polka dotted pants for the win

I love these polka dotted jeans from Gap. Sometimes I can't figure out the right thing to wear with them, but I think I pulled it off pretty well with this flowy coral button-up.
Do you own any polka dot pant? I hear they're all the rage.

top: local boutique (not online) // necklace: caroline g. // polka dot skinnies: gap // shoes: Target // handbag: c/o A Girl Named Katie

Linking up here, here and here! :)
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Also, if you haven't had a chance, I am competing for WEEK THREE of Project Sewn and would love love LOOOOOVEEEE your vote! Please? Thanks, y'all <3 p="">

Project Sewn // Week Three: Totally 80's

Here we are again, y'all. WEEK THREE. Are you kidding me?! I am so blown away by the awesome response from y'all. Participating in this contest has been so challenging and rewarding. I feel like my sewing skillzzzz have grown ten fold + so has my confidence in sewing. Thank y'all for your support, votes, tweets, texts, emails, ETC. for this project-- it has seriously been a blast.

And now, for week three, we're gonna have a blast... from the past.

I was secretly hoping I would be eliminated before this round because... totally 80's? I am totally stumped. I was born in 1988, so the 80's for me was wearing diapers and monogrammed bows. And the clothes I did wear probably had spit-up on them.

Looking online to see what people wore "way back then" (totally kidding.) nothing really appealed to me. So I found some silly inspiration from this site + decided to go with a tutu skirt paired with a geometric printed top. I honestly don't know if this is really "80's".. but hey! we are going with it.

The top is simply self-drafted tshirt top that I painted geometric "chevrons" on. The tutu skirt is a pattern from Violette Field Threads (that I, ironically, have been wanting to try out for ages-- great pattern, by the way!). 

So, yeah. This is my attempt at "Totally 80's"!

Head over to the Project Sewn blog and vote for me.. I would love you forevaaaa!

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and HERE is how I would style this skirt for 2013. Cute, eh? I need someone to come encourage me to actually wear it in public.. makes me nervous with all the poof around my be-hind. ;)

What do you think Totally 80's or Totally 2013?

Tiny Pocket Tank Take Two (and THREE!)

Last year I wrote a post on how much I hated bias binding on necklines and arm holes and hems. 

I vowed to never sew this pattern again because I hated bias trim.

Well, I don't LOVE bias trim, by any means, but I have grown wiser and smarter and more skilled in my sewing, so I whipped out the pattern last week and sewed TWO more. 

I actually really like them both, so I obviously had to share ;)

So, here is the Tiny Pocket Tank take TWO and THREE!

Sewn with Amy Butler voile

Sewn with Tina Givens voile.

Have you ever tried a pattern, hated it, and then gone back a year or so later and fallen in love?

Maybe I'm a weirdo, but I can honestly see myself making many more of these in the future! They're the perfect  Summertime tank!

Coffee Date-- come hear me ramble.

This week's coffee date is brought to you by... INSTAGRAM!

Are you on Instagram? If you'd like to follow me there, I am @SewCaroline

I mostly post photos of my dog and sewing projects and food. lots of food.

If we were at coffee I would let you in on a little secret : I love sewing.

Ok, not really a secret... BUT, I feel so so so dang blessed to have found a hobby I am so passionate about. I love sewing and creating and wearing my creations.. its kind of crazy.

And it's kind of crazy because I feel like my love and passion for sewing grows like, every day. 

Wiksten Tova dress made from Robert Kaufman Chambray (will blog this soon) // photo with (most of) our small group from church-- so blessed by these beautiful people! // Washi Top sewn with Anna Maria Horner voile (will blog this soon, too)

and then it happened, the A Beautiful Mess app came out and my whole instagramming world changed. You should download it. 100% worth the .99 cents.

Also, that pasta? So delicious. And I'm sorry (not really) but that photo looks like it came from Bon Appetit magazine! (seriously though, look at this month's cover...)

#itsawesometime, y'all. the fam + I are going to Disney World next week so YOU KNOW I'll be rockin' some Printed Palette Gear. Because if it is ever AWESOME TIME... it's when you're at Disney. // the mother/daughter Mother's Day photo. But I seriously love this one. In the "bride's room" before mine and David's wedding my girls and I all played catch phrase.. it was so. much. fun. and I highly recommend it. I was so nervous (not about being married, but about being in front of all those people) that it seriously calmed my nerves and put me in a happy happy mood! // one word: sushi.

last Saturday I cleaned our house. like CLEANED our house. And then rearranged our built-ins in the kitchen. Lots of Anthropologie + vintage finds there. // ah, those shorts. Sewn with Anna Maria Horner linen from the Colette Iris pattern, they're really a slice of heaven, aren't they? I am so excited to make a few more for the summer. I just think they're adorable (will blog this soon, too)

Modcloth, I thank you for your fast + free shipping on adorable + affordable dresses (and shoes!!) can't wait to wear this for a wedding this summer-- it is SO cute on! // oh happy day! // this little TIP blew up my Instagram feed the other day... I had no idea that my idea was so ingenious, so I will share the wealth, people : USE WASHI TAPE TO MARK YOUR SEAM ALLOWANCE. See it's that simple. 

mmkay, enough of my yapping. What are y'all up to this weekend? how was your week? 

linking up with alissa for coffee date, per usual!

birthday wish list

Well, my birthday is exactly one month from today, so I thought I would comprise a list of a few things that are on my wish list! I haven't done a round-up of some of my favorite finds on the Internet in a while, and they kinda go hand-in-hand, so this is perfect!

carosello fete necklace :: Erin, from Carosello Blog opened up a new handmade shop + I am just in love with it. THIS is my favorite piece from her new collection and I'm hoping to get it for my birthday this year!

smell-good candle :: I have been on a candle-kick lately + just can't seem to have enough. This is one of my favorites from Anthropologie. It looks + smells delicious!

anthropologie maxi: I just L-O-V-E this dress + the print, etc. I can see this worn all summer long, and maybe even in the fall if paired with the right jacket // cardi.

new book :: I had a friend recommend this book (Design It Yourself Clothes) to me and I think it would be right up my alley. I am looking to learn more about designing and pattern-writing, so hopefully this book will be the perfect first step!

iPad :: now, I know this one is kind of far-fetched, but I'm just throwing it out there. I've always wanted an iPad.... but an iPhone5 will be an OK second, since my iPhone currently has a cracked screen...

What do you think? Is this a pretty good birthday list? Anything you would add?

Happy Thursday, Friends!

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Also, if you haven't had a chance, I'd love your vote over at Project Sewn this week!

(click on the image to vote!!)