With an eye for combining the classic with current fashions, Karel McGuirt, founder and designer at Karel Jewelry Design, LLC, designs and handcrafts each and every piece of jewelry she offers. She is committed to finding and utilizing unique and valuable materials to keep her designs fresh and innovative. And as a working mother, she understands the importance of offering her beautiful pieces at affordable prices.

"Everyone deserves to feel unique and beautiful. It was always important to me to express my individuality through fashion, but I often found it difficult to find unique, quality pieces of jewelry that I could afford. That's how this company was born...I thought, if I can't find it, I'll make it myself." - Karel

It was at the school of Costume Design at the University of Texas in Austin that Karel developed her passion for ornamentation, and it was through the pursuit of her Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama that she truly matured as an artist. After graduation, Karel spent seven years honing her business skills in the corporate world - in the early days, designing and fabricating wedding dresses and bridal headpieces - and in 1999, she made the decision to begin offering her jewelry designs to the outside world through Karel Jewelry Design, LLC.

In 2007, Karel Jewelry Design LLC became a proud member of The American Gem Trade Association. "The AGTA is dedicated to promoting the natural colored gemstone and cultured pearl industry.  The Association represents the gemstone trade to the rest of the jewelry industry, the news media, government agencies, and international organizations.  The AGTA endorsement gives customers a greater level of trust and confidence." Karel Jewelry Design LLC is also a member of The Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT, since 1884). The JBT is a not for profit jewelry trade association whose primary function is to compile and disseminate accurate and reliable credit information among its members as to the financial standing, credit history and background of dealers of jewelry and related products.

"Each design is special - some reflect colorful characters in my life, others are inspired by the magnificent colors I've seen in nature, some through wonderful travels, others just outside my backdoor. Life and the experiences that come with it can be the most incredible motivators." - Karel

"My guided journey has been inspiring and rewarding. I would not have desired to embark on this journey of soul-searching for my purpose in life if I had not sought and prayed for guidance through God. It is through Him that I give credit to His magnificent creations - Gemstones! I believe we see only a glimpse of His splendor here on earth and what is to come is even more tremendous. (Rev. 21:19-21: "The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, 2nd sapphire, 3rd chalcedony, 4th emerald, 5th sardonyx, 6th carnelian, 7th chrysolite, 8th beryl, 9th topaz, 10th chrysoprase, 11th jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.")

Karel currently resides in the Texas Hill Country with her husband and two adorable children.