Karrel loves photography and tra

Hi, I am Karrel. I love photography and travel. Also, I am avid reader, a fabric artist, actually love public speaking, and have been a writer since childhood.

In 2004 I bought a digital camera for an Alaskan cruise and have been perfecting my photography since then. It is a on-going process and I still have a lot more to learn. I am having fun while exploring new avenues. Using my design skills in photo-manipulation (photo compositing) by using Photoshop & Lightroom, with various plug-in's, is one of my favorite features of photography. My work can be seen in several on-line galleries, one here on The Jacaranda Tree and another on Flickr. (If you would like to see what is in my camera bag, find me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, etc. The links are to your right...)

Not only am I a photographer, I have also been a professional Quilter and Cross Stitcher. Other crafts I have enjoyed are Needlepoint, Petit Point, Crewel Embroidery, Hand Embroidery, Knitting, Crochet, Beading, Card making, Paper making, Polymer Clay Art and Collage art. Additionally, I am a Scrapbooker. I gave up traditional scrapbooking for Digital Scrapbooking and find that it is a good way for me to use several of my skills. My rubber stamping/collage items have been published several times in Somerset Studio magazine. In 2005 I returned to quilting and have made many creations in that medium. I also enjoy web design and am always game to learn something new. As a prolific producer of items I find I am constantly taking classes, and reading books and magazines to learn new techniques and styles.

I am originally from Hanau, Germany. My home town is Pittsburg, California and I lived there until 1979 with my four children. The family moved to Marietta, Georgia, and while there I earned a certificate as a travel agent and worked in that field for a short time. In 1981 my family and I moved to the Tampa Bay area where we settled in as Floridians. I was blessed to become remarried in 1995 to a great guy, Jeff. Jeff had his creative side too. He was a master carpenter and local handyman. Unfortunately, Jeff passed away in January 2011, leaving me to start anew, again. Together we have 6 children (my 4 and his 2), 9 grandchildren and we had many Yorkies. Today I have two Yorkie mixes, (designer dogs?), Ashes & MayZie. They give me plenty of opportunity to test all my designs and ideas.

One of my life long dreams was to be a Interior Decorator. I attended classes and finally earned a certificate in that profession, but then I realized that the profession was more about selling than designing. So I stuck with my profession in the legal field and decided to enjoy my artistic endeavors rather than make them a career. My day job for many years is that legal secretary/paralegal and office manager.

On top of it all I am very interested in the political scene and am Conservative Republican who is politically outspoken and opinionated.

In 2013 I returned to the flock and rededicated my life to Jesus Christ. Instead of me trying to redo my life, I am letting God do it now. I attend The Crossing Church in Brandon, Florida.

My favorite verse is Psalms 37:4 - "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." What more can you ask for?