How did you soften it up? I ask because it really adds a lot to the idea of this image. Well, it's the central part of it, IMO but anyway...just curious.
I used an extension tube with a wide angle lens to really throw out the background then held a piece of really thick concave glass over the lens. I moved it around until I found a sweet spot. Like a poor man's lensbaby. In the darkroom I have frosted glass that I use to diffuse and and texture from opaque tissue like paper.