From Coloring Page to Storybook Star: How Lucie the Bicycle Pup Came to Life
- Jul 1
- 8 min read
Created by author Poppy Loxley and the family behind Thistle Fox Books, Lucie’s story began with one small illustration—a gentle dachshund in a black beret, riding her flower-filled bicycle through Paris.
At the time, she was simply one of the charming characters inside our Dachshunds in Paris coloring book.
But there was something about her striped scarf, curious expression, and quiet little journey that made us wonder:
Where was she going?
Who might she meet?
And what stories were waiting just beyond the page?
That single coloring page became the beginning of something much bigger. Today, Lucie has her own wall art, picture-book series, and gentle animated storybook moments—and her Paris world is still growing.
How Lucie the Bicycle Pup Came to Life
Lucie first appeared in Dachshunds in Paris, a coloring book filled with lovable dachshunds exploring flower markets, cafés, gardens, boutiques, and beautiful corners of the City of Light.
Her original illustration captured everything we wanted the collection to feel: cozy, curious, gentle, and filled with small everyday magic.
With her little bicycle, striped scarf, flower basket, and Parisian beret, Lucie seemed to have a personality of her own. She was not simply riding through Paris. She looked as though she had somewhere special to be.
That was the moment her story began.
Bring Home a Little Piece of Lucie’s Paris
Lucie’s story may have begun on a coloring page, but her world has since grown into books, artwork, and gentle animated moments.
To welcome you into that world, we would love to send you a complimentary printable art piece featuring Lucie riding her flower-filled bicycle through Paris.
Display it in a reading nook, nursery, creative space, or cozy corner as a small reminder of quiet adventures, beautiful places, and the joy of noticing life’s simplest moments.
A few days later, we will also share the original coloring page that helped inspire Lucie’s growing story.
The Little Dachshund Who Needed a Story
Some illustrated characters stay on the page.
Others quietly ask for a world of their own.
Lucie’s familiar details began to suggest more about her personality.
Her flower-filled basket made her feel thoughtful. Her bicycle made her curious and independent. Her striped scarf and beret gave her a timeless Parisian charm.
And her calm expression made her feel like the kind of friend who notices small things—the scent of warm bread, a bird perched nearby, or the glow of evening lights on the Seine.
We began imagining the places she might visit and the friends she might meet.
Slowly, Lucie became more than a coloring-book character.
She became a gentle-hearted dachshund with stories to tell.
The Creative Hearts Behind Lucie
Lucie’s journey began through the shared imagination of two lifelong dachshund lovers.
Chelsea Torres, a longtime family friend and now a cherished part of the Thistle Fox Books family, writes and illustrates our dachshund coloring books. She is also the creator of the Ace the Dachshund picture books.
Lucie first appeared in one of Chelsea’s illustrations for Dachshunds in Paris: a little dachshund in a black beret and striped scarf, pedaling through Paris with flowers tucked into her bicycle basket.
That drawing caught the imagination of author and storyteller Poppy Loxley, the mother at the heart of Thistle Fox Books.
A retired educator, lifelong maker, and creator of the felted characters from The Cozy Critter Chronicles, Poppy has always believed that small, quiet moments can become meaningful adventures. She is equally devoted to dachshunds and immediately sensed that Chelsea’s little bicycle pup had a larger story waiting to be told.
Poppy began wondering about the dachshund beneath the beret.
Where was she riding?
What was tucked inside her flower-filled basket?
Who might she meet along the way?
Those questions became the beginning of Lucie’s first picture-book adventure.
Poppy writes from her sunroom in the Midwest, often with a dachshund curled nearby and the old oak tree that shaded years of family crafts, picnics, tea parties, and storytelling just outside the window.
Thistle Fox Books is a small, family-run—and friend-grown—bookshop and creative studio. Chelsea brings dachshund characters to life through her illustrations and stories. Poppy creates gentle worlds around felted woodland friends and curious little pups. Poppy’s daughters help carry those worlds into books, artwork, photography, videos, and the many thoughtful details behind each new release.
Lucie’s journey—from Chelsea’s original coloring-page illustration to Poppy’s picture books, wall art, and animated storybook moments—reflects the way Thistle Fox Books creates:
One small idea, lovingly shared and gently grown.
FUN FACT CALLOUT
A Little Lucie Fun Fact
Before Lucie had her own books, wall art, and animated Paris moments, she was a coloring-page character drawn by Chelsea Torres for Dachshunds in Paris.
Poppy loved the illustration so much that she began imagining where the little bicycle pup might be going—and Lucie’s storybook world was born.
From Coloring Page to Storybook Wall Art
Lucie’s next step was beyond the coloring page and into a finished piece of wall art.
Soft watercolor textures, vintage postcard details, and a dreamy Paris background helped her world feel more complete.
The finished artwork captured the feeling of a treasured travel illustration—gentle, nostalgic, and designed to bring a little storybook warmth into the home.
The wall art allows Lucie’s adventure to live beyond the coloring book and picture-book pages.
She can become part of a reading nook, nursery, home office, bedroom, or cozy corner where stories and imagination are always welcome.
How to Style Lucie’s Wall Art
Lucie’s gentle Paris palette makes her easy to style in both children’s rooms and grown-up spaces.
In a Reading Nook
Place Lucie beside a small bookshelf, warm reading lamp, soft blanket, and a few well-loved storybooks.
Natural wood, cream textiles, and muted florals will help the space feel calm and timeless.
In a Nursery or Child’s Bedroom
Pair the print with soft pink, lavender, sage, pale blue, or warm neutral tones.
