{Texture Tuesday} The Back to School eDition

mouse over to see the before

Hello sweet friends....Happiest TT!

This week's theme is Back to School. I think it's going to be a good one! Don't you?

Remember your image must contain 2 different textures.... (gotta love a challenge).... 

I'm excited to see all of your amazing submissions. Last week's movie images were truly AMAZING.

Before I share my recipe for today's BTS image.... I had to share a pic of my helper.... Mr. Bennigan.... He's the funniest puppy dog...  Gosh, I just love him!

Okie doke....

Here's the photoshop recipe for today's Back to School photo. 

Layer 1 - Background

Layer 2 - Autumn (from the Ultimate Bundle) Added a layer mask and partially removed the texture from the apple and books.

Layer 3 - blank layer set to soft light blend mode. Painted over the apple and books with a black soft round at 50% opacity, to deepen the colors.

Layer 4 - Hue/Saturation Adjustment - Choose the red channel and reduced the saturation, just a tad. This helped with the antique look I was going for.

Layer 5 - Added the type in a tan shade selected from the books. (font used SchoolHouse Printed A) at multiply blend mode 100% opacity.

Layer 6 - Coffee tea or me texture (a past texture part of a new soon to be released bundle...watch for it... it's good stuff) at soft light 74% opacity. Added a layer mask and partially removed the texture from the apple and books.

The End

A peek at the textures used on today's image ~ Autumn & Coffee Tea or Me.               

Okie doke....it's time for next week's TT Theme.

How about the color orange? I noticed some of the trees are turning ....autumn is coming...which I can't believe.... then I noticed some lovely fall photos on pinterest.... and well...... that's how next week's theme came about....

So for next week's TT theme... let's see your interpretation of the color orange.... and as usual... please include one texture on your photo.

New to Texture Tuesdays? Here's the short and sweet TT rules.

• please link directly to your post, not just to your blog or flickr stream.
• please link back to the Café. You can grab the TT button HERE, if you wish.
• please visit the other TT participants and leave them some comment love. Remember it's a party.... and what's a linky party without lots of comment love? Right! 

Want more details? Click HERE for the full scoop!

Let's get this party started!!

Shall we? 

xxo,

p.s. Speaking of Back to School... The Essentials class starts today! I'm so excited... There's still time to sign up, if you are interested.... 

The Lake Walk

Hello my friends.

How are you?  How's your week?

I just wanted to pop in and say hi.... 

 and share a little walk along the lakeside with you all.

Check out Mr. Ben.  He's getting a little freedom...and my does it make that tail go swish.... Actually we are both soaking up the freedom.... 

As you can see it's still very much winter here.  In fact I've been told winter is planning on sticking around..... possibly right through April.  Yikes....  :)

 

There's just something about white...so beautiful.....  Even weeds look pretty...against it. :)

I ♥ white..... 'sigh'

I was telling my friend PG I would paint my whole house white if John was willing! But there's no way he will ever agree to paint over the antique oak.... No way!!

How bout you? What 'color' are you digging these days?  

Happiest Thursday!!  Have a most inspired day!

xxo, 

Proof of the Playpen

Hello Lovelies

How are you?

I wanted to pop in and share a pic of Ben in his play pen. Check it out!  :)  This particular model has a 'bassinet' feature....so it saves my back a little....  But I would say another day or 2 and we will have to move him down to the lower tier...  I can't leave him unsupervised for a second, for fear he may decide to jump.  The crate was way to difficult to get him in and out of... He's feeling better each day... and I know it's going to be really difficult to keep him contained.  'sigh'

I will be back tomorrow with a new post....  lots to share...  The holidays are officially over.... John is back to work tomorrow....so back to routine it shall be!

See you tomorrow.....  love and gratitude.... xxo, Kim

Hello Sweet Friends

Happy Monday

How are you?  I hope this little note finds you well.

I can't believe Christmas is over.  It comes and goes....so quickly.  But I'm grateful for another holiday spent with our family..... and of course our sweet little Ben.

I just wanted to pop in and say Hi.  

I will be back with a more lengthy update on Ben and a little of this and that as well.

But in the meantime, I wanted to thank you all for your prayers and support.  

Ben is doing very well.  He's still smiling (wagging his tail) and being so good about everything.

I took this pic of him this morning... the light wasn't great....but he was lying sweetly by my feet in the studio.

He spends most of his time in a play pen....  it's so cute.... but he loves to get down on the cool floor and stretch out as well.   

