Family Monograms

I'm pleased to announce today that hand-painted, custom-made family monograms are now available in the shop.  Each painting is 4"x4" and comes with a high resolution digital scan, so the design is yours and can be printed on anything and as many times as you'd like.  These are great on notecards, holiday cards, tote bags, framed on the wall, and anywhere else you can imagine.  What would your family monogram look like?

Check out the shop for more details.

Better with Age

For the past two years, the pumpkins we've carved have been pretty sad.  We either way overshot our carving skill level in the design phase or just chose something that wouldn't really take into consideration the notion of how jack-o-lanterns work (Let's just do a moon!).  This year, we knew our limits and we considered how the light would filter through best, and I'm really happy with the way this guy came out.  Cheers to getting better with age!  

Frightened Pumpkin, October 2012.

Iceland Film Review #4

Here are a few more photos to round out the Iceland series.

The first three I took at a stop on our trip to Myvatn.

The following two images are from a waterfall called Goðafoss which means "waterfall of the gods."  It's called this because "after the Icelandic assembly adopted Christianity in 1000, its leader threw his pagan idols into the falls." 

Quote from National Geographic Magazine

Iceland Film Review #3 (Ponies!)

This post is the third in a series of posts about Iceland.

Ponies along Ring Road, May 2011.

The color in these images came out really dull, but I loved those ponies too much to not post them.  They were so docile and very meek compared to some of the horses I've met here in the states.  We stopped along our trip to Akureyri when we saw them, and I was not disappointed.

Looking at the photos later, I wondered if maybe I liked them so much because their whimsical manes and petite stature reminded me of the unicorn posters of my elementary school years.  One year at our book fair, I spent all the money I had on this exact poster without a second thought.  Ha!  (I still kind of like it.)

Shop Opening Announcement: Small Batch!

Over the past few months, I've been preparing paper goods for a new venture I officially opened yesterday called Small Batch.  Small Batch is an online shop that will feature several series of calligraphic paintings-- the premiere series is up now and is called Gentleman's Toasts (though they are of course, for everyone, gentlemanly or not).  The paintings feature classic toasts illuminated in rich hues mixed specifically for each individual piece.

SB also offers small scale gouache paintings that visually explore patterns in relationships.  These paintings appear similar to maps and reference my interest in plate tectonics.

Please check out Small Batch, and email if you are interested in custom work!

Thanks to everyone who has already been so supportive of this project.  I couldn't have done it without you!

Iceland Film Review #2

The second in a series of posts featuring film taken in Iceland.

Coastal Inlet at Borgarnes, May 2011.

I took these photos as we arrived in a tiny town called Borgarnes.  They came out so dark and moody, which I loved because this day of the trip was the most terrifying for me as a result of the snowstorm I'll write about below.  One thing I found super disorienting about this land is that the mountains were black, made of soft volcanic rock.  Growing up in Appalachia, I'm used to leafy green mountains, covered in a botanical variety richer than anywhere in the world.  But in Iceland there are so few (maybe no native ones at all?) trees.  You'll see below, many of the structures are built from stone, as lumber has to be expensively shipped in.

We had originally planned to drive from Reykjavik to the northern part of the country in one day and begin our whale watching expedition early in the week, but even though it was late May, we got caught in an intensely gusty (read: horizontal) snowstorm that had me shaking in my boots.  I was driving the Polo, and convinced we were going to get blown off the tiny ridge road flanked by steep drops on either side, I insisted we stop the madness and take an unexpected stay in the previously unknown-to-us town of Borgarnes.  I think my fellow traveler thought I was overly frightened for the situation, but we had to stop because I'm the only one of us who can drive a manual shift and I love safety too much to risk it!  We stopped at a hostel and a grocery store in Borgarnes around 6pm or so, finding both completely deserted.  In our Lonely Planet guide, there was one more option to try for housing, a farmer's guesthouse called Bjarg.  Luckily finding Bjarg nestled back behind the main road with a majestic fjord view and one available room, we shared a cottage with a British couple and managed to find some salmon at another market in the town to have for dinner.  We were pleased to find that Bjarg had an interesting Icelandic film rental selection (we watched Brúðguminn--highly recommend), and I also liked that each cabin had a special name, historic to the property.  Ours was called "Jarpur," who was the "farmer's favorite horse and exceptionally kind to children."  