A light wooden frame or softly aged gold frame complements the vintage Paris feeling without making the room feel overly themed.
In a Home Office or Creative Studio
Style Lucie beside notebooks, art supplies, postcards, and a small vase of flowers.
Her bicycle journey adds a gentle sense of curiosity, travel, and creativity to a working space.
As Part of a Gallery Wall
Pair Lucie with other prints from the Dachshunds in Paris collection, vintage travel postcards, botanical artwork, or a small framed quote.
Use coordinated frames so the collection feels intentional and collectible.
Lucie’s First Picture-Book Adventure
The first book answered the question that began with the original illustration:
Where was Lucie going on her little bicycle?
In Lucie, the Bicycle Pup: A Gentle Ride Through Paris, Lucie sets off before the city fully wakes.
She pedals past a colorful flower market, follows the delicious scent of a warm bakery, meets a tiny feathered friend, and carries lavender and a special treat to someone she loves very much.
The story is filled with quiet kindness, friendship, family, and the joy of noticing life’s simplest moments.
It became the first title in A Long Dog, Little Book—a series of small books, gentle adventures, and big-hearted dachshunds.
A Lost Letter and a New Evening Mystery
Lucie’s second story carries her into Paris at a different time of day.
In Lucie and the Lost Little Letter: A Gentle Evening Delivery Through Paris, a tiny letter blows into Lucie’s bicycle basket.
It has no address and no name—only a painted blue star.
With her little sparrow friend beside her, Lucie follows gentle clues through a cozy bookshop, a warm café, a rain-washed garden, and glowing Paris streets.
Pedal, pedal, near and far—who is waiting for the little blue star?
The second book keeps the gentle travel rhythm of Lucie’s first adventure while adding a small mystery, new Paris locations, and a warm emotional heart.
Lucie’s World Begins to Move
Lucie’s story now continues through short animated storybook moments on the Thistle Fox Books YouTube channel.
These quiet scenes are designed to feel like living illustrations—small glimpses of Paris life with gentle movement, soft sound, and very little text.
In one moment, Lucie rides through a peaceful Paris morning.
In another, she pauses beside the Seine to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle before quietly pedaling home.
The animations offer a new way to spend time in Lucie’s world without making her stories feel loud or fast-paced.
They are simply peaceful moments to watch, enjoy, and return to.
A Thoughtful Gift for Paris and Dachshund Lovers
Lucie’s books, wall art, coloring page, and Paris story can also be brought together as a thoughtful themed gift.
Rather than presenting them as separate products, combine them into a small story experience.
A Paris Lover’s Gift Basket
Include:
A Lucie picture book
Lucie’s printed wall art
A small box of tea
French-style biscuits or pastries
A sprig or sachet of lavender
A vintage-inspired Paris postcard
A Dachshund Lover’s Gift
Pair:
Lucie’s wall art
One of her picture books
The Dachshunds in Paris coloring book
Coloring pencils
Lucie’s original coloring-page printable
A dachshund-themed bookmark or greeting card
A Travel-Inspired Gift for a Child
Include:
A Lucie picture book
The original Lucie coloring page
A small set of crayons
A child-friendly map of Paris
A little notebook for drawing imaginary journeys
A Cozy Reading Gift
Combine:
One of Lucie’s books
A soft blanket
Warm socks
A child’s cup or grown-up mug
Lucie’s artwork framed for a reading corner
Cozy Critter Club members can print Lucie’s complimentary wall art and original coloring page at home, making them lovely additions to a thoughtful Paris or dachshund-themed gift.
The gift does not need to be elaborate.
The charm comes from connecting the pieces around one gentle story.
From One Little Page to a Growing Story World
What began as one coloring-page illustration has grown into a gentle world of books, artwork, animation, friendship, and Paris adventures.
Lucie still wears her striped scarf.
She still carries flowers in her bicycle basket.
And she still moves through the world with the same curiosity and kindness that inspired her very first story.
But now there are more streets to explore, more stories to discover, and more quiet moments waiting just beyond the page.
Lucie’s journey is only beginning.
About the Creators
Poppy Loxley
Poppy Loxley is the author and storyteller behind Lucie’s adventures and the felted Cozy Critter characters from Thistle Fox Books.
Inspired by family, nature, handmade creativity, and the quiet magic of everyday life, she creates gentle books for curious hearts and cozy imaginations.
Chelsea Torres
Chelsea Torres writes and illustrates the dachshund coloring books from Thistle Fox Books and is the creator of the Ace the Dachshund picture books.
A longtime family friend and fellow dachshund enthusiast, Chelsea’s original illustration of a bicycle-riding Paris pup became the character we now know as Lucie.
The Thistle Fox Family
Thistle Fox Books is a small, family-run and friend-grown bookshop and creative studio.
Together, Poppy, Chelsea, and Poppy’s daughters bring each world to life through stories, illustration, book design, photography, animation, and a shared love of meaningful creativity.
READ LUCIE’S BOOKS
BRING HOME LUCIE’S ART
WATCH LUCIE’S ANIMATED MOMENTS
Stay a Little Longer in Lucie’s World
Join the Cozy Critter Club and receive Lucie’s complimentary Paris wall art—a gentle printable created for reading nooks, nurseries, creative spaces, and cozy corners.
A few days later, we will also send you the original coloring page that helped inspire Lucie’s books, artwork, and animated Paris adventures.
You will then receive our warm Sunday letters, new storybook moments, occasional studio news, and early glimpses of what Lucie discovers next.
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