Anyhow, please know we are all so grateful for your prayers and support....I will be back with a more detailed report of Ben and maybe a little video too.... :)

love & gratitude...xxo, kim

The Benjamin Texture Collection

Hello my sweet friends

I am guessing you may have seen this coming! :)

On this Texture Tuesday, I present to you......

The Benjamin Collection.

'sigh'.....

I'd like to share a little story with you all.  

There was once a girl named Kim...... She had the sweetest beagle she could have ever asked for.... His name was Andy.  She loved him like her third child....for 13 plus years they were side by side...rarely apart.... But sadly, Andy became very ill and it was time to let him go.  Her heart was broken....and she believed there would never be another baby that could fill that hole in her heart....

Flash forward 3 months later.....  Kim was asked to babysit her brother's Labradoodle....Sophie.....  and her heart opened...opened to the possibility of loving another puppy... The very day Sophie was going home...she received an email.  Her cousin was desperately seeking a home for her Goldendoodle....  And she thought...is this a sign?  Is this meant to be?  Oh YES...YES...it must be....  and after a little chat with her hubby...an email was sent back saying...'pick us, please.....'

And after several weeks ....  a sweet new love came into Kim's life....  It was truly an instant connection.  The heart melted and open wide for this fluffy white little angel....  His name is Ben. He had only been with Kim and her family for a few months.....when one day.... Kim opened the door to see if Ben's Auntie and cousin were in the drive to pick them up for the trail.....  in an instant Ben was out the door...and headed straight for a truck coming up the road.... a truck he believed to be his pick up for the trail.  It wasn't Sophie. It was another vehicle going straight on ahead.... who didn't see Ben right in front of her wheel.

In an instant...everything changed......  'sigh'

Life can be like that.....

Gone was that walk on the trail...that romp with Sophie, that digging in the snow.....  it was off to the hospital he went.... bravely I must say....very bravely....

The injuries were far worse than expected...Kim was devastated.  Her heart ached as they sat in the very room that Andy was put to sleep in...and listened to the vet give them the crushing news.... Ben was injured very severely....  Surgery was the only repair for his particular fracture.... But before they could do the surgery....he had to be monitored for nerve and organ damage.... tick tock...tick tock....  a few days later... he was out of the woods...and the surgery was a go.  

The cost of the surgery....was much more than the vet originally predicted...... How on earth could she say so long to her new companion... her bestest friend.... a light in her life.....  How can you put a price on love?  

So the surgery was scheduled.... after some conversation with her hubby....  who struggled a bit with the idea of such a huge sum of money... Kim assured him.... I will figure it out.... So many love Ben....  

And so.... paint, splatter, scrape, glue, paste, stipple, stamp.....  The Benjamin Collection was born.

The End .....or hopefully just The Beginning......  

Okay my sweet friends... my sweet lovers of life and love.....  I have been working on this collection since Sunday....  I have to say my heart and soul went onto the canvases.....  

I hope you will love them...and feel my heart in them...

Ben needs your help.... I need your help.....  We need your help.....

The Benjamin Collection includes seven - 12" x 12 " 300 dpi handpainted textures.  

The price is $10.00.  The funds will help cover the cost of Ben's surgery....which will be approximately $3000. This does not include the follow up care, the trips to the city 3 1/2 hours away etc.....  We are in for a long ride.. my friends...

I can not wait to see what the bigger picture in all this is?  I believe....everything happens for a reason.... 'sigh'

So I'm asking for your help....  

Click below to order today's textures....

We are off to the city tomorrow morning at 6 am.  Ben's surgery is scheduled for 12:30 pm central....  So please continue your warm thoughts and prayers......

I can't thank you enough for all the beautiful messages.  I feel so blessed to have a community of such amazing support....

Ben is pretty good.... He seems sad...more than anything.... poor little bumpkin.  I can barely stand the thought of leaving him at the clinic tomorrow... But as the vet told me yesterday....'Kim, sometimes,  you gotta be cruel to be kind......'

Much love to you and yours....  

I will have my laptop with me....so I will post a follow up on Ben's condition.....  

Deep Deep Sigh.....

xxo, kim

Update on December 22 by Kim Klassen

An Update on Ben

Dearest Friends......

I have no words to express my deepest gratitude.  Please accept are most sincere thanks for the love and support. My family and I are completely overwhelmed.

