I am known online under several pseudonyms, such as justmel and darkermusings. All my artwork is signed M. C. Krauss. My full name is Melissa C. Krauss. I've been creating sites and designs professionally since 2001.
All of my designs are hand coded from scratch, I do not use any type of HTML editors for custom designs and CSS. I have experience with CMS applications, e-commerce applications, and continue to expand my knowledge in design whenever possible.

Over the course of my life I have gained some interesting perspective from my occupations, including a short-lived career as a professional horse trainer. I have extensive experience in customer service and sales; my last position in that field was with a large corporation specializing in electronics. While employed with this company I discovered computers, the internet and all the fascinating possibilities unfolding at our fingertips. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I stumbled (quite by accident) into the world of graphic and web design. I needed an extensive site created for a hobby. So the long process of learning began; at times a tedious frustrating process, at others an exhilarating journey.

A favorite hobby of mine involved fictional writing for online forums, specifically the fantasy genre. I try to bring to my artwork many of the visions inspired by those years. I enjoy writing, hiking, reading, cooking, the arts, and I have a very vivid imagination. I am owned by a rather possessive cat, who grudgingly shares me with a big, bear of a dog and a vocal, demanding guinea pig. I have three wonderful children. When they were young, I referred to them as my "littlest angels."

My current location is in Reading, a city just outside the heartland of Pennsylvania farmlands, sandwiched between the Amish and the Liberty Bell. Reading is situated in a valley between Penn Mountain and Neversink Mountain, and even extends partway up along the sides of each mountain. So much of the city is surrounded by forest, with a number of homes tucked inside wooded areas.
In this part of the state you will find valleys, fields and farms that are surrounded by rolling hills, lush, green forests and mountains. In the distance, to the west and north, lie even more rugged mountains. An entrance for the Appalachian Trail can be found about 30 miles northeast of my home. It is a beautiful area, and much of my inspiration for design and artwork comes from my local surroundings.

I am a fairly private person, preferring to keep the details of my life off the web in as much as is humanly possible, in this day and age. But I wrote down a few details about myself and my life here. I will close these words with my favorite quote of the moment, penned by me.

"Art is art, it is perception, vision and passion; it is the unfettered expression of our souls. And it is all beautiful, each in its own way. We should never forget that."