Etsy find: vintage world globes

Lately on Pinterest I have spied a mini-trend of using multiple vintage world globes to create stunning vignettes. Images like this, this and this have inspired me to have a go at creating my own, I love the old-world allure of the look and can get lost spinning my current sole globe to find countries and cities. The trick here to getting a nicely balanced vignette is to use globes of different shapes and sizes to arrange in a haphazard way, using height and texture (wood, metal etc) to create an eclectic look.

The only problem here is where to start. Vintage world globes have the reputation of being rather pricey, so amassing a small collection wouldn't come cheap. I was lucky enough to score a great one for $15 at an antique store that was closing down, but have since not been able to find anything for remotely close to that in price.

Enter Etsy. A quick search turned up thousands of results, and although not many are located Down Under many of the sellers will gladly post to Australia. Here are a few of my picks that don't break the bank:

1. Pastel pivoting globe, $55AU
2. Tin globe bank, $18.66AU
3. Mid century school globe, $30AU

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!