’ve got to start with the so-so ones and let them evolve. The Poodoodle Journal is here to encourage that messy, beautiful process.
A Thoughtful Purchase
One of the things I’m most proud of with the Poodoodle Journal is how it’s made. Each journal is crafted just for you when you place your order. No mass production, no piles of unsold stock. This on-demand model helps reduce overproduction and waste, so every purchase is a more sustainable choice. How cool is that?
Let’s Doodle, Let’s Create
I truly believe that creativity flourishes when we take the pressure off and just let the ideas flow—no matter how imperfect they may seem. So, if you’ve been staring at a blank page, hoping for inspiration to strike, it’s time to stop waiting. Pick up the Poodoodle Journal, and let the creative chaos begin.
Remember, it’s not about the end result; it’s about the process. So let’s make room for a little mess, a little doodle, and a whole lot of inspiration.
I hope this inspires you to dive into your next creative adventure. Whether you’re sketching your dreams, planning your goals, or just letting your thoughts run wild, the Poodoodle Journal is here to help you do it all—no stress, no pressure, just pure creative freedom.
Just 120 miles North of Santa Fe, New Mexico is the captivating Village of Chama, home to the historic Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. From late-May to mid-October, steam trains transport passengers from the sunshine of New Mexico to the snow covered mountains of Colorado, all on the same day.
Railroad service to Chama began in 1881, it rapidly evolved into a boomtown, and ultimately matured into a lively Western-style business district. In the heart of the business district, Railyard Rebel, a one-of-a-kind shop filled with gorgeous clothing, jewelry, accessories, and New Mexico inspired gifts; offers a blend of western style and Bohemian design. The shop is housed in the Sterling and Sage building. Recently the shop and building needed signs and that is how my husband, Curtis (a sign painter), and I got involved.
My primary objective for this project was to develop a logo for Railyard Rebel. Drawing inspiration from steam trains’ textural elements (iron, metal rivets, wood), and vintage floral textiles, I was able to create a logo that married vintage train character with western style and boho design.
Railyard Rebel Logo Design
Railyard Rebel’s new owners wanted to repurpose signs from the previous business. There were four wooden signs with cut-out shapes resembling old Scenic Line of the World advertisements. In the before and after photo you can see that I tailored Railyard Rebel’s logo to fit the semi-circular band at the top of the sign and swapped the yellow and red for their brand colors.
Vintage Ad for Scenic Line of the World
Before and After
Overhauling the train illustration involved a bit of research, but I was lucky enough to find a reference photos depicting one of Cumbres and Toltec’s engines. I rendered the train digitally in Procreate and Adobe Photoshop.
Printed decals were produced once the design was complete. We cleaned, sanded, and painted the wooden signs, then carefully applied the decals. Curtis skillfully hand-painted the tassels and finials with a glossy white sign paint.
Hand Painting Tassels and Finials
Although there were a handful of design challenges, we were able to take four tired signs and breathe new life into them.
Final Sign Design
A new sign was created to hang beneath the covered walkway. Bright pink and gold floral elements on a smoky gray base serve as the backdrop for the logo’s light blue letters. It was finished with a hand-crafted wooden frame to generate an old western-feel.
Framed Hanging Sign
Sterling and Sage, the building housing Railyard Rebel and The Lofts @ Sterling & Sage, needed exterior ID signs. The owners’ design concept was to use a sheet of thick metal and have the letters cut out. The painted black finish was determined in the final stages of the design.
Sterling and Sage – 534 Terrace Avenue, Chama, New MexicoMetal Signs with Cut-out LettersInstalling the Sterling and Sage Metal Sign on the Front of the Building
Railyard Rebel is looking forward to their first fall season since opening their doors in May 2022. It is a great time to ride the railroad, enjoy a day trip of exhilarating rugged mountain views, and relish the fall colors.
Child Sized Jacket (Painted Sleeves and Front Panels)
A new addition to Cowboy Kimono’s Etsy store, this recycled jean jacket has bright green and turquoise vines climbing up each sleeve and shoulders capped with a sacred heart. The “Martian” leaf motif continues on the front panels beneath the pockets, contrasting with the deep indigo blue of the denim. Dimensional paint creates faux embroidery accents. It’s good to know that this child size jacket is washable, durable and one-of-a-kind!
