• 0 items$0.00
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hands Occupied

Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

  • BLOG
    • Knitting
    • Crochet
    • Latch Hook
    • Macramé
    • Punch Needle
  • ABOUT
  • Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • TikTok
    • YouTube

A Giant Surprise

March 21, 2013

Those of you who have known me IRL for a long time might be in the loop on my what my surprise talent is. However, this is a topic I haven’t discussed here at Hands Occupied – it’s kind of an emotional one for me. Since I’m trying to stretch myself as a blogger, I might as well rip off the band aid of avoiding the personal. Here goes. My name is Heidi, and I am an oboist.

A Giant Surprise at HandsOccupied.com

Me, learning to play the oboe at age 10.

I started playing oboe when I was ten, and it led to several defining experiences in my life. It led to a job as a professional symphony member while in high school and a couple of scholarships to respected music camps and to study music performance in college. It taught me the value of working incredibly hard for small victories. I’m very lucky – a lot of kids who get to study classical music in a serious way don’t tend to be from a state like North Dakota or have totally normal, middle class parents. At the end of my first college year, I ended up changing my major from music performance after several bouts of carpal tunnel and tendonitis. I just knew in the end that being a full time musician wasn’t a sustainable career move considering I struggled to hold a pencil more than once by the age of 18.

Heidi oboe 2004

One of my senior pictures.

I also had the opportunity to spend my college years playing oboe in a non-classical band with some of my best friends. (Hear some of our music here.) Playing in the band completely transformed my college experience and made making music a positive experience for me again, despite the injuries. I also met my husband the night we opened for another band in a bar 5 years ago. In case you were wondering, I still play on my own for fun from time to time and truly remember with fondness the time in my life that was almost entirely oboe-filled.

Falcorps 2007

Falcorps, ca. 2007

Music made me love creativity as a healthy outlet for whatever life throws at me. Not doing music as a career led me to reconnect with other passions like crafting and learning new technologies like blogging. Even my oboe-related injuries opened some surprising doors – I can kinda write left handed now, and I can knit leftie too. How cool is that?

A Giant Surprise at HandsOccupied.com

Me at age 17 in my uniform for Interlochen music camp.

Now, Green Giant (you know, ho ho ho?) has a surprise they want to share with you all as well – they have a new line of veggie chips. And they’re totally delicious. My husband helped me sample the chips, and we agree. They have a nice, flaky texture and are flavor-packed. Also, I think the package design is adorable. If you want to try them for yourself, Green Giant has shared a printable coupon for 85 cents off their new Veggie Snack Chips.

New Green Giant Veggie Chips

 There are a couple of things about the chips worth noting:

  • The Green Giantâ„¢ Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips – Zesty Cheddar Flavor are made with real vegetables, 17 grams of whole grain per serving (48g are recommended daily), and are naturally flavored.
  • The Green Giantâ„¢ Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips – Sea Salt Flavor are made with real sweet potatoes and made with 14 grams of whole grain. Plus, they contains 40 percent less fat than regular potato chips*!
  • *Green Giant Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips (6g per 28g serving) have 40 percent less fat than regular potato chips (10g per 28g serving)

New Green Giant Veggie Chips  Thank you to The Green Giant™ for being a sponsor. Show the Giant your surprise talent at www.facebook.com/greengiant.

PS: Comments are broken on my site right now, so if you want to react to my giant surprise, you can Tweet @handsoccupied or comment on Facebook. I’m working to fix this.  

Filed Under: Giveaways, Reviews & Sponsored Tagged With: band, chips, giant surprise, green giant, music, oboe, review, sponsored, whole grain

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

Previous Post: « How-to: Glow in the Dark Key Toppers
Next Post: How-to: Astro Turf Peter Pan Collar »

DID YOU LIKE THIS POST?
Visit similar articles...

  • Knitter’s Pride Ginger Interchangeable Knitting Needles – A ReviewKnitter’s Pride Ginger Interchangeable Knitting Needles – A Review
  • Skeins in the Stacks Review & GiveawaySkeins in the Stacks Review & Giveaway
  • Ever wanted to try a yarn subscription box? Take a look at Knitcrate & their new Crochet Crate, plus enter for a chance to win one to try for yourself!Knitcrate’s Crochet Crate – Review & Giveaway
  • How to Knit an Afghan for Under $35How to Knit an Afghan for Under $35

DON’T MISS ANOTHER UPDATE

Primary Sidebar

Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Never miss a tutorial with these short & sweet monthly updates.

