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Hands Occupied

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

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How I Decided on a Kia

June 12, 2013 4 Comments

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I have been a Kia owner for about 5 years, having bought my first one week after graduating from college in 2008. My parents knew I planned on staying in Michigan after school to work, try to save money, and gain some job experience. They might disagree, but I’ve always thought of my parents getting me the Kia as a way to reward working hard to graduate quickly. Also, it was totally a way to manipulate me (in a loving way!) out of any excuses not to drive home to Fargo, ND for regular visits.

How I Decided on a Kia

Why did we go with a Kia? My parents, my dad in particular, were heavily involved in the car selecting process. We knew we’d be buying a used car, and my dad and I, of course, had somewhat different priorities. I wanted a black or red car that didn’t look ancient. In high school, I was lucky enough to have access to my  parents’ sweet powder blue car from 1989 with manual locks and windows. I wanted an upgrade to go along with my shiny new diploma. My parents cared most about fuel efficiency and a high safety rating. Side curtain air bags were definitely on Dad’s must-list.

We test drove a few cars, my dad and I trying each car in town and on the highway. My dad’s 6’4″ and I’m 5’5″, so some of the cars he liked driving were ones I had a harder time seeing out of. In the end, we went with a black 2006 Kia Optima. We clocked its fuel efficiency in at 34 MPG, and its safety rating was stellar. I was happy about the Optima’s color & design, and my parents were happy sending me on my merry way back to The Mitten knowing that I was in a safe car. A safe car that I could drive home in any time.

This post is sponsored by Kia.

Filed Under: Giveaways, Reviews & Sponsored Tagged With: cars, how i decided on a kia, kia, sponsored

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.

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Comments

  1. Laura C

    June 12, 2013 at 7:43 am

    Awwww…I miss our grandma-mobiles!

    Reply
  2. Riane

    June 12, 2013 at 10:51 am

    Oh hey! I drive a Kia too (and I love it). I have the hamstermobile though. #partyrock

    Reply
  3. art

    June 21, 2013 at 5:05 pm

    Have 2 KIA`S 2007 sportage 2009 rondo fantastic cars wouldn`t buy any thing else

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. My Life, My Kia – Hands Occupied says:
    June 26, 2013 at 12:01 am

    […] have driven my Kia through a lot of important life experiences. As I told you guys a couple weeks ago, I got my car right after finishing college five years ago. My Kia and […]

    Reply

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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.

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handsoccupied

Craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
Since it won’t be clean for long, swipe to see w Since it won’t be clean for long, swipe to see what my home studio looks like these days. Nothing will ever quite be like the old Hands Occupied Studio, but I’m pretty pleased with how I shoehorned everything in this space. Function over form + a layer of yarn cuteness-meets-chaos is how I’d describe my creative space needs. 😆 When I was still renting the studio, those needs included “doesn’t rain suspicious brown water from a crack in the ceiling for a year,” so this is an improvement! 😆
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For a time lapse of the studio organizing and tszuj-ing process, scroll down a couple posts on my feed. (There’s also a video or two featuring the old studio if you’re curious.) Happy June, friends! 
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#handsoccupied #handsoccupiedstudio #knitdesigner #craftdesign #yarncrafts #latchhook #makerlife #heidigustad #chicagocrafter
Who doesn’t love magic loop knitting? Who doesn’t know what it is? How about when circular needles were invented?
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In todays new bl0g post + video tutorial, you’ll learn about the magic loop method for knitting in the round, how to do it and why to use it, and when it came to be. The 🔗 is in my b1o. 🧶 
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#handsoccupied #magicloop #knitting #howtoknit #knittinginspiration #knittingintheround
Finally organizing & putting the finishing touches Finally organizing & putting the finishing touches on my home studio. After losing my studio space last fall, it’s feels really great to *occupy* this new space all the way. 😉
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I started by removing general clutter & returning straggler supplies from various WIPs, videos & design deadlines to their homes. Next, I hung a third peg board in the space - this one is mostly for display and less for organizing tools or projects. For the first time ever, I’m displaying projects from my book, plus a couple other faves. (The best thing about designing more yarn crafts besides knit & crochet is that I have some really fun -and delightfully pettable 😆- samples around.) I finished by adding a square dowel to my small supply storage tower to keep it from tipping over, plus re-arranging and de-cluttering the closet. 
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This cleaner space already has me feeling so much more creative and less overwhelmed. Now to find a safe spot in the basement for the tower of project samples in Rubbermaid tubs I liberated from my WIPs closet. Also why are there five?! 
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Here’s to keeping it clean for a few weeks! 🧶 
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#handsocupied #handsoccupiedstudio #craftroom #craftroomorganization #craftroomstorage #yarncraft #knitter #crocheter #latchhook #latchhookbook
It’s a disaster in here and my video microphone It’s a disaster in here and my video microphone isn’t cooperating, but it could be worse! How’s your day? 
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(If we haven’t yet met, I’m Heidi and I’m a pattern designer and tutorial creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting & latch hook. You can learn more about my work and regularly find new tutorials in my profile. ☺️👋🏻)
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#handsoccupied #craftstudio #knitter #yarncrafter
How to knit a one-row buttonhole 🧶 . Sweater k How to knit a one-row buttonhole 🧶 
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Sweater knitters, listen up! Learn how to knit a buttonhole over the course of a single row of knitting, a.k.a. a one-row buttonhole. In this technique, a combination of binding off and casting on stitches on opposite sides of the work creates a symmetrical, stretchy buttonhole. 
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The time limit on these is 90 seconds, so this quick tutorial is perfect to save for future reference. (Did you know you can make folders of saved items like tutorials? 👩🏼‍🏫) 
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If you’re brand new to the technique or want to see this demonstration slower and more in-depth, my bl0g and You/2be are the place to be. Thanks for watching & let me know if you have any questions or requests for future tutorials in the comments. ☺️
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#handsoccupied #knitting #onerowbuttonhole #learntoknit #sweaterknitting #knittutorial #knitting_inspiration
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