2021 Independent Book Publishers Gold Medal Award Winner 

MOST ORIGINAL CONCEPT

OUTSTANDING BOOKS OF THE YEAR medalists were chosen from our regular entries for exemplifying the daring spirit of independent publishing “to break new ground and bring about change, not only to the world of publishing, but to our society” -- the book projects our judges found the most heartfelt, unique, outspoken and experimental among all the entries. 

"This is the loveliest and most unusual of books.

It is part memoir, part history, part art, part biography

and part social science all wrapped up in one.

It is a love story between a mother and her daughter

executed in drawings and patterns and fabrics.”

                                                     C. Bartnett

My book, Pink Satin Sashes is truly a labor of love – for my mother and her art, as well as my own love of design. My mother created small notebooks of ink drawings and fabric swatches of nearly everything she made for me from age one to college co-ed. In 2016, I had the idea to use those drawings as the basis of a book and spent the better part of 3 years writing and designing it. I designed every page of Pink Satin Sashes. No one else could do it. For me, the design was more personal than the words.

“Did you hear me scream for joy when I saw your exquisite book? I woke up at 6:45 a.m. yesterday and immediately settled into our favorite reading chair  and spent a delightful hour reading the book from cover to cover. What a joy it was!  It put me in a happy mood for the whole day!! My husband, who has quite the artist’s  eye, upon glancing at the book commented instantly how beautifully it is designed. 

Marge Brownstein, Writer

“Best of all, of course, is the main focus of your book, your mom and her artistry…The replications of your mother’s paper dolls, sketches and annotations - the four note books themselves - and the fabric swatches - all struck a deep place in my heart…Your entire book makes it completely clear how nature and nurture came together in  your life…I hope that it will find its way to thousands and thousands of other readers. It is so deserving.” 

Sandra Hyslop, Writer • Editor • Musician