You know the saying it takes a village to raise a child?  well... it seems....it takes a blogosphere to raise a pup....  'sigh'

truly speechless.... truly grateful!

My connection is poor in our hotel. 

But I wanted to let you know that Mr. Ben... Benjamine, Benji Boy, Bennigan, Gentle Ben....made it through the surgery.  The fracture was severe and the vet was unable to make a 'perfect' correction.... But he is confident with lots of TLC ....  at least 8 weeks....  Ben will be up and running again...

I expect a long road ahead.... he can not put any weight on his back end....so it will be a lot of lifting, carrying supporting....etc....  I better get doing some pilates.... or my back will be toast.... 

If you have any suggestions to make ths whole process easier.... pretty please send them my way....

Who woulda thunk......  just a few months ago.... we didn't even know Mr. Ben....  and here we are today .... 

Before I sign off....I just have to say.... I know that there are many of you going through so much more than this...... I am so sorry .....truly, deeply sorry.... 

I promise I willl put all of this amazing love back out into the universe.....  with all my heart....

love to all.... talk soon.... xxo, Kim

Sweet Ben - An Update

Thank you all so much for your positive thoughts and prayers....

We all appreciate it....so much!

Ben is doing well.  The vet is confident that there has been no permanent nerve damage. 

He can't stand up on his own and the damage  to his pelvis is quite severe. But he is eating and going to the bathroom (at least #1).  They are going to help him out a little with #2 today. She believes he's probably nervous to try as it's so tendered. And because he isn't eating as much as normal and inactive that won't be helping move things.  So she is going to give him a laxative.  But the vet is confident that he will be okay in that area.  Apparently his sweet little tail is wagging as per usual and he has lots of feeling in his hind end.  I hope that's not too much information..... 

We are waiting for word from the Ortho Specialist in Winnipeg. Our vet assures us that the specialist is very good and will only do the surgery if he is confident that it will be the best possible outcome for Ben. Unfortunately the cost is going to be even more than estimated. 'sigh'

It's all up in the air right now...but the surgery might not be until Wednesday.... So it looks like we will be able to have him home with us for a few days.  'sigh'

But oh my gosh, I could not love this little boy more.... Not a day goes by that we don't marvel over his cuteness, his sweetness, his quirky little personality.... He does the cutest things...  Like when someone comes to the door, whether it's company or one of us... he bolts to the door with a toy or old sock in mouth to show them....then proceeds to parade around the entrance, proudly showing it off....  It's really funny when it's a ripped up old sock....  He's so proud!!  Whenever you talk to him he tilts his head back and forth as if to say, what mommy?  what are you saying?  When my cell phone beeps, he tilts his little head as if to say, who was that?  It's cuteness ....BEYOND....

After he was hit by the truck, my brother came over to see him.  He thought he must be okay as Ben was lying there wagging his tail.  When the vet was poking and prodding he was just there, with his little nose in her face giving her little kisses.  You can't help but love him.  

And I swear he was born to be photographed.  He will pose for the camera in a second.  He's truly the sweetest gift.  And I can't imagine our world without him.

So we must find a way to get him well. Please continue to pray for us...  as we wait for the details and figure it all out.  

We are all so very grateful.  

much love and gratitude.....xxo, Kim 

Update on December 20 by Kim Klassen

Hello my friends.  Just a little update for you.

Ben is home, doing well...  sleeping peacefully...at my feet.  He is going to the bathroom etc....

So surgery is scheduled for Wednesday.  Unfortunately, the one fracture will not heal on it's own.  So in order to have full mobility the surgery is a necessity.

He's very happy to be home....  but somewhat sad at the same time..... 

poor little guy...  thank you all .... from the bottom of our hearts....

xxo, kim

Ben Needs Your Prayers

OH my dear friends....

My sweet Ben was hit by a truck today......

He has fractured his pelvis in several spots.....  

The outcome is up in the air.

They are keeping him over the weekend for observation.  The first concern is nerve damage.  If that's the case there is little they can do for our sweet boy.

If there isn't any nerve damage he will either need major surgery in a city 3 1/2 hours from here....  or it is possible that he could heal on his own.  

It's all so up in the air. We will know more tomorrow.

Just the thoughts of our little guy all alone at the clinic about does me in....  'sigh'

Your thoughts and prayers would be deeply appreciated...

xxo, kim

Update on December 23 by Kim Klassen

click HERE for the latest UPDATE on sweet Benny boy.