A few of my favorite things: Stephanie Levy

Hi, I’m Stephanie Levy, an American artist and illustrator who has been living abroad in Germany for the last 13 years. In 2005, I moved to Munich with my husband, and we share our city apartment with our two little girls, Sophia and Lucy – also known as the two tornados with legs! I’m very excited that Holly is now living here in Germany, and I’m honored to be a guest blogger on decor8! I’ll be sharing “a few of my favorite things” today with you :)

As you can see, we are a family of artists. My husband is a painter and sculptor, and we have tried to create a very open and creative atmosphere in our home. One of my favorite spots is the children’s art table, which is in our work/living area. I always keep a stack of paper and plenty of drawing materials available, so that my children can make a new picture whenever they feel inspired. The result is that some of our walls are a constantly changing compilation of artwork by various artists. Lately, the children’s artwork has started creeping into the empty spaces between my “Trendfarben” wall elements. I love the cheerful, vibrant mix of line, form, and color.

Baking cakes, making dinner, and throwing wild tea parties are among my daughters most treasured activities. Sometimes they do get a little out of control however, and ahem, they are solely responsible for the lovely wallpaper patterns you now see here in their room.

When I am ready to begin with “serious” work, I escape to my little studio. I am always happy when I can sit at my art table for a few hours, surrounded by heaps of fun materials, and create new drawings, paintings, and collages.

There are also times when I want to relax, and get away from our creative chaos. Our sunny bedroom is very light and minimalist, and it’s the perfect place to steal away and read a book.

Perhaps my very favorite spot in our apartment is our kitchen window. I try to always keep blooming flowers on the windowsill, and this summer I’ve been growing fresh mint and basil to use in special dishes. It’s the perfect spot to drink a cup of tea, and gaze out onto our ivy covered courtyard.

Some of the things that inspire me most are picnics, German bakeries, Italian wine, traveling anywhere – even for a day trip, starry skies, and bubble baths.

One of the nicest pieces of advice I’ve been given is: “When children are young, give them roots. When they have grown, give them wings.”

Thank you for visiting with me today, and I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know some of my favorite places at home. It’s always wonderful to have guests and meet new readers. I love sharing peeks of my life in Europe, travel, and artwork with my blog visitors. Thank you Holly for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to keep up with your new European lifestyle here in Germany. – xoxo Stephanie

Editor’s Note: You’ll find a wide selection of Stephanie’s collages and artwork in her online shop where she is currently have a sale!

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