Our Story
Modern Hoopla has grown from a seed of an idea in 2019 to the bustling company that she is today. Kate, our Founder, took the initial product idea and nurtured it into a solid business for a rural community, employing and empowering local women.
With every product, we hope to elevate the presentation of your stitching and make the time you spend on your craft more enjoyable. Your time and talent should be celebrated! Adding a frame to your hoop gives it the polish you deserve.
Meet The Maker
I’m Kate and this is my labor of love, my collision of crafts, and my daily inspiration. I wear a lot of hats, but I’m most proud to call myself Inventor, Small Business Owner, Boss, and Community Member.
Modern Hoopla was born when a spark of an idea invaded my brain. I’d been focusing on digital fabrication, making my imagination spit out of a CNC machine (that’s a computer controlled router, if you were wondering), when I took an embroidery class. I saw ‘naked’ hoops everywhere and wanted a more finished way to display my new-found craft. The basic design for the frames felt like that classic cartoon lightbulb dinging to life. So I kept going, kept prototyping, kept stitching. And now we’re HERE.
Fabric, wire, floss, plywood, spray paint. If craft materials were friends, these would be my BFFs. I’m happy that I spend my days with them. We have a grand ‘ole time.
I’m happy, too, to have found a lovely and nurturing community through social media. The embroidery and cross stitching communities are filled with the nicest, most generous and creative people. I’m constantly amazed with what comes back to me from this colorful group.
Small-business ownership is a wild ride. I’ve grown personally right along with Modern Hoopla and I take my company leadership role very seriously. I know that my choices affect my customers, my team, and my local community. (And don’t get me started on late-stage capitalism or corporate pirates!)
Speaking of community, I’ve cultivated a group of local, women SBO’s in an effort to make running a business less lonely. Along with two friends, we founded The Make(her) Collective. We get together to share tips, give advice, and hold each other accountable– anything to flatten the steep learning curves. I highly recommend finding or starting this kind of group in your area!
So, that’s me! Thanks for being here!
What we stand for
Company Values
Here's a straightforward list of what we strive for every day:
- Honor the history of embroidery and cross stitch, particularly as a craft done by women.
- Honor the individual expression of each stitcher and the diverse art of the community.
- Play an active role in the blending of the old arts (needlework) with new technology (CAD design, CNC woodworking, digital fabrication). Evolution!
- Elevate the presentation of needlework with innovative frames and display options.
- Empower women with power tools, an accommodating work environment, living wages and the opportunity for shared ownership.
- Keep manufacturing in the local community and source materials responsibly.
- Share knowledge, advice, and friendship generously.
- Minimize waste, plastic, inefficiency, and stress.
- Maximize support, creativity, community, and rest.
and now a litle bit about
Our Team
Flexibility in a supportive and positive environment. That sums up our vibe.
Flexibility– because that is often lacking in job opportunities, particularly in our rural community. Our lives are complex, particularly as women at varying stages of life, and so we’ve built Modern Hoopla to support that.
Supportive– because women supporting other women may be the answer to world peace.
Positive– because attitude is a choice and we choose hope and optimism. (Even when we talk politics!)
Our team of motivated women work every week to cut, sand, finish, package, and ship all the Modern Hoopla products. We range in age from 17 to 77. We’re all part-time. We’re happy to come to work.
