Katerina Starlight

Hello lovelies, I hope you are well! It’s been a while since I last shared one of my custom commissions! Katerina Starlight was created as a gift from mother to daughter to celebrate a significant milestone, namely, turning 18! The theme? Well lovely Katerina, of course, and her beautiful horse Rain.

I wanted the doll to be magical and whimsical, to highlight the unique bond between human and horse. The mother gave me all the creative freedom but was adamant on only one thing: NO PINK! Rain is brown so I used shades of green to create contrast and what better colour to set the scene in nature. During my research I also came across this wonderful poem about a fly-away horse so I decided make it night-time! That led me to the 18 stars to represent her 18th birthday! I always love how one idea leads you me the next one. Here is the poem I fell in love with!

THE FLY-AWAY HORSE

by Eugene Field (1850-1895)

OH, a wonderful horse is the Fly-Away Horse—

Perhaps you have seen him before;

Perhaps, while you slept, his shadow has swept

Through the moonlight that floats on the floor.

For it’s only at night, when the stars twinkle bright,

That the Fly-Away Horse, with a neigh

And a pull at his rein and a toss of his mane,

Is up on his heels and away!

The moon in the sky,

As he gallopeth by,

Cries: “Oh! What a marvelous sight!”

And the Stars in dismay

Hide their faces away

In the lap of old Grandmother Night.

It is yonder, out yonder, the Fly-Away Horse

Speedeth ever and ever away–

Over meadows and lane, over mountains and plains,

Over streamlets that sing at their play;

And over the sea like a ghost sweepeth he,

While the ships they go sailing below,

And he speedeth so fast that the men on the mast

Adjudge him some portent of woe.

“What ho, there!” they cry,

As he flourishes by

With a whisk of his beautiful tail;

And the fish in the sea

Are as scared as can be,

From the nautilus up to the whale!

And the Fly-Away Horse seeks those far-away lands

You little folk dream of at night–

Where candy-trees grow, and honey-brooks flow,

And corn-fields with popcorn are white;

And the beasts in the wood are ever so good

To children who visit them there–

What glory astride of a lion to ride,

Or to wrestle around with a bear!

The monkeys, they say:

“Come on, let us play,”

And they frisk in the coconut-trees:

While the parrots, that cling

To the peanut-vines sing

Or converse with comparative ease!

Off! scamper to bed — you shall ride him to-night!

For, as soon as you’ve fallen asleep,

With a jubilant neigh he shall bear you away

Over forest and hillside and deep!

But tell us, my dear, all you see and you hear

In those beautiful lands over there,

Where the Fly-Away Horse wings his far-away course

With the wee one consigned to his care.

Then grandma will cry

In amazement: “Oh, my!”

And she’ll think it could never be so.

And only we two

Shall know it is true–

You and I, little precious! shall know!

I even found a video of the Ann Arbor Youth Chorale singing it! Watch here!

Eighteen marks the beginning of adulthood and life’s next chapter. Katerina Starlight is a special art doll to celebrate just that and to wish that this extraordinary time will bring all the blessings in the world, as many as there are stars in the sky!

However, Covid-19 has pressed PAUSE on the life of many young adults. So many young people are likely experiencing loneliness during lockdown and in particular, are being affected by the lack of physical contact with their friends, families and peers. Feelings of boredom and frustration and lack of motivation are undoubtedly associated with a loss of all the activities they have been used to taking part in. Many young people are also experiencing worries and distress about their education, exams, assessments and their future.

But although Covid-19 has interfered with our short term plans I certainly hope and pray that it has not affected young people’s long-term goals and more importantly their dreams. Katerina is here to remind them that, even in lockdown, the ‘fly-away horse’ can take them to all the magical places they dream of, at least, until PLAY is pressed once more. And dearest young ones, remember to go forth and do great things! Follow your passions and your dreams and in doing so know that you will be making the world a better place!

Filakia, Sophie

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P.S. You might also like to see Faye the Garden Fairy another magical SO SOPHIE art doll!