RAPID CITY - Bianca Boll believes people of all ages enjoy coloring books on some level.

"Maybe you don't sit around and color anymore, but I think we all fondly remember our coloring days," Boll said.

In a salute to scribblers of all ages, Boll recently published "Gypsy Doodles."

Boll is director of the Gypsy, Black Hills Belly Dance troupe, and her interests were the source for the coloring book's content.

"My doodling has heavily been influenced by my Middle Eastern dance and cultural studies," Boll said, identifying henna art and belly dance influences as well as the Romany (Gypsy) language it teaches.

"The more I study about the Romany people, the more I know that we don't know very much about them," Boll said. "I'm kind of trying to help create some interest in their little world … to maybe inspire people to do some of their own studies, about the Romany people or any world culture."

"Gypsy Doodles" boasts a whimsical innocence and a childlike approach, giving the Romany word for everything from guitar to rainbow to fish, along with a quirky line drawing of each for children to color in.

The book is intended to appeal to amateur artists of all ages.

"There's not monsters or trucks or superheroes, so I don't know if older boys will be as interested, but younger boys and girls of all ages -from little bitty to grown-up women - I think would enjoy it," Boll said.

The coloring book is the first book of any kind that Boll has written, and its creation was something of an accident.

"I have been doodling my whole life almost, as a way to stay out of trouble in class, and stay awake in lectures … like most people, I can doodle when I'm a little bit bored," she said.

After receiving compliments on her idle doodlings and hearing from several people that they would love to color her sketches, Boll realized homemade coloring books would make a nifty - and thrifty - Christmas gift for young relatives.

When she sat down to draw, the plan was to do five drawings to give to nieces and nephews for Christmas. After 17 pages, Boll ran out of paper - "or I probably would have kept on going," she said with a laugh.

The completed book, which is self-published, features 20 colorable pages plus the front cover, which children can embellish as they please as well.

"Gypsy Doodles" is available at Global Market in Rapid City and Spearfish, Motions Dancewear, the Best Little Hairhouse in the Black Hills, Java Junction between Black Hawk and Piedmont, Valley Washhouse in Piedmont and Gypsy Rose Tattoo Studio.

It also will be for sale at upcoming book signings.

All proceeds from sales of "Gypsy Doodles" will be given to Camp Friendship, a summer camp in the Black Hills that caters to individuals age 8 and older who have physical and developmental disabilities.

The camp is staffed by a family of more than 150 volunteers that provide one-on-one care and assistance for each camper as well as creating all of the program activities.

"They work so hard, and it would benefit so many people to have just a little bit more money to work with," Boll said.

Camp Friendship is a cause near and dear to Boll's heart. Her own son, Joshua, to whom the book is dedicated, has enjoyed stays at Camp Friendship for the past three years.

Joshua, now 10, was diagnosed at an early age with a genetic abnormality that created delays in all areas of development.

"He inspires my husband and I both just to keep going every day. We get up and face the music, so to speak, and he's really a driving factor for that. He's just very special to us," Boll said.

"He's a special, sweet, amazing little kid; he touches everyone's hearts."

On the Web: Camp Friendship, www.campfriendship.org

Contact Ruth Milne at ruth.milne@rapidcityjournal.com.