Hello, I’m Stephanie Chatfield. Over twenty years ago, I began sharing my love for the Pre-Raphaelites through blogging; first by creating LizzieSiddal.com in 2004, then with Pre-Raphaelite Sisterhood in 2007. Both were true labors of love, born from a deep personal passion.
In recent years, life brought with it a series of transformative changes. As I adjusted to new rhythms, my beloved websites gradually slipped to the proverbial back burner. Projects that once brought me joy began to feel like obligations I couldn’t quite keep up with.
Now, I’m ready to return with intention and renewed energy. I’ve chosen to merge both sites here at Guggums.com, a space where I’ll continue writing about Elizabeth Siddal and the Pre-Raphaelite circle, while also allowing myself the freedom to explore broader themes in art and culture. Some topics may wander beyond the traditional bounds of Pre-Raphaelitism, but that feels right.
As Tennyson wrote of the Lady of Shalott, “in her web she still delights”, and I’m spinning a new one here at Guggums, with threads that connect art, history, and the stories that still captivate me.
How to Explore Guggums
I want Guggums to be like a gently unfolding atlas of Pre-Raphaelite wonders. It’s part research library, part creative sanctuary.
If you’re here for history, begin with either:
There you’ll find carefully crafted pages on the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, individual artists, Elizabeth Siddal, and the extraordinary women who shaped their world. Each page is a doorway: timelines, context, essays, and evolving notes that deepen as new discoveries emerge. Think of it as a curated museum wing devoted to the art, lives, and legacies we love.
If you’re in the mood for something more personal, wander into the Journal. This is where the site becomes a sketchbook filled with poems, reflections, behind-the-scenes thoughts, experiments, and observations. It’s the living, breathing part of Guggums, updated as inspiration strikes.
For a blend of travelogue and art-soaked adventure, visit Adventures, where trips, sights, pilgrimages, and musings are woven together like letters from the road.
And if you’re just trying to find your way around or want a simple directory, the Index offers a clean, alphabetical list of every page on the site. Whether you come for research, poetry, reflection, or wandering, Guggums is built to be explored at your own pace. In a world of busy social media, I hope this site is akin to strolling through an enchanted garden, finding beauty around every unexpected turn.
To contact, email Stephanie@guggums.com.