I sure did! I had purchased 4 of those cloth walmart grocery bags (in black). I took a black sharpie and lined through the bold "Walmart - Paper or Plastic - Neither" part so the whole bag was black. For several weeks I have only been able to find one of them. Well, finally they surfaced when DH was cleaning out his truck. He works for an oil company and gets bags all the time. I really wanted these to use for grocery shopping. So, I gathered them all up and decided I will add a quilt block of some sort so they (DH and Sons) will leave them alone. I have the pieces cut out - laying out on the kitchen counter for maybe four days. I finally sew them up, attach them to bags and am ready to applique them securely down. My youngest son (16) and I go out. Come home and he sees the four bags on the counter and asks "Mom why did you put Swastikas on those bags?" "What, no honey thats a fence rail block" (I liked the green so I made a fourth strip using the green again. Oh, dang I can see it! Why didn't I see it before?) He says, "Wow, my moms gonna carry out her groceries from Walmart in Swastika bags." OMG! What have I done? I couldn't see it before, now it's all I can see.

That's hilarious!! I never would have noticed it if your son didn't. :D
Love your idea though!!

HA HA HA I did not see it until you mentioned it! Kids are amazing!

i see it too!! well hate to tell you but you'll always see it and be bothered by it so you'd better choose a different block. how about a log cabin block?
anyway, you have an excellent idea going on here and i think i'll give it a try myself!! thanks for the inspiration.

Wow. I would never have noticed that either. Your son is very observant.

I had to squint, open and squint again before I could see it, but you know....your son is probably right. There would be someone at the grocery store who would see it first glimpse, just like your son did. LOL Another learning experience. :)

Oh - stop it already! It's a rail fence block on point and it's very pretty. Great idea. I'm hoping that very few of us in 2010 would jump to that conclusion. It's long past - though we remember the pain of others. Enjoy your bags. Teenagers are probably just becoming aware of the huge mistakes of the past.

I tried to camoflage it, but I guess I will always see it now. I can ignore it better this way I think.

It's already heat N bonded down.

Beautiful save :wink: With the heart added, they will for sure leave them alone LOL
Thank you for sharing this idea :D:D:D

I wouldn't have noticed it either but love them with the heart added!
great idea for some quick gifts!
I may make some up to add to christmas stocking stuffers!

I live in an all male house too. Teenage sons do see things differently. His comment made me lol.

Cute story -

I decorated 'store' bags with quilt blocks in the past also. I get lots of compliments "on the cute bag" ... little do they know it's a leftover block or a really cool piece of fabric! LOL

Thats so funny. Great save with the heart.

Oh for goodness sakes. applique a flower in the center!
oops. saw the heart. Great idea!

REally good save....I was going to say, take your sharpie and make a wiggle design on the outside 4th green strip to change the design.

Oooh that's a good camo idea too... Thanks!

I read somewhere the before the Swastika was adapted for ugliness it was actually a religious symbol. Maybe you can just think of this when you look at it!

those are the wrong colors for a swastika.

don't sweat it.

shalom and l'chaim! ;-)

Actually the swastika is used in many different cultures. In the different cultures it has different meaning. I can't remember them all right now but for one culture it is a broken cross. if i remember it is a symbol of Christ breaking the bonds of death. If you look at any buildings in your town there are art deco and built between the 1910's and 1940's you will see swastikas decorate many of them. In KC there is a building that has them all over. I think that it is Bartel hall. can't remember which one exactly. there is another one if I am remembering my KC history class correct. A few of the cultures that have swastikas either on point flat or flipped are Native Americans, Indians, Egyptians. there are actually many more but can't think of them right this moment.
When ever I see the swastika I remember my grandfather who fought in WW2, and that we must never forget how Hitler as well as many other dictators oppress their people, and how they came into power. Through the promise of change.

Before it was called a "swastika" it was a very popular quilt block pre-WWII. My sister actually has an antique quilt that was handed down in the family that has that design on it.

The first time I saw the quilt on her daybed I was taken aback. But then when I researched it I found out the history of the design.

The Sanskrit word "svastika" (notice the different spelling) means well-being.

Unfortunately, Hitler ruined it by using it as his symbol, so we can't use it now.

Well Said.

Oh my! That made me laugh! I guess you are going to have to do soemthing different.

Atta girl Patrice. :-D

Your bags are beautiful so quit carrying around the extra 'baggage'.

This must be why some charities do not want you to use rail fence blocks. I always wondered why.

The heart saves it!!! LOL It really does though.
Very cute with the heart :D

Quilters have such ingenuity! Good job on the bags.

uhhhhhhhhh I had to squint, too, then it JUMPED out at me! The heart really helps. Treat your son for saving you embarassment at Wally World tho!

How about putting a couple of yo-yo flowers in the center of the block? ;)

Looks like the heart fixed it! It's funny what some kids will notice, while being completely oblivious to other things! :lol:
I like your bag!

That is too funny. Your son will remind you of the design on the bag every chance he gets. Adding the heart or a flower will help, though.

The heart works. WE (meaning quilters) know the block, but others would have no reason to think it's anything but a Swastika. Glad your son pointed it out and glad you were able to save it.

My brother has a quilt from 1840- I think Amish, that is a swastika pattern and is absolutely gorgeous in cream and black. He does not display it, because of the current connotations. It's a true work of art, and was created long before the Nazis, but life it what it is now.

I am sorry but I am laughing my butt off. Good your son spotted it before you used them.

What a great thing to give those bags a little "quilt eye candy"! Am going to get some new ones and dress 'em up!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

O.K. that is soooo funny. But what a great idea. I never thought of that. I have several of those bags and don't take them with me when I go shopping. I think I will spend a little time in my sewing room this week.

Kudos to you son for being observant !! Heart works, bad time ss and all, still being used as a negative too bad, but a cute block, if any one says anything, just give'em the ya right look !!! :)

I had to laugh too!!! And, yes it was s religous symbol, and is still used in some areas (india). I once saw a quilt of valor that had one on it...in the middle of the quilt some red blocks came together and made that shape. It jumped out at me immedialtely, I had to wonder what the receipent thought. My DH has an engine that is built in India and made of cast iron. Inside the engine there is a swastika made into the iron.

What a cute idea for using "sample blocks"...love it. Thank you for sharing.