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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 16, 2013

CONTACT: Elizabeth Phillips elizabethlphillips@mac.com!

!ISLAND BATIK LAUNCHES INDUSTRY WIDE PROGRAM

TO SUPPORT OPERATION HOMEFRONT

CARLSBAD, CA – Caleb Willis, President and CEO of Island Batik, announced today the launch of QUILTED IN HONOR, a fund raising initiative for Operation Homefront, one of the nation’s top military fund raising organizations. “QUILTED IN HONOR will harness the collective power of the quilting industry. The program was designed to inspire quilters, sewing enthusiasts, guilds and shops to rally around our troops and give back in an innovative and unique way, creating projects that tell the human side of what ‘serving our country’ really means to soldiers and their families back home. Everyone in this industry has some connection to the military, through personal experience or the service of a loved one, and by participating in QUILTED IN HONOR, stores, partners, designers and quilters can combine their love for quilting and their generosity for an outstanding cause. Island Batik started with the question ‘What could we achieve if we all worked together?’ Rather than everyone in the quilting industry simply donating individually, how much could we raise if we collectively worked together?” said Willis. “Operation Homefront is the perfect partner for this initiative – they need emergency funds for returning veterans and they need quilts, and I know that joining forces as an industry, we can provide both.”

“Operation Homefront is thrilled to partner with Island Batik and their Partners and Sponsors through the launch of QUILTED IN HONOR,” said Amy Palmer, Operation Homefront Chief Development Officer. “The generous contributions made through QUILTED IN HONOR will help bring some sense of comfort and hope to our veterans and military families transitioning from service and going through major life-changes.” The flagship of the QUILTED IN HONOR program is Island Batik’s QUILTED IN HONOR fabric line, made up of 45 vibrant fabrics designed by top industry designer, Kathy Engle. A wide range of retail products designed and created by QUILTED IN HONOR Partners supports the fabric line including thread collections from Aurifil, batting from Legacy™ by Pellon®, embroidery collections from OESD, a tote bag from C&T Publishing, and over 30 patterns from top designers. Other leading companies in the industry have joined the project as Sponsors providing marketing opportunities and promotional support, and the entire list can be found at www.quiltedinhonor.com. “America's military provides a vital service to our nation and they deserve to have our support when they come home. C&T Publishing is proud to be a part of QUILTED IN HONOR, we believe that our veterans deserve to have appropriate resources and special treatment when they return and Operation Homefront fills this gap”, said Amy Marson, Publisher, C&T Publishing. “The folks at Legacy™ by Pellon® are humbled by our military members. The families who sustain them are heroes in our eyes. We support with great pride this effort to provide comfort to them through quilts”, added Darlene C. Christopherson, Marketing, Legacy™ by Pellon®.

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The QUILTED IN HONOR program is designed to reach the grass roots of the industry – individuals who quilt and sew. Throughout the program, there will be incredible opportunities for retailers, guilds and individual quilters to participate in the program. Partner promotional opportunities include challenges, raffles, auctions, block parties, mystery quilt challenges and a Block of the Month program, all of which will be launched in the coming months. “Oklahoma Embroidery is "honored" to work with the QUILTED IN HONOR program. We are so thankful for the men and women who work so hard to protect our everyday lives,” said Kim Goodwin, OESD General Manager. The quilting industry is international; QUILTED IN HONOR will extend beyond our borders. Military charities from other NATO countries are participating in the program by spearheading their own quilt donation programs at home. These organizations include: WoundedWarriors.ca from Canada, Afghan Heroes from the UK, and Alpini from Italy. “Aurifil is honored to be given the opportunity to sponsor and be an active participant of the QUILTED IN HONOR project. A family owned business, we understand the importance of being able to provide support when it is needed most. Our goal is to help organize and raise awareness for service members and their families needing support that will assist them through some of their most difficult times when no other options are available. We are confident that the quilting community is up for the task of banding together to make the QIH project a huge success for Operation Homefront and the families they provide with much needed relief,” said Alex Veronelli, Product Manager, Aurifil. Passionate about this project because of personal family ties to the military, Willis shared “Together, we can make a profound impact in the lives of the men and women who have served our country both on the front lines and at home. We know that the great people of the quilting industry will join us in making quilts and raising funds that will support military families across our country!” --30-- About Operation Homefront Operation Homefront is a leading national charity providing emergency financial and other support to families of service members and Wounded Warriors. Rated amongst the top charities nationally, Operation Homefront has raised over $24.7M in public donations and operates at 94% efficiency. The organization met 155,984 needs in 2011 alone, and over 590,000 since its inception in 2002. Over 99% of resources went towards assisting E1-E6 individuals, the lowest ranking and lowest paid service members. Much like the military itself, Operation Homefront has a no man left behind attitude and works through a collaborative team stationed across the United States. About Island Batik Island Batik is a leading manufacturer, importer and distributor of fine batik cottons and rayons from Indonesia. Established in 1997, Island Batik’s mission is to share the ancient cultural art of batik and hand-dyed fabric with their many valued customers around the world. The creative talents behind Island Batik’s innovative designs have decades of experience and distinctive styles that are always creative, contemporary, and unforgettably unique. In addition to producing some of the industry's best batiks, the company continually strives to provide independent shop owners with a superior customer service experience.

