For Isle of Hope newcomer Erin Goodman Findlay, returning to her neighborhood feels akin to arriving at a miniature wildlife sanctuary. Surrounding nature constantly fuels her creative output, but the heart of her enterprise—Erin Goodgirl—draws inspiration from an entirely different source: youthful imagination.

A Savannah College of Art and Design fashion design graduate, Findlay spent years honing her craft in New York City, creating garments for brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, OshKosh B’Gosh, and Kenneth Cole. Weary of the material waste typical in commercial production, she stepped away to explore sustainable alternatives. That shift led to her current venture, launched last year, which gives discarded clothing and childhood artwork new purpose.

Findlay translates drawings—often rendered by young children on paper destined for trash bins—into tactile keepsakes. Working with thread, beads, felt, and canvas, she transforms whimsical sketches into detailed embroidery patches, stitched directly onto upcycled apparel or framed for wall display.

"It makes it feel real when you turn a mermaid into a thread patch," Findlay said.

Her technique draws heavily on naive art, surrealism, and traditional haute couture embellishment. Beyond navigating modern sewing machine tech updates, her primary goal remains simple: treating children’s fleeting sketches as fine art worthy of preservation.

A familiar presence at the Isle of Hope Art & Music Fest and the Service Brewing Co. Christmas Market, Findlay takes custom commissions through her website, eringoodgirl.com, and Instagram account, @eringoodgirl.