Union Station Model Trains

Happy New Year!
I wanted to share some photos I took before the holiday break, these were taken inside Union Station.

Another holiday tradition in Kansas City are these wonderful toy trains. They take up a large part of the lobby as you can see here.



There is so much detail, this is my favorite area of the display.
It's a vintage drive-in, and it plays old black and white films. (click on the images to see the detail)


The miniature railroads feature a wide variety of model trains in every scale. Holiday trains run through snow covered trees, mountains, and towns. It is definitely a delight for children and adults alike.

The display is free to the public.

The Plaza's Season of Lights

Did You Know?

The Country Club Plaza uses more than 80 miles of glimmering holiday lights in its annual winter display? ! (That's about 280,000 bulbs!)

The Country Club Plaza is one of Kansas City's famous entertainment and shopping districts, with more than 150 shops and restaurants.

During the winter months the lights have become a Kansas City winter trademark. The 80 miles of light accentuate every dome, tower and window of the Plaza, and it definitely puts you in the Christmas spirit when taking a night stroll through the busy streets.

Here are some fun facts about the Plaza Light Tradition.

Mayor's Christmas Tree

Did You Know?

The Mayor’s Christmas Tree in Crown Center is taller than the famous trees at the White House and Rockefeller Center in New York City? The Tree is 100 feet tall, making it one of the nation's tallest Christmas trees.

I sure did not know that! - Also after the holidays, the tree is cut into commemorative ornaments and sold to benefit the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Fund, which assists the city’s less fortunate.

Here is a fun FAQ about the tree.

Why I love my job #2,987,501

Why do I love my job? Because I am surrounded by extremely talented people every single day who create amazing artwork that is then given away.

A group of Hallmark illustrators (called the Blink Studio) painted cardboard tubes for a holiday display in the building. When the display comes down, they are going to raffle away opportunities to pick out a tube to keep as your very own. You know my name will be in that hat for the drawing! Pick me! Pick me!

Holidays by Design 2009

This year I was honored to participate in the Kansas City DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) event on 11/21.

The annual event raises money to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the Kansas City area by auctioning off holiday wreaths created by local designers and artists.

It was a beautiful event! Check my Flickr page for more photos.

Happy Holidays!

Here is a video from the Mayor's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Crown Center. Kansas City





Holiday Fountain Water Show

Happy Holidays to everyone from all of us here at Hallmark!

DIFFA: GLAM HOLIDAYS

I wanted to post a few pictures I took on Saturday night at the DIFFA Glam Holidays event. I had such a good time mingling with local design professionals, eating wonderful hors d’oeuvres, and biding on one-of-a-kind holiday décor created by some of Kansas City’s most celebrated designers and artists.





Check out more information about DIFFA in Kansas City here.

Dia De Los Muertos • Window Display

This is a gorgeous Day of the Dead window display in the creative library here at hallmark. Most of the collection belongs to two photographers from our Union Hill Photography Studio. Beautiful!