PARTNERS(Animas!Quilts!Aurifil!C&T!Publishing!Craftsy!!From!Marti!Michell!Keepsake!Quilting!Legacy™!by!Pellon®!Nine!Patch!Media!OESD!Pam!Bono!Designs!Pat!Sloan!&!Company!Quilt!in!a!Day!Rob!Appell!Designs!(SPONSORS(Accuquilt!!All!American!Crafts,!Inc.!American!Patchwork!and!Quilting!Radio!!!!!!!!!American!Quilt!Retailer!American!Quilter’s!Society!BERNINA!of!America!Electric!Quilt!eQuilter.com!Fiber!Art!Now!Fons!&!Porter!McCall’s!Quilting!Oliso!QNNtv.com!Quilter’s!Newsletter!Quiltmaker!Quilts!Inc.!Quilty!The!Quilt!Show!!CELEBRITY(QUILTERS(Alex!Anderson!Rob!Appell!Pam!Bono!Bonnie!Browning!Eleanor!Burns!Jennifer!Chiaverini!Carol!Doak!Jacquie!Gering!Marti!Michell!Sharon!Pederson!Jackie!Robinson!Pat!Sloan!Ricky!Tims!Annie!Unrein!Angela!Walters!!EMERGING(DESIGNERS(PJ!Anderson!Mary!Hoover!Doug!Leko!Barbara!Persing!Kay!WrightVHandy!

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800.722.6098 | OperationHomefront.net

Our Mission:Operation Homefront provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of service members and Wounded Warriors. As a leading national charity supporting military families, Operation Homefront has grown from a small local charity to a strong organization with nationwide presence. Since its inception in 2002, it has met more than 590,000 needs of military families and provided more than $170 million dollars of funding to programs benefiting military families.

Key Strengths:| 501 (c)(3), tax-exempt nonprofit| Rated among the top charities nationally: • Named a Four-Star charity by Charity Navigator for the sixth consecutive year — an

accomplishment only 3% of charities reviewed receive • “A” Rating by the American Institute of Philanthropy’s Charity Watch • “A” Rating by the Better Business Bureau| Generated $24.7M in public donations in 2011; 94% efficiency (94% of funds go directly

towards Programs, and the remaining 6% of funds are split between fundraising and administration)

| Met more than 156,000 needs in 2011 alone: • Our clients include active-duty, Reserve, National Guard, and transitioning veterans • Over 99% of assistance is made to E1–E6 (the lowest-ranking, lowest-paid enlisted) • Over 96% of our clients live at an income level 80% below the median income for the communities in which they reside • More than 60% of assistance was made to minorities.

About Operation Homefront

HOW WE HELP: Operation Homefront provides aid to families struggling not only with emergencies, but also with the challenges of everyday life. Existing programs include:| Financial Assistance: Addresses crises such as homelessness and foreclosures.| Auto Repair & Donation: Emergency automotive repairs and vehicle donations.| Home Repair and Home Items: Pays for repairs by plumbers, electricians, and other service providers, and provides repair or replacement for major home appliances.| Moving and Relocation: Provides assistance for relocating military families including payments for moving trucks, storage units, and more.| Homes on the Homefront: Places military families in mortgage-free homes with financial counseling and other assistance.| Back-to-School Brigade: Provides children with the necessary supplies to go to school prepared.| Homefront Celebrations: Addresses the mental health of military spouses with an inspirational evening among peers.| Hearts of Valor™: Military wives learn how to cope with and adjust to their husbands' wounds or injuries.| Holiday Programs: Donations of holiday toys, Easter baskets, Thanksgiving meals, and the Freedom Walk event on the anniversary of 9/11.| Community Events: Care packages, free tickets to events, baby showers, and more are provided to military families.

| Military Child of the Year® Award: A child from each branch of service is recognized for their strength and courage when facing the challenges of military life.| Health Care Services: Covers limited medical and dental expenses for active-duty and deployed service members and vision care for military families.| Operation Homefront Villages: Helping families of Wounded Warriors with a variety of services including housing while they transition from military to civilian life.| Food Assistance: Emergency food support to families through the use of donated food items, and grocery store food cards and certificates.

