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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 & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and 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

Yarn craft designer & author. Into intarsia knits, latch hook, color & vintage-modern style.
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👇🏻 Book, Patterns, Tutorials

Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
Sunday stitches with June. ☺️ . Yarn: @brookly Sunday stitches with June. ☺️
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Yarn: @brooklyntweed Arbor
Pattern: in-progress by yours truly 
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#handsoccupied #intarsia #colorworkknitting #intarsiaknitting
When it’s August & the crew has the day off, the When it’s August & the crew has the day off, the only thing to do is a Knitflix marathon! I hadn’t seen the latest season of Stranger Things and had a TON of knitting to do, so we decided why not make a day of it? For non knitters, this is a pretty accurate depiction of what a dream day looks like for maker types. (Plus or minus a cranky but cute house pet.) 
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What does your dream knitting day look like? 
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Just making this for fun & to see how it feels to distill a yarn day into a short video like this. Big thank you to Jamie & Mariah for being my friends, even though they said “it’s okay if you don’t tag me in this.” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 
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#knitflix #knitting #knittingwithfriends #intarsia #handsoccupied #knitsocks #chicagoknitters
Are you looking for some late summer reading picks Are you looking for some late summer reading picks? Here are 3 fresh titles for makers of all ages - full reviews are on my bl0g, along with a giveaway for a copy of Knitstrips! The 🔗 is where you’d think. 😉
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To Make by Danielle Davis (@writesinla) / Knitstrips by Alice Ormsbee Beltran & Karen Kim Mar (@ik_knitstrips) / This Long Tread by Jen Hewett (@jenhewett) 
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#summerreading #bookshelf #readingrecommendations #handsoccupied #booksformakers #craftbooks
New on the blog today! This former Librarian revie New on the blog today! This former Librarian reviews three making-related books for kids, teens & adults. And there’s a copy of one up for giveaway too! 📚 
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To Make by Danielle Davis (@writesinla) with pictures by Mags DeRoma (@magsderoma) / Knitstrips (@ik_knitstrips) by Alice Ormsbee Beltran & Karen Kim Mar / This Long Thread by Jen Hewett (@jenhewett) 
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I’ll share preview page-through videos for these this week too, but for now the written reviews are at the top of handsoccupied dot com along with my search bar if you can’t find ‘em. All giveaway details are listed in the review post. 🤙🏻 
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(^ I heard a rumor that if I tell you to exit this app, no one will see this post, so plz forgive the song & dance just in case it matters. 🙈)
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#handsoccupied #summerreading #booksformakers #booksforcrafters #books #knittersofinstagram #craftbook #knittingbook
I think about the wrong side of my intarsia knitti I think about the wrong side of my intarsia knitting kind of like some embroiderers do: I get (probably too) excited when the back’s neat and tidy. Are you this way? Is it just me? 
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Pictured is the wrong side of a large primary color intarsia swatch I knit for an upcoming design in @brooklyntweed Arbor. When I pulled it from my studio, I thanked my former self for talking the time to knit, weave in ends, & block a clean swatch already. As critical as they are, I’m excited to not have to make one today. I’ll advocate for swatching all day long, but I won’t pretend it’s like the funnest step in the process! 😆🧶
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#stopswatchandblockit #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #handsoccupied #knitincolor #knitdesign #handknits
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