Last month I shared some of my Colorado adventures with you. The ziplines my husband and I experienced offered a pulse-pounding thrill. However, I discovered another hidden gem that appealed to my imaginative side and made my bookish heart leap for joy.
One of the first places we visited in Durango was the Bar D Chuckwagon. This ranch located outside Durango included a western village with shops, a smithy, a chapel, a train, and a cowboy supper and western show that had me grinning and toe-tapping the night away.
However, the hidden gem I discovered was not the homemade biscuits or even the delectable chocolate shop. Before the dinner bell rang, I wandered into a small art gallery. I noticed works by Jack Sorenson on the wall, one of my favorite western artists, so I decided to peruse the shop.
In the back of the gallery hung a set of prints that immediately set my imagination on fire. Not because they highlighted cowboys and horses and gorgeous aspen trees, but because they highlighted little girls and books. Local Durango artist Lori Preusch captivated me with her whimsical, bookish art.
Here are a few of her amazing designs. Since I love reading with a big cup of tea, I adored how many featured tea parties with books.
Aren’t they wonderful?
You can find Lori’s full gallery at her online shop – Dandelion Press. You can purchase greeting cards, prints, and even bookplates of her designs. I purchased a greeting card with the Mother Goose design when I was in Durango and picked up a postcard with the Quill design. Love them!
Which design is your favorite?
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Thanks for sharing this cool artist’s work. Makes me want to pick up my graphite pencils or paintbrush!
I hope you do, Daphne! I’ve never had artistic talent in that direction, but I love to feast on the works of those who do!
I love to read so the one with the books would be my favorite. Always enjoy your books.
Your comment made me grin, Emogene, since they all have books. Ha! Do you mean the “Lost in Literature” one? I adore that one with the little girl digging around for the perfect book. 🙂 Thank you for your kind comment about my stories. I appreciate you!
Room with a view. Sharing books & a view!😊
I imagine there is a treehouse just out of view in that treetop from which she dragged the chairs, books, and tea set. 🙂 Looks like a marvelous tea party/book club discussion.
“Lost in Literature” is my favorite as that’s where I always seem to be 🙂
I love that one, too! I could have been that little girl. 🙂
Oh, these are wonderful. Picking a favorite is impossible. I guess I’ll go with Lost in Literature, although Invitation to a Dream is also up there. Thanks for sharing!
Aren’t they fun? I was totally enchanted by them. Can you imagine snuggling up with a book and a fuzzy, warm (and friendly!) polar bear on a cold evening? Nothing could be cozier. 🙂
Love these pictures!Are there any crosstitch designs? Any of these would be amazing.
About 20 years ago on a vacation in North Carolina, my husband and I discovered the small town of Dillsboro – pop. 50 at that time, now 219 – and local artist Linda Kotila, who had created paintings of small town life. Then about 5 years later, while visiting my daughter in California, I found a crosstitch pattern for a Linda Kotila NC Christmas scene. Of course I bought it, and my daughter insisted she do it because she crosstitches much faster than I do.
Thanks for sharing!
I like how you think, Betty! I haven’t seen any cross-stitch designs with her art. However, there is a design company – Heaven and Earth – that allows stitchers to submit recommendations. Maybe I’ll make a recommendation. 🙂
Great idea! My daughter has done several Heaven and Earth designs.
I emailed Heaven and Earth and heard back that they would add the request to their list, so maybe we’ll see cross stitch patterns for them one day. 🙂
I love these! It’s hard for me to decide between Mother Goose or Lost in Literature. They are simply adorable and beautiful all at the same time.
Those are two of my favorites, too, Shelley!
So cute! I love the Mother Goose one as well. And Room with a View. I can just imagine a cool tree house like that!
The set the imagination alight, don’t they? Reminds me of my bookish childhood and restores that delight.
I love book art! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! 🙂 I figured readers (and writers) would enjoy these.
Great art! I obsessively loved Room With A View (shades of Swiss Family Robinson’s treehouse), Lost in Literature, and Quill (Poe’s and Elijah’s ravens) and really loved the rest. Thanks for sharing.
I adore Swiss Family Robinson, and I agree that Room With A View definitely has that elaborate tree house vibe. 🙂 And I love the other two as well. Love your connection of Poe and Elijah. 🙂