Find Me on Social Media

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
Latch Hook by Heidi GustadDiscover Unique Items

Footer

INSTAGRAM

handsoccupied

Craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
❤️ Email preferred

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
Here’s how to work a Norwegian purl stitch for e Here’s how to work a Norwegian purl stitch for easier continental style knitting. With this purling method, the working yarn says tensioned (held) at the back of your knitting at all times. For many knitters, always holding the yarn at the back helps with tension issues, as well as feeling a little more comfortable. 
.
Have you ever encountered this style of purling before? If you’ve tried it, have you found it helps with your purl tension and knitting speed? I’m curious.
.
For a written tutorial, visit handsoccupied-dot-com. For video, you guessed it, You2be. Both of these platforms allow for longer, more in-depth versions of this tutorial, including full transcripts, alt text & the ability to pause, slow down or speed up at will. (Like if you really want to learn this, I recommend using a platform that doesn’t keep your hands occupied. Thinking of putting this in all my captions these days tbh - shout out to you if you made it this far. 🙌🏻😂)
.
#handsoccupied #learntoknit #continentalknitting #howtoknit #norwegianpurl #norwegianknitting #knit #knitting #knitter #knittersofinstagram #knittinghack  #handknitting #handknit #norwegianpurling
Have you ever tried this style of purl? . All thi Have you ever tried this style of purl? 
.
All this recent talk about throwing vs. continental style knitting made it clear many people struggle with purling in continental knitting. Turns out that Norway may have the answer! In Norwegian purling, the working yarn stays tensioned at the back at all times, helping with speed and tension. 🤯
. 
Head to the bl0g (🔗 in bi0) for a more in-depth look at how to work a Norwegian purl stitch, including a photo tutorial with animated GIF & a video tutorial. Wrapping your mind around how to work a stitch you’re familiar with in a totally new way can be confusing, so I tried to give a few options for clarity. 🤙🏻 Video is also on You2be. 
.
#handsoccupied #norwegianpurl #norwegianknitting #norwegianpurling #continentalknitting #howtoknit #learntoknit #knitterofinstagram #knitters
It’s been a hot second since I showed my face or It’s been a hot second since I showed my face or reintroduced myself, so here goes! I’m Heidi Gustad, a craft book author, pattern designer, and tutorial creator who specializes in yarn crafts. Lately, I’ve been focused on releasing quality knitting videos and related blog posts to help teach things like the difference between provisional cast ons and how to fix common knitting mistakes. Next week I’m shooting requested crochet and latch hook videos, so h👀kers, your time is coming! And if you ever have tutorial requests, please let me know. ☺️
. 
TLDR: I’m Heidi. I design & teach yarn crafts. You can find tutorials on my blog (est. 2010) & You2be. I also have several knitting & crochet patterns + a book about latch hook available. / All of these can be found on my website, the 🔗 is where you’d think. 
.
#handsoccupied #fridayintroduction #heidigustad #knitting #knitter #knittersofinstagram #yarncrafts #latchhookbook
Are you a picker or a thrower? Do you knit Contine Are you a picker or a thrower? Do you knit Continental or English Style? Here’s a quick overview of the differences between the two most common knitting styles, including a side by side comparison. (A good one to save for future reference. 👍🏻) 
.
There’s more on the differences between picking and throwing in my latest blog post & You 2ube video - the l1nk is where you’d think!
.
#handsoccupied #learntoknit #knittingstyles #howtoknit #knittersofinstagram #knitter
Spent time with family this weekend down South. Go Spent time with family this weekend down South. Got some stitching in & felt spring for a minute, which was lovely. ☀️ 
.
I’ll be catching up on comments, etc. tomorrow. 
.
#handsoccupied #travelknitting #planeknitting
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 / Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework / Branding by Ink + Mortar
All Site & Shop Policies / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy