Our customers love the Quilts & Other Comforts red bags that we give away at our store and occasionally through the catalog. Here are some of the fun and useful ways that our red bags get used. If you would like to send your own story just send us an E-mail at webmaster@quiltsonline.com and put the words RED BAG STORY in the subject line.


My mother and I each have a bag (that we got on a recent trip to Florida!) My mother lives 40 miles away and we only see each other about every other week. We hang our bags on a door knob at each of our houses. When we think of something that we want to remember to give to each other we put it in the bag. The when we see each other we exchange bags. This way we almost never forget to bring things that we had promised to each other.
Colleen


My red bags do not travel the world but are put to all sorts of uses. I take them to Amish country in Ohio to my sisters farm where they are loaded with projects to be worked on as I sit in the swing outside overlooking the beautiful hills and valley's of Ohio. They come back to Florida filled with completed projects and with "wonderful" fabric and notion finds from the wonderful Amish shops.
The one I like best is:
We have a "Prayer Quilt" ministry at our church. In brief, quilts are made by our quilting ladies and presented at the church service by the pastor with the prayer request of the individual that is to receive the quilt. The quilt hangs on its specially made quilt rack during the service. At the close of the service the individual for whom the quilt was made or their family is invited to come to the front and tie a knot, along with the pastor, in prayer for the individual. Then the quilt is laid out on a table in the narthex of the church and as church members leave they are invited to tie a knot in the quilt and say a silent prayer for the one who is to receive it.
The quilts are all machine pieced and are nearly the size of a twin quilt. The idea is that the quilt will "cover" the person in prayer, and as the recipient touches each knot they will know that the knot was tied with prayer just for them. Each quilt is machine quilted and then pearl cotton is use to place ties in the quilt for member to tie.
Just this past week we completed a quilt for a member who is suffering from cancer and has been very sick. I didn't want to take the quilt in the church in a black garbage bag, or that sort of thing and I didn't have a box big enough.....I looked around my sewing room and what did my wondering eye see!!!!! a little "red bag" just made for me............The words and name of your shop said the perfect thing for carrying a "prayer quilt" Quilts and Other Comforts......how perfect. You can be sure each and every "prayer quilt" will now be carried to church in my little red bag of Quilts and Other Comforts.....couldn't ask for a more perfect union and you thought you would get my bags back!!!!! Thank you for the perfect compliment to our quilts.
God Bless
Jo Ann


My mother, June and her mother taught me to quilt. My mother is now 78 years old and lives in a very small, rural part of Illinois. I shop for her here in Florida and mail things to her - this includes quilting and sewing supplies. Many times I send the quilting supplies as gifts for her birthday, Mothers Day, etc. and I use my Red Bags to "wrap" her gifts in. She gets a real kick out of going to classes at the Senior Center with her new notions, cloth, supplies or lunch in a Red Bag from her daughter in Florida. Last week I sent her some fabric I picked up at your tent sale on the 4th. She has made a quilt for the Senior Center to raffle as a fund raiser and was featured in a segment on her local TV news with the quilt. She thoroughly enjoys receiving her Red Bags in the mail!
Sincerely,
Nedra


When I looked around my sewing area, I was surprised to see I had 3 red bags. They are each holding "in progress" stuff - all block/strip of the month stuff, but 2 color versions of each set! Can you believe I'll have 6 quilts when I finish? Actually, I'll probably have more, because I've already used 6 blocks from one set, made a few more blocks in matching colors, and given the result to a dear friend in N Carolina. At that rate, I'll probably have at least 10 more from the pile!


I use my red bag for work -- holds my lunch, my daily planner, a bottle of water, and anything else I need for a day away from home. It also lets my co-workers know what my passion is and where I'd rather be!


Hi I am Pat from Illinois and I sent my sister who lives in Chicago one of your bags only I made an adjustment, I cut the straps on one side and put Velcro on so she could attach it to her wheel chair so it would be handy for her to take shopping or getting her mail from upstairs to downstairs and she could attach it to her wheel chair anytime she wanted to use it. She lost her leg four inches below her knee due to circulation last June 2003. Thank you. I am a snow bird and enjoy coming to your store when I arrive in Leesburg. Thanks again for such a nice store.


I use my Red Bag when we go to Mississippi to the casino. (Hopefully) to bring the money back home. But, alas, fate doesn't let this happen! So, I use it for extra comfortable shoes.
Sincerely, Vassie


I took my red bag to 2004 DULCMER FEST in EVART MI July 15 -19. Thousands of people saw it as I walked all over to classes, tonight I'll be taking it back with me for the stage show (It will be there beside me, holding music, music stand, and whatever else I wish. It is a very versatile bag. Thanks for it Judith


I cut the straps off one red bag to use the handles for a denim jeans tote I made for my sister. I cut the red bag portion into squares and used them for the foundation pieces for an art quilt project to be hung and not washed. What is that red fabric anyway? It is very durable but soft and pliable enough to store things and tuck them away in a basket or drawer. I use one of my red bags to carry my books and workbooks when I go to my Spanish class. I use one to tote quilting supplies and a project when I travel in the car. My current project is trying to make a purple hat and stitch it onto the front of the red bag. Thanks for having this little red bag adventure. I am sure you will see how creative your customers are. Kathy


When I was visiting a friend in Florida last November we bought some fabric at your store - in the Red Bag. I brought mine home to South Australia packed with fat quarters, most of which my daughter fell upon with joy. Now my Red Bag hangs on my bedroom door knob to remind me of my trip, and gets used when I want to show off a quilt to friends. Thanks for your newsletter and the friendly help you gave us in your store.
Bronwyn


Hi,
I use my red bags this way. As I decide on a project, I pin a piece of paper on the bag with the name of the quilt. The fabrics needed and the colors are kept in my purse. As I accumulate the fabrics, they go into the bag; when there are enough fabrics to complete the quilt, I pin the bag closed and destroy the list in my purse. Then, when I'm ready to start a quilt, all the fabrics, including the backing, are in my little red bag and ready to go.
Whether I will ever finish any of the projects in the dozen bags I have currently pinned closed is a whole other story!
Anita


What a fun idea - we will get hints this way! I have several red bags too...I keep one right on a hook next to my sewing machine for all the threads and trimmings that usually fall on the floor. I only need to empty it when my machine project is finished. My vacuum cleaner is much happier too - no clogs! Love the shop and quilting! Ellen


I use my red bag to hide my fabric purchases from my husband. He thinks it's just old fabric, HA! Ha!
Kathy


Here's what I do with the "Red Bags" from your store.......... keep some of the beautiful fabrics purchased from your store but have not yet had time to work on. The only one I gave away was to a student of mine who uses it to carry her projects to and from my sewing class. She has been amazed how much "stuff" she can carry in for class!
Sincerely,
Barbara


I have six bags, each one has a quilting project in it, with all the supplies. One is for the car ( an easy project) one is for while waiting in a Drs Office ( a small project ), one is for in front of the Television ( usually a wall hanging ), one is for when I take a special class at a local quilt shop ( free advertising for you), one is for our current project in our quilt club in our Community ( this month, quilted place mats), and the last is for holding quilt materials to make charity quilts for the children at the local Shriner's Hospital. I have the red bags hanging in the closet and can get them at a moment's notice. I love them !
Jean


I am president of my quilt guild this year and I use my red bag to take all of the president stuff to the meeting each month. That way, I never misplace my gavel and other stuff. Mary Jane


My 61st birthday was this week and my wonderful husband of 44 years asked what I wanted...foolish man.. I asked if he would take me to Mount Dora to visit the Quilts and other Comforts store there. In that wonderful haven of quilting fabrics he helped me fill my Red Bag with all the goodies I wanted for many projects without a whimper from his lips. I have already put my newest jacket project into it for my weekend travels. Thank you ladies for making us feel so welcome . Linda

I, too have many bags. Currently I am using one of mine to transport my portable CD player to practice every Wednesday with my singing group, The Lamplighters. We have some new music to learn while our leader is away for the summer and are singing with the CDs in her absence.


Hi Suzan, my sister adopted a dog a few months ago. Since she and her husband are working parents my other sister comes to take Gordie to her house for day care. I gave Gordie one of my red bags so he had something cute for going back and from.
Kathleen


My Red bag is hanging on the door knob of the closet in my sewing room and right now it is holding a crib size quilt batting.
Laura


I have 2 uses for my "red bag". I carry it when I shop at one of your competitors to remind them that they are not the only store in the area and should treat the customers as warm and friendly as you do. The other use for my "red bag" is to carry my work to be done at home from work. In the elevator I meet people who ask if I quilt and it opens a conversation up among otherwise strangers plus gives them the idea to start a new hobby and the perfect place to begin.


