BURLINGAME, CA - America's most well known quilters are putting their creative talents into finding a cure for breast cancer. Celebrity quilters from across the country have created and donated quilts that are featured in a new book titled “Sew with the Stars.” All the profits from the book and quilts, which will be auctioned online, will benefit Sew for the Cure®. The national fundraising effort supports the American Cancer Association, the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The book's backer hopes to raise a half a million dollars for the cause.

Irwin Bear, President and Owner of P&B Textiles, is also the chair for the Home Sewing Foundation's Sew for the Cure® fundraising project, and he is hoping the book, which was his idea, will raise half of the foundation’s million-dollar fundraising goal. Says Bear, "Breast cancer touches everyone, and we are hoping for an all-out effort on the part of quilters, fabric store owners and the general public. Quilters have always been generous with their support of important causes, and this book allows them to indulge their passion while supporting breast cancer research at the same time."

Donna Pierson, the Home Sewing Foundation's Coordinator for Sew for the Cure®, says this is an excellent fundraising and PR tool for the organization. "Projects like this help to raise both energy and awareness for the cause. People feel something when they are involved in creating, and that healing energy increases tenfold. This also helps build a momentum of awareness, and more people get involved. We are continually touched by the energy and heartfelt efforts of people who come together to raise funds for a cause like this."

Some of the celebrity quilters who will be featured in the pattern book include: Alex Anderson (author and star of HGTV's "Simply Quilts"), Elly Sienkiewicz (creator of 10 Baltimore Beauties books), Piece O' Cake Designs (Linda Jenkins and Becky Goldsmith’s books, patterns and fabrics), Susie M. Robbins and Karen Montgomery.

The book will include 11 original quilt patterns plus a special signature label created by Elly Sienkiewicz. Along with artist Liz Lauter, the quilters have each designed their own fabric collections, which are also featured in the book. The book also includes projects by Nancy Taylor, Mabeth Oxenreider, Julie Sheckman, Julee Prose, Andrea Balosky, and Kathleen Butts and Ann Marra, a mother/daughter quilting team.

P&B Textiles is donating all of its profits to Sew for the Cure®, as is Checker Notions, which has agreed to distribute the book for free. Quilt shops and fabric stores are being asked to voluntarily donate $2 from their profits for each book they sell.

The quilts will travel around the US from April through at least Fall, 2003. At the end of the tour, the actual quilts from the book will be auctioned online, and those proceeds will also go to Sew for the Cure®.

The Sew for the Cure® registered trademark is owned by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and is used under license by the Home Sewing Foundation.

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For more information, email inquiries@pbtex.com. or call 800/852-2327, and ask for Irwin Bear, President, or Julie Scribner, Marketing Director. Information is also available on the P&B Textiles website, www.pbtex.com.