October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I know that a lot of the quilters who visit here are involved in activities for breast cancer awareness and prevention. Some of you have donated quilts to auctions that raised money for breast cancer research. Some have made quilts for friends with cancer. Quite a few of the major quilt related companies are making special versions of their products, with a portion of the proceeds from sales of those products going to breast cancer research. Here are just a few:

• Olfa Limited Edition Pink Mat
• Olfa Limited Edition Pink Rotary Cutter
• Love and Hope fabric line from Marcus Brothers Textiles
• QuiltPink will hold a quilt auction in 2007 to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Quilt Inspiration
Mimi Dietrich's book Pink Ribbon Quilts is out of print, but you can order a copy directly from her. I haven't seen the book, but it has 5-star reviews on Amazon.com. McCall's Quilting offers free Quilt for a Cure patterns from its past issues. And if you haven't already read it, be sure to take a look at Healing Gardens: the Link Between Plants, Art and the Healing of Cancer. The Arboretum at Penn State has a healing garden inspired by a garden planted in memory of Lenore Ann Parham, who lost her battle with ovarian cancer. The healing gardens are designed in part with plants that are being used for cancer research, but they also focus on the comfort and stress relief that all of us find when we place ourselves in a serene, natural setting. The Penn State page displays several quilts made in memory of Mrs. Parham or as interpretations of individual healing plants. And finally, you'll find breast cancer awareness quilts made by members of this quilting community in our Cancer Awareness Quilt Gallery.
_{Photo © Marcus Brothers}