Farfalina
Hello my lovelies, I hope you are well! Today I have chosen to share Farfalina with you. She’s a special SO SOPHIE mixed media art doll that I was honoured to be asked to create to celebrate a milestone event in a young lady’s life; turning 18! Now, is there anyone out there that hasn’t read “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle? It was, is, one of my favourite children’s books! Eric Carle has been quoted as saying, “Like the caterpillar, children will grow up and spread their wings”! So fitting then that Farfalina (from farfallino, which means butterfly in italian) is inspired by butterflies!
At school, children learn that caterpillars undergo a period of change in their chrysalis before they transform into a butterfly. But what does actually happen inside the chrysalis I wonder? Well, I did a bit of investigating and, to start, the caterpillar digests itself by releasing enzymes to dissolve all its tissues! Ugh! Once it has, literally, disintegrated it starts to regenerate itself. But this time it forms wings, antennae, legs, eyes and all the other features of an adult butterfly. Sounds mighty challenging and difficult to me!
It’s no wonder then that the butterfly is also a symbol of winning a battle or achieving an important goal through sheer persistence and determination. Such an important message to have in mind, especially when entering a new chapter in our lives. Especially when you are at the tender age of 18!
”We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.
– Maya Angelou
This beautiful quote encourages us to consider the changes a butterfly has had to go through to become what it was meant to be. Such an important life lesson for all of us, irrespective of the life chapter we are currently at. Hard work, perseverance and resolve are necessary to help us achieve what we set our minds to.
Farfalina’s butterflies are inspired by the Italian endemic butterfly Parnassius apollo siciliae, a beautiful butterfly characterised by its white colour and big red ocelli, or eyespots! Farfalina’s white dress symbolises new beginnings and the splashes of red represent strength, motivation and courage. Since, the lovely young lady that was to be gifted this art doll is part Italian, I really wanted to include something to represent that too.
P.S. Here’s an animated film of The Very Hungry Caterpillar I found if you feel like going down memory lane!
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