Why I Love Angie Johnson’s Reusable Bags (and Why They Matter More Than You Think)

January 29, 2026

My favorite things to recommend come from people I know and trust, doing thoughtful work in the world. That’s exactly how I feel about Angie Johnson and her beautifully made reusable bags from One Twelfth Designs.

I was first drawn to Angie’s bags for a simple reason: I like Angie. She has an incredible eye for fabric, color, and detail, and that sense of care shows up in everything she creates. The bags are locally sewn using fun, modern fabrics paired with a waterproof lining, making them both practical and genuinely delightful to use. They feel good in your hands. They feel intentional. And once you start using them, you quickly realize how many little moments of daily life they quietly improve.

The bags come in a variety of sizes, which is part of what makes them so versatile. Smaller ones are perfect for snacks, dog treats, cash, coins, or art supplies. Medium sizes work beautifully for toiletries or on-the-go organization. Larger bags can hold things like wet swimsuits, gym clothes, or travel items- anywhere you’d normally reach for a disposable plastic bag or a bulky container. These are the kinds of items that end up being used again and again, not tucked away in a drawer.

From an organizing perspective, reusable items like these are powerful because they naturally reduce clutter and waste. When you choose things you genuinely love and actually use, you need fewer backups, fewer disposable replacements, and fewer “just in case” items piling up in drawers and bags. Thoughtful, well-made pieces support systems that are easier to maintain—and that’s at the heart of sustainable organizing.

What makes Angie’s work especially meaningful, though, is the ripple effect it creates- environmentally, economically, and personally. Angie gave a presentation at Rotary that really stuck with me. She talked about the environmental impact of single-use plastic bags in a way that was simple and eye-opening. If just one child brought a single-use plastic bag to school every day, that would be 180 plastic bags in one school year. Now imagine an average elementary school classroom of about 22 students. That’s nearly 4,000 plastic bags per classroom per year. Multiply that by an entire school, and suddenly the numbers feel staggering.

Now flip the script. If each child had just one reusable bag that they used all year, thousands of plastic bags would never be produced, used, or thrown away. Angie’s bags make that kind of change feel doable- not through guilt or perfectionism, but through small, practical choices that add up.

There’s also an economic impact that often gets overlooked. When we buy gifts or everyday items from large online retailers or big-box stores, that money usually leaves our community immediately. Angie shared this idea: if each adult replaced just one $40 gift they would normally buy from Amazon or Walmart with a locally made item instead, that’s $40 staying in the local economy. It supports a real person, a real family, and often gets reinvested into other local businesses. Multiply that by 30,000 people, and that’s $1.2 million staying in the local economy! That kind of reinvestment matters because money spent locally doesn’t just disappear- it supports families, sustains small businesses, and circulates back into the community in tangible ways. Big retailers do provide local jobs, but profits are typically distributed far beyond the community, while local businesses reinvest earnings close to home through wages, services, and partnerships.

Angie’s life itself reflects this same values-driven approach. She’s a mother of five and homeschools all of her kids. She cooks at home, raises chickens for eggs, and grows food in her garden. She embodies a way of living that prioritizes resourcefulness, creativity, and care, without striving for perfection. Her bags feel like a natural extension of that life philosophy.

When you buy something from One Twelfth Designs, you’re not just purchasing a product. You’re supporting a woman who is deeply rooted in her family, her community, and her values. You’re choosing something made slowly and thoughtfully, rather than quickly and anonymously. And you’re bringing a small but meaningful tool into your daily life that makes sustainability feel approachable and even joyful.

These are the kinds of items I love to give as gifts and to use myself, because they tell a story, serve a purpose, and quietly make the world a little better.

You can explore Angie’s work at https://www.onetwelfthdesigns.com/, or sign up for a monthly or bi-monthly subscription bundle! You can also often find Angie at the Carlsbad Farmers Market or other local events in Carlsbad, NM. I have a feeling once you start using her bags, you’ll find yourself reaching for them more often than you ever expected!