Anna Bolina

While in Savannah this past week I stopped by the local Barnes and Noble in the Oglethorpe Mall. Though an avid Amazon.com shopper, there is something to be said about being able to flip through books and hold them in your hands. I love the feel of pages and even the smell of books. Needless to say, I won't become a Kindle owner anytime soon. Though I don't read as much as I'd like to these days, they're going to have to pull all my books from my cold, dead fingers before I make that transition. But I digress. I was in Barnes and Noble for a specific reason. I've become a fan of the author Alison Weir in the past few years and was eager to get a copy of her most recent book, The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn.

Fueled by the Showtime series The Tudors, and movies such as The Other Boleyn Girl and Helen Mirren's unforgettable performance as Anne's daughter in HBO's Elizabeth I, I've become increasingly interested in the English Monarchs. Searching for books to read on the topic - to help sift through the inaccuracies of said films and expand on the history - was a formidable task because there are so many. After reading Weir's Six Wives of Henry VIII I had decided to read every book she's written on the topic. Weir has the fantastic ability to take very dense material and break it down into clear and interesting parts. She is writing of a time where literally everyone was named one of ten names and on top of this confusing part, had titles and family connections that were beyond intertwined. And above all, Weir is able to discuss the many facets of controversial theories without bias. Anne Boleyn is probably one of the world's most controversial and misrepresented historical figures. She was the ill-fated second wife of Henry VIII, a the catalyst for the creation of the Church of England, and the mother of arguably the most effective ruler of England ever, Elizabeth I. Needless to say I am very eager to sit down and read the in-depth look into the last days of Anne Boleyn's life as described The Lady in The Tower.

If you'd like to learn more about Alison Weir or the book, you should check out this interview with the author on NPR's All Things Considered. You can also visit the Alison Weir website.

Inspired by this new book and topic so close to my heart, I've decided to make a "poster sketch" on Etsy. This will be my newest Treasury if I can ever manage to snag one... if and when I do I'll post the link here. I'm absolutely convinced you can think of any topic and create a gorgeous Etsy Treasury about it with amazing handmade and vintage products. I've also included a photo of Georgiana, one of my most sumptuous designs available at ShopSCAD boutique and gallery in Savannah, Georgia. Pictured above also is the actress Natalie Dormer as Anne Boleyn in the Showtime series The Tudors.

**Now a treasury! http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=109132

Shops & Artists Included: Matt Allen Photography, Meluseena, Nesta Home, Mincing Mockingbird, 3 Lambs Designs, Edera, LeLapinTriste, L'hos Photography, Kirby, Raven Eve Jewelry, Victorian Enchantments, & Land of Enchantment. Alternates: Recy Vintage, Laurie 56, GimmCat, & Colours and Textures.