DIY: vintage Christmas stockings

I was feeling a bit festive the other day and in need of a good DIY, so I thought it might be an idea to whip up some Christmas stockings for the Mr and I. We lost our old stockings years ago in between moving house and never replaced them, and I needed to put my piles of vintage fabric to good use too. Check below for a tutorial to make one of these babies for your own mantel, adapted from this one.
Here's what you'll need:

• Two types of fabric, one for the outside and one for the lining
• Ribbon or trim (I used pom pom trim)
• Paper
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Pins
• Paper
• Iron

Step 1: Cut your desired stocking shape out of paper, keeping in mind the final product will be about 1cm less on each side. Fold fabric in half and pin pattern. Cut out fabric so you are left with two identical pieces. Repeat with second fabric choice.

Step 2: Pair one piece from the outer and one piece from the inner together, right sides facing each other. Sew a 1cm seam along the top only. Open and press the seam. Repeat with the second two pieces.
Step 3: You should now have two separate pieces in a mirror-like effect with the sides pointing away from each other, with each side in a different fabric. Pair up the two pieces so the right sides are together. This can be seen in the below image with the seams paired in the middle. Sew a 1cm seam the whole way around the stocking, with a small gap in the lining to turn it all out. Snip little nicks in the seam fabric the whole way around to make turing out easier.

Step 4: Now turn the whole stocking the right side out. It will look quite weird at this point because it looks like two stockings in different patterns connected at a middle seam. Iron and make sure the seams are all nicely pressed out. And now what will make it look more like the final product: tuck the lining stocking inside the outside stocking so you are left with one. Press again.

Step 5: Turn over the very top of the stocking so the lining fabric is visible. Iron again to make sure it is all nice and flat. This is what you should be left with! For added pizazz, sew a trim around the edge of the lining and make a loop for hanging. Now hang over your mantel and wait for Santa to fill it with treats!

All I want for Christmas: 2012 edition

With all the chaos of planning the wedding I now feel like I am way behind on all things Christmas, and with two weeks to go I am frantically searching for the perfect gifts to thank those special people in my life. While I get on top of my last-minute shopping, here's what I am hoping Santa sends my way:

1. Gorman droplet tank dress - this would be perfect for the summer part of our honeymoon
2. Mimi loves Jimi leather sandals - I'm getting out of my comfort zone with bright pops of colour
3. Chanel red lipstick - can't beat a classic red lip for the festive season
4. Recreational initial necklace - I'd love one of these with the initial of my new surname
5. Modcloth cat-ula - how fun would this be to cook with?!
6. TwentySevenNames Dolores dress - because you can never have too many cat-themed items of clothing
7. Glasshouse Tahaa candle - burn this for an instant holiday in your own home
8. Status Anxiety Audrey wallet - it's time for a new wallet and this one is perfection

Glamping with Magshop

Immediately after getting married last week the talk turned to honeymoons and future adventures. Now, I wouldn't exactly say I am high maintenance but I do appreciate some degree of comfort, whereas Marc has been bugging me for the longest time to go camping. Staying in a tent in the bush just isn't my thing - think of all the insects, snakes, frogs and miscellaneous wildlife creeping around in the Australian country.

But my ears pricked up when I heard about Magshop's Christmas competition, which aims to revolutionise the concept of glamping. A mag subscription would make the perfect Christmas gift for that special person in your life, and now comes with the added bonus of going in the draw to win an Airstream travel trailer and a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo, with a total value of more than $185,000.

For those of you who don't know about the Airstream, it is a luxe travel trailer favoured by the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Brad Pitt and Geri Halliwell. Gone are the days of fiddling around with tents for hours and rain seeping through the cracks. Now people like me can travel the country while maintaining their dignity.

So the details. Simply purchase an eligible online subscription to one of Magshop's many great titles across a range of topics before December 25, and that's it!

Here's what you could be taking home:

1. Airstream 762 “International Series” travel trailer. It contains a bedroom, kitchen, shower, toilet, sofa and dining area and, sleeps up to five people.
2. Plus, one night’s stay at Bateman’s Bay NSW for collection of and training on the Airstream.
3. Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo – 3.0L diesel with automatic transmission. All on-road costs (registration, stamp duty, CTP insurance) are included.

Happy shopping, and good luck!

This article is sponsored by Magshop Christmas Promotion