I have to say the red bag has had many uses, grocery shopping, hide fabric, store projects, take materials to class etc, etc,. The best use of the big red bag is to take Marjee with me. Marjee is my 6year old :Lhasa Apso, who looks just like a ewok according to the kids and grandkids. Marjee and I thank you for the Big Red Bag.


Hi , my name is Jennifer and I love your red bags!!! What a great item to use over & over again!!! I use my bags to organize all of my fabrics for the quilts I want to make. It really helps me visualize the whole picture and also realize when I have enough fabric for the quilt!!! But as we all know, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH FABRIC!!!!!!!!!!!!! I definitely am a " Fabriholic " . I also love visiting your store and filling up new bags just to have more of them. Sincerely Quiltaholic,
Jennifer


What a wonderful survey.....I use my red bags for all my scraps to save for my granddaughter Sarah who is 6. She is just beginning the journey...has her own sewing machine but is only "paper sewing" so far. I know having scraps which are colorful and meaningful l ( most are from her dresses and family quilts) will give her inspiration. The red bags are so easy to find in my sewing room and makes it her place
I can't wait to hear the other ideas...


On my first visit to Mt. Dora from Virginia Beach, VA, I asked to find the shop, and LOVED finding the perfect chili pepper fabric for my new daughter in law and her kitchen window. The red bag goes with me to work, carrying reading material for slow times, and it makes me smile as I work toward my future retirement. When that happens I have a dream of moving to live in your wonderful city!
Ellen


My red bag holds my "incoming stash": the quilt fabrics that haven't been prewashed yet. (Then, when I assemble enough "reds", or "greens", I wash a batch...)
Sue


My husband insisted on coming to Ohio for the summer and I told him I would give him only two months and I was going back to Florida with or without him. He thought I was joking until he heard me quoting airline prices to a friend stating they were August 26th prices. Now he knows why I carried the red bag so carefully on our way to Ohio in the car. I had cut the seam on one end and had put my cheapy sewing machine in the red bag and made sure I got into the car before him and he said "You're sure in a hurry to go to Ohio". I nodded and when he asked what was in the red bag I quietly answered "That's my carry on bag-you know like in an airplane!" He didn't notice I shifted the bag from time to time and finally when we arrived in our old hometown in Ohio he went to hand me the red bag and sheepishly looked at me as if to say "Well, I got you to Ohio but I sure didn't get you away from Mt. Dora's Quilt Shop!" This is just one of the sly tricks we quilters have to use in desperation. Gertrude PS: Love the red bags!


I love the Red Bag Stories. Mine is simple. I am deaf, but I received a cochlear implant to give me back sound. I ordered new equipment and this was sent to my home. I loaded all the equipment up in your red bag and took this with me to my doctor to have the equipment fitted to me. The bag was perfect and all the equipment fit inside. My doctor (which is a female) was dressed in purple and belongs to the Red Hat Society!
Deborah


I recently "catered" a breakfast at my community clubhouse and the guests marveled at how easily I got everything in place! I had bagels and all the fixin's in one bag.....then used another for the table setting with tablecloth, plates, flatware, centerpiece, etc., a third one was used for thermos's of coffee with cream/sugar and cups, and finally a bag for the toaster! When the party was over and it was time to leave - everything was collected in a jiffy and toted back to the car! A party in four little bags! They thought my red bags were WONDERFUL...and so do I!
Susan


My Red Bag is just great for carrying my quilting projects whenever I travel. It has been on car trips, planes and ships and is just prefect for carrying my piecing projects. It certainly gets around.
Virginia


My favorite use for the "Red Bag" is a sleeping place for my 14 pound cat, Lucky. He is so named because we rescued him from the Pound 5 years ago. He is a large ginger male cat and pretty much sleeps wherever he wants. since he will go to any lengths to lay on a piece of fabric, he lays on whatever is in the latest red bag to come in the house. that cat has good taste!
Jeanann