Because of Iceland's northerly location on the globe, in the spring and summer the sun only goes down for a few hours a night, so it was light out pretty much all the time. Thankfully, Bjarg and all the locations we stayed in Iceland had thick curtains in the bedrooms so you could kind of pretend it was night if you couldn't sleep. Below are digital images, including me with the Polo at Bjarg and the keys to the rental cottage.

Iceland Film Review #1

Last week I was surprised to find a previously-lost roll of film that I took in Iceland.  I just had it developed, and I am excited to share the images so I'm going to a series of posts featuring a couple at a time.

Geothermal Grounds at Myvatn, May 2011.

While in Iceland, we spent a few days in the capital city, Reykjavik, before renting a car and venturing off on our own around to the northern edge of the country to smaller towns like Akureyri and Husavik.  Because the interior geography of Iceland is so treacherous, there is one highway that runs around the perimeter of the island that serves as the only passable roadway for travelers like us in a tiny Volkswagon Polo.

While in Akureyri, we hired a guide to take us through the more difficult-to-traverse area of Myvatn, and that's where we were when I took this roll of film.  This was probably one of my most favorite days on the trip, as we visited the geothermal grounds pictured above (it legitimately looked like Mars) as well as the meeting of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.  There were bubbling mud pots and steaming geysers everywhere we looked.  I have truly never felt geographically farther from home than I did on this day.

Another interesting fact about these two plates is that they are actually slowly drifting apart, making the gap in between a bit larger every year.  Here are some impressive photos of a diver and the same two tectonic plates, but from an underwater point of view.

More of my Iceland photos here!

Early fall in Chicago

It's definitely fall in Chicago.
I was so cold when I was downtown yesterday that I impulsively bought a gigantic scarf and this morning I had no choice but to make pumpkin cinnamon rolls.  I was too lazy to make the dough, so this recipe uses pre-made crescent rolls instead. The icing was a little involved for me today, so I went with the classic -- 1 TBS milk + 1/2 C confectioners sugar.  They came out super soft and cinnamon-y.  I might reduce the pumpkin a bit if I make these again.  Delicious!

My entire instagram feed here or on instagram @alliehasson.

Debate Dinner: Mishells Obamadoro with Bleu State Cheese

Last night I decided to make a special themed dinner for the debate, in honor of our continued support for our President and his re-election.  Here's what we came up with.

Mishells Obamadoro with Bleu State Cheese 
(or Spaghetti Pomodoro adapted for Obama supporters)

Mix up a quick sauce by sauteing 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil and 2 cloves garlic, finely minced, for about 30 seconds.  Then add a pinch of red pepper flakes and stir.  Add 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes (I like San Marzano), pinch of sugar, a couple shakes dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and ground black pepper to taste.

• 
  
• Put the sauce over 1 pound pasta shells.   And top with crumbled bleu cheese and grilled chicken (optional).

Now make sure you're registered to vote and get armed with the facts!  (NOTA BENE: The Impossible Plan)

My favorite fall breakfast.  (Okay, maybe not just fall.)
Cakey and crunchy together are so good to me, and the sprinkles doughnut is no exception. 
Mm!

Edited with VSCO for iPhone.

Cory Chisel

On Sunday, my friend Christine and I saw Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons, who had a style that made us both swoon.  This Appleton, Wisconsin-based singer/songwriter and new age Johnny Cash-style crooner coupled with spot-on and richly talented vocalist and keyboardist, Adriel Denae, made for a impressive evening.  Edgy, romantic, and original, I recommend seeing them if they come anywhere near.

Lake Michigan

A watery image from my walk with Greta this morning to Lake Michigan.

Like a lobster that has shed its skin

From this weekend:

(1) National Museum of the American Indian, (2) GardenFest at the Enid A. Haupt Garden, (3) A cheeky juggler at the Old Post Office Pavilion, (4) Bandaloop performance, (5) The Second String Band, (6) A timely excerpt from E.B. White, (7) Alicia, the pasta master.

To Chicago in one week!

Picnic Lunch

Thursday was warm enough that a couple of my fellow museum staff and I were able to pinic under the Capitol.  Hoping for an early spring!

love and French parenting

B. Jane Hasson, my beautiful grandmother and one of my favorite people in the world, 1962.
I think my favorite thing about these is how much you can tell she loves the photographer, her husband, A. Gene Hasson.

I know there's tons of buzz about the book, but in case you missed it, here's an interesting and inspiring glimpse into French parenting.