Another holiday season – I’m short on time and short on funds. This year’s challenge: create quick gifts that cost absolutely zero dollars (not even the price of a postage stamp). Ready to savor the spirit of giving?
Wrap Your Skills. Web Skills? Build a free blog, construct an engaging Facebook Page, or share a great video backdrop image. Photographer? Stylist? Coordinate a digital photoshoot. Artist? Give a pet sketch.
Choreograph A Tour. Collect addresses of neighbors with spectacular holiday lights and decor and map out a tour. Find addresses by checking out NextDoor App’s Holiday Cheer Map or Facebook Groups. Prepare a GPS route or try Christmasprism (an app developed by a Dad to find the best decorated holiday homes).
Rustle Up A Field Trip. Work at an exciting place? A zoo, historical building, baseball stadium? Offer a look-see!
Give Sentimental. Record a family recipe how-to on video. Collect stories about your family’s holiday traditions, pranks and/or hacks, and share in an email.
Nurture Talent. Hook-up a budding writer by uploading their book to Kindle Direct Publishing. Encourage an artist or entrepreneur by writing a positive review, following them on social media, giving a shout-out online, and engaging with their posts (@coachjojo).
1 sheet heavyweight paper, cut to fit inside the envelope
1 sheet heavyweight paper, to protect the surface where you are working
Post-it Notes
Mailing Label (optional)
Cactus Patch Art How-To:
Steps
Start by placing post-it notes on the front of the envelope over the address area to keep it the same color as the envelope.
Insert a cut sheet of heavyweight paper inside the envelope to keep the markers from bleeding onto the backside.
Select 3-4 harmonious colors (these would be next to each other on the color wheel or all the same color family). Blues or greens work well. Go a bit wilder by using orange, yellow and red or purple, red and blue.
Using the brush end of the pen, make an inverted “U” that flares out a bit at the bottom.
Grab another color and draw a stripe just to the right of your first line. The stripes can touch or overlap on the edge. Let the stripe get wider as you move towards the bottom.
Repeat until the “U” shape is filled with stripes of color.
Using the fine tip in the same color as your original U-shape, dot the outside to create needles.
Repeat the above steps next to your original U-shape, but make this one smaller in size and overlap it a bit. This will create the illusion of depth.
Continue making different sizes and overlapping until the bottom 2/3 of the envelope is covered.
Pick two harmonious colors for the blossoms. Using the fine tip, make clusters of upside-down teardrop shapes along the top each cactus.
Select one of the lightest markers and use the fine tip to draw lines for the sky.
Use your white Signo pen and marker’s fine tips to draw different patterns lining the cactus stripes. If you need some pattern ideas, check out the black and white handout (below).
With the white Signo pen, add needles to the edges.
Finally, draw concentric teardrop lines inside the cactus blossoms using the white Signo pen.
Remove post-it masks. Cover address area with a mailing label for cleaner edges (optional)
You can play with the design even more by:
Mixing-in different types of cactus – add a barrel cactus or prickly pear.
Create a sea life version with coral, starfish, and seaweed.
Finish the envelope by lining it with colorful paper. Envelope liner templates are available at Pennysmiths Paper.
A hand painted Cowboy Kimono + faux fur collar + thrift store scarf = THREE-IN-ONE Fashion. Perfect if you like to dress for your current mood.
I’ve been finding used denim jackets and converting them into Cowboy Kimonos for years. This year I wanted to collaborate with my oldest son who sews faux fur vests and hoodies. Together we made this neon turquoise faux fur collar.
Fur Collar with Scarf
Check-out the underside…there are loops to hold a scarf in place!
The three elements can be combined for different looks.
Both sleeves of the Cowboy Kimono are hand-painted with dimensional fabric paint.
Sleeve detail
This original, three-in-one outfit is now available for purchase.
A longtime client asked me to create a series of caricatures for her salon. The salon’s logo includes a mascot that is a simple vector illustration. This versatile mascot has been disassembled, worn slippers and a towel, driven a truck, somersaulted, had a male twin, and more. The salon nicknamed her, Audrey.
Pieces of Audrey
Audrey was the inspiration for the caricature style. The hair stylist and nail technician’s each have a different color for their business cards. The colors used in the caricatures match their business cards. I took photos of each subject and developed their caricatures in Illustrator. Below are four examples.
Annette ElaineAmorena
Jackie
This graphic style ended up being very a flattering way to shine the light on their fabulous hairstyles.
