Sharon McConnell

21 Sep

A New W.I.P., Pretty Fabric and a Sale!

Posted by Sharon
alison glass fabric, Art Gallery Fabrics, dresden quilt, scrappy quilt design, Tula pink fabric
1 comment

September has been quite a busy month here at Color Girl Quilts. I *may* have bought lots of new fabric for the shop, there's a new pattern for the Classic Curves Ruler, we went to the Lakeside Retreat... and that doesn't even include the crazy that is kids' soccer season, back to school, and home remodeling! Whew. But it's all good and I can't wait to show you what I've been working on. I started this Dresden project in August while I was on vacation and I was able to get back to working on it at the retreat last...

17 Sep

Quilting Interest

Quilting Retreats? Yes, Please!

I wanted to write today and tell you about something I love about quilting: making new friends! Sewing for most of us is a solitary sport, and that's often how we like it. However, when given the chance to sew with others who understand our obsession with fabric, patterns, sewing and quilts, it doesn't get much more fun! This month I attended the second annual Lakeside quilting retreat. I mentioned it a couple of times here and on my Facebook page, but I know there are some who wanted to go and couldn't make it. Be sure and plan for...

07 Sep

Quilting Interest

It’s Here! Three Cheers for New Patterns

Posted by Sharon
Leave a comment

I am super excited to share the new PomPoms pattern with you! This quilt is going to a fun one for mixing your favorite fabrics and I can't wait to see what you all come up with. Of course, the sample quilt with polka dots and stripes in coordinating colors is about as happy as you can get in the form of a quilt, but lots of other combos will work too. Believe it or not, this design is an easy sew and goes together very quickly. The latest design for the Classic Curves Ruler is sure to be...

04 Sep

all about you, Quilting Interest

All About You!

Posted by Sharon
Curved piecing quilts, modern quilting, scrappy quilts
1 comment

Swoon! Boy, do you guys know how to hit a home run with your sewing machines. This week I couldn't resist sharing some of the amazing projects that you all have been making with Color Girl patterns. These are so inspiring, you'll want to get right back to your sewing machine. The quilt above is a work in progress by Emily (@emcelebrates), who also happens to be my colorful sister. She is working on the Whimsy Garden quilt pattern with her Classic Curves Ruler. Em is pretty new to sewing curves, but she is totally rocking it! I love this...

31 Aug

Fabric, Giveaway, Quilting Interest

New Expansion! Your favorite fabrics by the yard

Posted by Sharon
Art Gallery Fabrics, fabric shop, modern quilting, Tula pink fabric
38 comments

All this week I've been hustling to add fabrics to the shop and expand your options to get exactly the ones you want, as much as you want! This feels like a big step for my little shop and I couldn't be more appreciative of all of you who've given me a chance to send you something pretty. I also couldn't be happier to offer fabrics that are hard to find anywhere else: Tilda Fabrics, Sweet Bee Fabrics, and of course the Classic Curves Ruler, patterns, pattern kits and curated bundles that are one of a kind Color Girl. Check out...

28 Aug

Quilting Interest

Quickie Quilt (Free Pattern!) With Loads of Options

Posted by Sharon
easy quilt pattern, four patch quilt pattern, free quilt pattern, log cabin quilt
1 comment

Way back in 2002 or 2003, when I was a pretty new quilter, I often read two quilt magazines: Fons and Porter Love of Quilting and American Patchwork and Quilting. I loved how APQ had a quilt tester who sewed up a sample of the featured projects in a different color combination, fabric and layout. These projects were really inspiring and I though the magazine was brilliant for having this feature. I thought that Fons and Porter ought to do the same thing and I was convinced that was the job for me. (-: I set about taking photos of...

24 Aug

Quilting Interest

Sew Whimsy! A Finished Quilt

Posted by Sharon
Art Gallery Fabrics, Classic Curves Ruler, curved piecing quilt, Rainbow quilt, Whimsy Garden quilt
Leave a comment

Summer is winding down, the kids are back to school here, but I am still all over that colorful summery mood when it comes to sewing. Last spring, one of my favorite magazines, Uppercase, released an issue with the theme of CMYK. It's an artsy, creative mag and each issue has a theme related to some type of art, creativity or general curiosity. The CMYK issue just grabbed me for some reason...you see, CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (black). These are the primary colors of printmaking. Everything you see in print is made with a combination...

20 Aug

Announcements, Quilting Interest

Fabric lovers, rejoice!

Hey everyone! it's great to be back from summer vacation. Big thanks for your patience while waiting for me to return to ship your orders. I am super excited for this fall...so many fun things are coming to Color Girl and I want to share them all with you. First up, I am doing a couple of pre-orders for collections I think are going to be super popular and I am personally anxiously waiting to sew with. So let's see what's new on our fall sewing agenda! Tilda Fabrics' fall release, Bird Pond, is set to arrive September 1. I have...

20 Jul

Fabric, Finished Quilts, Quilting Interest

This Quilt, Loved to Pieces

Posted by Sharon
Art Gallery Fabrics, Classic Curves Ruler, curved piecing quilt, Mister Domestic
4 comments

It's my turn to show off the pretty new fabric by my friend, Mathew -Mister Domestic- on the Loved to Pieces blog party! This is the first collection that Mathew has designed for Art Gallery Fabrics and it's inspired by love for his daughter and his affinity for all things sewing, especially English paper piecing. When you look at the prints, you'll notice flowers constructed of geometric shapes and plenty of good opportunities for fussy cutting. Of course, Mathew is one of the most fun people I've met in the quilting world, so I couldn't resist accepting his invitation to...

09 Jul

Finished Quilts, Giveaway, Quilting Interest

Flowers of Windsor Garden + fabric giveaway!

Posted by Sharon
Classic Curves Ruler, curved piecing modern quilt, Orange peel quilt design, Windsor Garden Fabrics
60 comments

This week is my turn on the blog tour to showcase the new collection, Windsor Garden, by Kelly Parker Smith for Sweet Bee Fabric Company. It's always fun to discover (or be introduced to) new-to-me fabric designers and companies. Sweet Bee is a new face in the quilting fabric crowd, and they are already producing some really beautiful collections! Kelly invited me to sew something to show off her first fabric collection called Windsor Garden. As soon as I saw the prints, I couldn't resist saying "yes" to the chance to make a quilt. This collection is so pretty: part...