Instructors

Maureen Allaben / Knitting
Known at Beehive Co-op as the creator of the bath & body line "Plain & Simple", Maureen is a prolific crafter. Maureen started knitting about 10 years ago as a way to keep herself occupied while traveling for work and became completely hooked on it. She knits anything from blankets to scarves but her favorite things to knit are Irish cable knits. She also works as a Photo Stylist with advertising photographers. Her specialties are Food Styling, Prop Hunting and Set Dressing.

Petra Geiger / Sewing
As the owner and founder of Beehive Co-op, Petra conceived of Beehive while she was designing and crafting her handbag line. Hundreds of bags later she has lots of experience and patterns to share. Since running Beehive affords her no more sewing time, she is eager to spend some time at the machine again by teaching classes!

Kristina Hjelsand / PR
Kristina Hjelsand has 15 years of professional writing experience and nearly 10 years public relations experience. She began her career at Context Marketing, a San Francisco public relations agency that led an award-winning national communications program to promote California’s artisan cheese industry. After relocating to Atlanta in 2004, she joined Patrick Davis Partners as a senior associate, where she managed the Chipotle Mexican Grill, Panera Bread and Whole Foods Market accounts, and was the firm’s in-house expert on organics and sustainability. In 2006, she founded Kitchen Communications, a brand communications consultancy specializing in sustainable food and lifestyle brands.

Deborah Moebes / Sewing
Deborah Moebes is a third generation professional crafter, following her mother and grandmother into the world of the handmade. She has formal training in costume design from Florida State, and her creations have appeared onstage in three separate states. With over 20 years sewing experience (including some rockin’ dolly blankets from grade school), she has taught sewing and design to both individuals and groups over the past five years, and is currently training up her middle schooler to be a fourth generation crafter. Deborah designs original children’s clothing and crafts for her company, Pretty Jane. You can find her on the web or follow her blog at www.PrettyJaneClothing.com.

Karrimah Muhammad / Sewing
Karrimah Muhammad is a professional fabric designer, surface designer and businesswoman. Karrimah creates original designs, home products and accessories for individuals as well as creates surface designs for the mass market. Through developing and creating designs that are hand-printed and computer generated, she transforms them into the finest quality, marketable products. She works with individuals to design fabrics, home products and accessories that reflect their unique tastes as well as enhance their personal decor. She believes that by personalizing products it gives us a greater sense of comfort and well-being. Karrimah brings to her clients 20 years of experience as a designer, most recently branching into home furnishings and accessories market with her company Cotton Pickin' Naturals.

Jenny Runkel / Business Basics
Jenny Runkel’s experience within business strategy, sales and marketing spans the past ten years. She began her career as an integral part in various product launches for Eli Lilly and ranked as the number 2 sales representative nationally. From there she has held key Strategy positions for branding initiatives, product launches and marketing strategies for clients such as Coca-Cola, Sonosite, Hewlett-Packard, Georgia-Pacific and Ford Vehicles. She is now focusing her talents toward small business owners through coaching and mentoring.

Cory London Seebode / Sewing
Cory Seebode started sewing by hand when she was eight years old and with her grandmother’s assistance began to sew on a 1975 Singer sewing machine. She grew up designing clothing and making clothing for herself and her friends often from thrift store garments. Her love of fashion inspired her to pursue a career in fashion design and go on to graduate from The Savannah College of Art and Design in 1996. For the past six years Cory has been designing and producing clothing for her business babylondon clothing co. She designs clothing for children using mostly recycled vintage fabric and considers them contemporary heirlooms. Last year Cory added teaching sewing to her skill set and brings her love of fashion design and technical sewing skills to beehive works! You can find her children’s collection at the beehive co-op and soon on www.babylondonclothing.com.

Heather Swanepoel / Soapmaking
Often referred to as the "Soap Girl," Heather Swanepoel has been making soap the 'ole fashioned way for over 5 years. It all started for Heather when her desperate search for a creative outlet collided with her love of bath & body products while working in California. She has since taken the hobby of soap making into a whole new realm through her researching, tinkering & sourcing of ingredients & recipes. Heather is excited to be able to share her knowledge & passion through the various bath & body classes she will be instructing at Beehive Co-op.

Robert Thompson / Papermaking
My interest in papermaking began nearly twenty years ago as a search for unique stationery for my personal use. It started in my kitchen with a kit and processed pulp. I soon outgrew the kitchen and found studio space at with a local Artist’s Cooperative. This lively and creative environment nurtured my new passion and I was soon marketing stationery and notebooks made with my paper. I progressed for the next few years, mixing processed pulp with fibers I began harvesting. I experimented more and more with my own fibers until I eventually made a clean break with processed pulps and focused entirely on plant fibers. Since that time, I have used only natural plant fibers that I harvest and process myself. Over the years, I have expanded my range and now make lamps, garden lights, framed pieces and my ever changing stationery. Recently I have added printmaking to my resume. I have purchased a small etching press. Ink on the handmade paper adds a new exciting dimension.

Tracey Tirrell / Jewelry
Armed with a bachelors degree in fine art and a masters in business, Tracey has worked in a number of capacities from graphic designer to buyer but her true passion was always designing accessories. From an early age she immersed herself in the world of color, style, trends and scoured local millineries for rhinestones to create her own jewelry. In 2003 she began her own business and launched Tracey Tirrell Fine Accessories featuring both a bridal collection and Fringe, a ready-to-wear collection. Her pieces are sold online and in many boutiques across the Southeast.