Ruth Elizabeth Stiff
Bio
I love all things Earthy and Self-Help
History is one of my favourite subjects and I love to write short fiction
Research is so interesting for me too
Stories (378/0)
"It's Christmas!"
For some, Christmas is the most exciting time of the year. For others, it is one of the main religious holidays of the year. For me personally, Xmas is about spending time with our loved ones, giving and receiving some lovely gifts --- and eating good food!
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff3 years ago in Families
The Victorian Era
“A Golden Age” “A Golden Calm” “An Indian Summer” “A Long Afternoon” “When she came to the throne coaches still ran; men wore stocks, shaved their upper lips and ate oysters out of barrels. Women said ‘La!’ and owned no property. Well-nigh two generations had slipped by --- of steamboats, railways, telegraphs, telephones, bicycles, electric light and now these motor cars. Morals had changed, manners had changed. The middle class (had been) buttressed, chiselled, polished, till it was almost indistinguishable from the nobility. (It was) an era that had canonised hypocrisy, so that to seem respectable was to be.” (Soames Forsyte reflects on Victoria’s reign, he was a character in “The Forsyte Saga” by John Galsworthy)
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff3 years ago in The Swamp
WOMEN IN HISTORY
Queen Mary, consort to King George V, was the grandmother of our dear Queen, Elizabeth II. During the Great War, wishing to do her bit for the war effort, this Queen instituted an austerity drive at the Palace, where she rationed food, and visited the wounded and dying servicemen in the hospitals. Queen Mary was tireless in supporting her husband, the King, and later her son, King George VI.
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff3 years ago in The Swamp
George V
Throughout his father’s reign, George showed his support for his father and King by carrying out public duties. As the Duke of York, George opened the first session of the Australian Parliament upon the creation of the Commonwealth of Australia. As Prince and Princess of Wales, the young couple toured British India, and it is interesting to note that George was ‘disgusted by the racial discrimination’ and he actually campaigned for the greater involvement of Indians in the government of the country. George and Mary proved faultless in supporting King Edward VII and England.
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff3 years ago in The Swamp
King George V
King George V was the grandson of the late Queen Victoria AND the grandfather of our dear Queen today, Queen Elizabeth II. As he was born third in line to the throne, George did not expect to become King and he started to carve out a “career” in the Royal Navy. George was born during the reign of Queen Victoria (his grandmother), with Prince Albert Edward (his father) being next in line to the throne and Prince Albert Victor “Eddy” (his older brother) being second in line. During King George V’s reign, there was the rise of socialism, communism, fascism, the Irish Republicanism and the Indian independence movement --- all of which changed the political landscape of the British Empire. In 1917, King George V became the first monarch of the House of Windsor, which he renamed from the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha because of the anti-German public ‘feeling’ during World War One.
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff3 years ago in The Swamp
The Fashion World
Who was Karl Lagerfield? He was another “giant” in The Fashion World and his name is known worldwide. Karl Lagerfield had his own ‘label’ and was a major creative force behind Tommy Hilfiger, Chanel and Fendi, as well as being able to speak four languages --- German, English, French and Spanish. He had a renaissance-like intelligence.
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff3 years ago in Styled
The Fashion World
Another well-known name in The Fashion World, Yves Saint-Laurent has impacted the fashion industry in the 1960’s but also even to the present day. He is seen as being one of the foremost fashion designers of the 20th Century. Was this designer born into wealth? What was his life? How did Yves Saint-Laurent become so popular?
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff3 years ago in Styled
The Fashion World
Vivienne Westwood is a name we associate with the punk world and New Wave Music. Her designs are unusual and ‘out of the box’ but they are interesting and very popular. Many of us know the name but just how did Vivienne Westwood make her name and how did her designs become so popular?
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff4 years ago in Styled
The Fashion World
We know the name “Chanel” very well, mainly for its beautiful little black dresses and perfumes. It’s a name that’s been around for a long time (well, as long as I can remember), and like Christian Dior, “Chanel” symbolizes ‘chic’ in every sense of the word. But who was Coco Chanel? And how did her company become a worldwide and household name?
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff4 years ago in The Swamp
The Fashion World
Who is Charles Frederick Worth? Have you ever heard of him? How is he connected to “The Fashion World”? Charles Frederick Worth was born on 13th October, 1825, in Bourne, Lincolnshire, to William and Ann Worth. William was a solicitor who was described as a “dissolute” and who ruined the family finances, eventually leaving Ann without financial support and impoverished. Charles went out to work at eleven years of age at a printer’s shop. When a year had gone by, he moved to London to become an apprentice at Swan & Edgar department store in Piccadilly. Seven years later, the leading British textile store, Lewis & Allenby, employed Charles.
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff4 years ago in Styled
The Fashion World
We all know the name “Christian Dior” and feel ‘chic’ when wearing his clothes. The fashion shows are a wonder to behold and it’s always a good name for the models to add to their CV’s. But how many of us know the history of the man and the company?
By Ruth Elizabeth Stiff4 years ago in Styled