Artist:

Miriam Kallies



Where do you live?

In Germany in a small medieval town called Limburg, which is near Frankfurt and Wiesbaden.



What do you make?

Witches, spooky ghosts, wizards and haunted creatures and sometimes I'll make fairies. I also make all the accessories used by my dolls including dressing them.



What scale do you enjoy working in?

My favorite scale is 1/12. Occasionally though I do make larger scale fairies that are 8"-10" inches tall.



When did you first become interested in miniatures or how were you introduced to the hobby?

This was 2004 and I was going into a old antique shop in our old town. There in the window, stood a very old, but little roombox from circa 1900. It only had furniture inside, no dolls or anything extra. I couldn't believe the price, it was really inexpensive, so I bought it!

So I had decided to decorate it in a haunted theme and started looking for a witch doll for the inside. I couldn't find one; this was the beginning of my making witches in miniature. This was new for me making miniature dolls of any kind. Before making the miniature witch, I had only made trolls, 20" or larger plus fairies, mostly males that were 8"-10" in size.

My plan was to make this roombox for my lovely Granny (Elsbeth, born in 1937). My Granny had told me from the time that I was a little girl, that she had been given a dolls house when she was 8 years old. I especially remembered her telling me that her dolls house had a tiny oven for baking real pancakes. Granny told me that during WWII, she lost all her toys including her dolls house. So this was my gift to her. I gave the decorated dolls house and the witch doll to her that Christmas and she was soooooo happy!!!

My Granny was born in Jena, Thuringia, Germany. She passed away this year, one week after her 70th birthday.



What does your family think of your art?

My family likes them and when everyone has a birthday they will get a special sculpt from me. My sons, Janick, age 7 and Manuel, age 13 are my biggest fans! I have a large family, all in Limburg. I still have my Grandfather, four Aunts, two Uncles, eight Cousins and my sister, Annika and of course my parents! My Mom also sculpts, but mostly larger fairies (7-10").



Where do you find inspiration?

In dreams! Mostly I dream about creatures, friendly ones though. My Granny told us, when we were young, many fantastic stories! Also my kids are a big inspiration for me!!!



Where do you sell your products?

Mostly on eBay, but also I work commissions frequently. I have a CDHM Gallery of course, that you can visit and my website, www.fairystudiokallies.de.



What is the price range for your products?

On eBay I start my prices for a spooky ghost around $65 USD, a witch or wizard at $125 USD. Ranges run between $125-1,200 USD.



Do you belong to any groups or clubs?

Only to CDHM! My time is very limited and its hard for me to maintain contacts. What free time I have, I'm creating dolls or taking care of my boys.



Do you run workshops? If so, please tell us about them.

None.



Have you ever been published?

I was in Doll Magazine, issue #095; then in the Halloween issue of Dollhouse Miniatures magazines October 2006.



What do you love most about miniatures?

The 1/12 scale! The sweet little houses, the most pretty things which artists make. I have a special love for the real looking meals that the food artist create. Sometimes I wish I could cast charms, so that I could shrink myself (only at night) to about 5 inches and play in my dolls house.



Do you have any formal training in your miniature field?

No, not in doll sculpting or miniatures. I'm self taught from the "Father Time". Prior to my sculpting, I worked as a Calligrapher (art writing) for three years in 1993-1996.



What is your most valuable tool?

I can´t live without a common cord needle. I need that as my smallest extra finger.



What's the hardest area of your work to create?

To make eyes and those tiiiiiiiiiiiiiny teeth to look lifelike as possible for my dolls.



What's next for you and your creations?

I want to try to create doll accessories, like bags, cages and all things associated with the dressing.



What's your favorite holiday and season and why?

Haaaaaalloweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen of course!!! In Germany, Halloween is not the same as in USA. Those differences have influenced me to love creepy things with a touch whimsical flair!!!

I like also the weather, when it's the golden October, colorful leaves falling down all around, the spicy autumn smell in the air, warm scarf & clothing and hot tea. Also, I love to collect natural things during the fall, as my boys love to make creative things from those things.



Favorite guilty pleasure?

Sitting in the night with a good audio book while I'm sculpting. I love it, all is quiet, the kids are in their beds, sleeping and this is my time to sit in my space.



Biggest pet peeve?

The BUNNY! My sons have a pesky little bunny, though cute, gets into everything.



If you could go back in time, in which time period would you live?

The medieval era. They haven't created penicillin or aspirin yet, ...lol... and sometimes I need aspirin for my head so that could be a problem! But I like the clothes and hair styles of that time. I also like the music of that period.

We have an medieval market "Knightfestivals" each year that we love to attend. We also live close to many castles, Schaumburg is the biggest one, 1197c and they hold fantastic & magicsy festivals there during this time. When we look out from our bedroom windows at night, we see the beautiful old castle "Schadeck", built in 1288 which I live 100 meters from. I can look out our living room window and see Castle "Ardeck" built in 1395c, but this castle is in ruins, but the beauty can still be seen!

I am living in the old medieval Quarter in our town. The house I live in is very old Tudor styled house with low ceilings, small rooms but great for collecting miniatures. You'll think I live in a fairy tale world, which I would agree with; and what can I do but create fantasy dolls!



What your favorite saying?

"There are no bad things, which change themselves into good things"



What's in your CD player right now?

I am a big fan of "Evanescence". I also love the music from classics movies.



What gets you out of bed in the morning?

A baaaaaaaaaaaaaad bell -- Normally around 6:30 a.m. each morning ...this is terrible...