Jim Knotts, President & CEOA former Air Force public affairs officer and veteran of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Jim served for two years on Operation Homefront’s national board of directors before accepting the position as the organization's President and CEO. As a board member, he chaired the fundraising committee, which raised more than $30 million in support of the organization’s efforts on behalf of military families. In his business career, prior to accepting the position with Operation Homefront, Knotts served as director of corporate citizenship at Lockheed Martin headquarters in Bethesda, Md. In that capacity, he led the corporation’s efforts in philanthropy, community involvement, education outreach and volunteer activities. In addition, he served as director for web communications, where he was responsible for the company’s public web presence.

Quilted in Honor Project Participants

Partners Celebrity Quilters Sponsors

Animas Quilts

$XULÀO

C&T Publishing

Craftsy

From Marti Michell

Keepsake Quilting

Legacy™ by Pellon®

Nine Patch Media

OESD

Pam Bono Designs

Pat Sloan & Company

Quilt in a Day

Rob Appell Designs

Rob Appell

Alex Anderson

Bonnie Browning

Eleanor Burns

Jennifer Chiaverini

Carol Doak

Jacquie Gering

Marti Michell

Sharon Pederson

Jackie Robinson

Pat Sloan

Ricky Tims

Annie Unrein

Angela Walters

Pam Bono

Accuquilt

All American Crafts, Inc.

American Patchwork and

Quilting Radio

American Quilt Retailer

American Quilter’s

Society

BERNINA of America

Electric Quilt

eQuilter.com

Fiber Art Now

Fons & Porter

McCall’s Quilting

Oliso

QNNtv.com

Quilter’s Newsletter

Quiltmaker

Quilts Inc.

Quilty

The Quilt Show

Emerging Designers

PJ Anderson

Doug Leko

Mary Hoover

Barbara Persing

Kay Wright-Handy

!e Quilted in Honor Fabric LineThis is the most unique batik line in the industry: 45 vibrant fabrics designed by Island Batik’s Kathy Engle. The Quilted in Honor fabric line was created to inspire quilters, sewing enthusiasts, guilds and shops to rally around our troops and give back in an innovative way. The QIH line is meant to inspire projects that tell the human side of what “serving our country” really means to soldiers and their families back home.

NO44-RSC NO09-BU9

NC28-02 KP02-1US KP02-2US KP02-3US

KP02-4US KP02-5US KP02-6US KP02-7US

US02-1 US02-2 US02-3 US02-4

NOO9-BU1 NOO9-BR3

NO44-OL NOO9-TAGR NOO9-NAUS01-2

US01-1

US06-2 US07-1 US07-2 US07-3

US07-4 US07-5 US07-6 US08-2

US08-3 US08-4 US08-5 US08-6

US03-1 US03-2 US03-3 US03-4

US04-1 US04-2 US04-3 US05-1

US05-2 US05-3 US05-4 US06-1

Retail Products

12 Spool, 50 wt Thread Collection for piecing and quilting and a 12 Spool, 40 wt Thread Collection for embroidery. Available for order in May at Quilt Market in Portland.

A collection of 30 embroidery designs to honor military families.

Additional collections to help promote the Quilted In Honor project include:

Words of Encouragement by Gaby Juergens / #80016 / 14 Designs

Team Support by Gaby Juergens / #80017 / 25 Designs

Available for order in May at Quilt Market in Portland.

Legacy™ by Pellon® will wholesale a Quilted in Honor branded line of quilt batting. Item #AB96 - 96” wide by 9 yards Item # AB120 - 120” wide by 10 yards. Available for order in May at Quilt Market in Portland.

C&T Publishing will create a special designer page for Quilted in Honor. The page will host e-patterns of all the celebrity designers particpating in the Quilted In Honor Project including:Rob Appel Alex AndersonBonnie Browning Eleanor BurnsJennifer Chiaverini Carol Doak,Jacquie Gering Marti MichellSharon Pederson Jackie RobinsonPat Sloan Ricky TimsAngela Walters Mary Hoover Barbara PersingThe patterns are available for retail bulk purchase. Proceeds from the sale of the pat-terns will go directly to the charity. Available for download 9/1/13.

C&T Publishing will produce a tote bag featuring the project images of Alex Anderson, Mary Hoover & Barbara Persing, and Angela Wal-ters. Proceeds from the sale of the tote will go directly to the charity.

Available for order 9/1/13.