My Red Bag came with a catalog order.
My story is pretty boring--my Red Bag is included with several other cloth bags that I use for grocery shopping. The Red Bag is nice and wide so it holds a lot. I've had several grocery checkers comment on it and say it's pretty…most of the cloth grocery bags are the off-white canvas ones.
Deanna


Yes, I too use the red bags for many purposes. Since October 1 ,2003, the date I signed up and joined CURVES, the red bag contains my walking shoes, socks, CURVES bucks, monthly weigh and measurement charts and any newsletters or magazines from CURVES. I keep the red bag in the car all the time. Very useful!!!!
Karen


I recently went on a road trip with my mom, dad, aunt & cousin. My cousin and I rode together in her car, so therefore, we had our own snack bag. The red bag was awesome! It was able to hold 3 bags of chips, a box of Cheez It's and a box of Crunch N Munch!! We had so much fun digging thru the bag looking for our goodies!!
I also use my red bag for workout clothes! That is such an inspiration, because when I am done working out I have the energy to work on my quilting the remainder of the evening!
Denise


My use of the red bags is quite simple, but then if it is simple, a lot of people overlook the obvious. I use the red bags to put my fabric in as I purchase them, one project, one bag. Handy and simple. Easy to see stored on a shelf, not likely to get "misplaced".
Keep those red bags coming.
Thanks a lot,
Judy


I use my red bag to keep my library books in. This way I know they are all in one place and they are all together when I need to return them when due back at the library.
I also have an embroidery machine and I keep supplies in one of the bags so that it is easy for transport to classes.
Dyphner


My Red Bag contains my current hand-quilting project, a small patriotic wall hanging for my husband's office. It is going on a long trip next month because we are taking the "baby", my youngest son, to college. Then, because my husband can't bear to watch me wave sadly through the back window for over 1,000 miles, we are taking an "empty nester's" vacation on the way home. So the end of August, my Red Bag is heading from Minnesota to Washington, DC for college orientation. Then it is on to Niagara Falls, Stratford and Mackinac Island. Rosie (my Red Bag) will see the falls, attend both MacBeth and Triumph of Love in Stratford, and have tea at the Grand Hotel. I only have one concern - to come back from Canada we need a birth certificate and Rosie didn't come with one!!
Kathy


I began quilting around Mother's Day of 2003, never having sewn a stitch before, but I think it's fair to say that I've become a full-fledged quiltaholic. I continually add to my stash of fabric and am a firm believer in the adage that she who dies with the most fabric wins. In the year or so that I've been quilting, I've accumulated a (ahem!) few red bags. I frequently use them as tote bags for work and love to answer questions about my hobby, if asked. Naturally, I use the bags to "tote" my projects to and from classes.
Doreen


I belong to a group of ladies that crochet and knit. We meet every Monday morning and actually we do more 'bitchin' than 'stitchen'. I had collected 5 of your red bags and had one of the ladies crochet a water bottle holder with handle for one of our members who LOVES red and had just received some wonderful news regarding her cancer. This was a celebration gift and she loved it.
Mary-Carol


My granddaughter Maggie has been working on a quilt for 2 years. She is now 5 years old and making progress. Each time she comes to visit, she looks for the red bag that holds her project. I think it should be called the "Maggie's project bag"
Alice


My red bag has been put to use as a carry-all for my 14-month old granddaughter's toys when she comes to visit her Nana. Of course her Nana has several of the bags, so she can also use hers to transport her quilting projects to classes and Guild meetings.
Jean


One way I use my "Red Bag" is packing my beach towel , brush, lipstick etc. for a trip to the pool. My Red Bag is just the right size. Thank you, Dorothy


I am not sure if you are going to believe this but I use my red bag to store my 14 cats' balls/small toys etc. It certainly saves losing these items under furniture, down the sides of settees/chairs and worst of all treading or falling on the toys when the cats have finished playing with them!
And I am proud to show off my full bag to my small group patchwork friends who visit regularly for afternoons of sheer pleasure devoted to sewing a variety of articles.
Sally


I have given my daughters-in-law a "Red Bag" to keep extra sets of clothes for the grandchildren in the trunk of their cars.
I have also taken a "Red Bag" with me to the flea market. The longer handles fit nicely over my shoulder and they hold a lot of "flea market finds".
I look forward to getting a new one each time I visit the store.
Judy