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.
“Mary chronicled her daughter’s early years with drawings and fabric swatches of the clothes she lovingly made. Pink Satin Sashes is her daughter’s heartfelt reply. Debra Mack Larson has crafted her mother’s artistry into a whimsical, yet poignant memoir. Enhanced by anecdotes, photos and original art, this book tells the story of one girl’s childhood and her amazingly creative mother.
If you are a boomer, a lover of fashion or sewing, nostalgic or just generally
like to behold beautiful things, you will enjoy Pink Satin Sashes:
My Life in Sketches, Swatches and Paper Dolls.”
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
The original dress that inspired the cover no longer existed so
I reconstructed it and handpainted the fabric.
