About

I'm Giusi Buono and I'm the designer behind FicuFamily. I have been working both as a graphic/interior designer and maker/artisan since 1998, and my passion for creative work has not yet been exhausted! I live in Sicily, Italy.

To create FicuFamily, I draw inspiration from both Sicilian heritage and landscape. My wooden dolls reinterprets one of the simbol that best represent Sicily, prickly pear cactus, giving it a new and contemporary face.

FicuFamily combine the shape and colours of a prickly pear  with traditional decorations found on Sicilian carts, ancient lace-work, and old-fashioned Sicilian men’s style suits. 

I create my sculptures one by one, hand-crafted from beginning to end, each with its own personality.

FicuFamily portrays a tenacious and deep relationship: a bond of love, a sense of friendship and brotherhood. 
It is a simbol of Perseverance, Resilience and Generousity.

Give them to those who love Sicily.

Give them to whom you love.

If you want an exclusive personalization, please contact me. I will be glad to make it for you.

INSPIRATION

Prickly Pear (Ficurinia)
We can be found everywhere In Sicily: on Mt. Etna, or on the black rocky beaches, among the dry-stone walls of the countryside, or sticking out our heads in the Gulf of Taormina, among the Greek temples of Agrigento ... There is NO souvenir photo or postcard from Sicily on which we are NOT featured. In short, we are a real icon!

We look a bit threatening because of the thorns all over us; so be careful when you have to handle us .... And if you take us from the wrong side, we'll prick you!
We do, however, hide a sweet, juicy and generous heart.

We are like the Sicilians.

Thorny outside, sweet inside.

Like Sicilian people, we gather in communities, are connected to each other; we like big families!

Thanks to Giusi's hands, we have become small wooden sculptures. Each cactus-pad body has its own dress and is meticulously hand-painted.