Having A Moment: M&S Homeware

Marcel Wanders squirrel salt and pepper set, £9.50

Marks & Spencer isn't half doing well in the old homeware department at the mo. Despite some flashes of brilliance in the past, I've always dismissed a lot of its home stuff as being very much of the pistachio bathroom suite variety. Look what we have here, though! Your eyes do not deceive you - this is a squirrel and a diamond masquerading as a Marcel Wanders salt and pepper set. A squirrel and a diamond! No boring acorns for this little fluffy-tailed nibbler. Oh no. This, this I need on my table quick-smart. I may perish without it. And at just £9.50, it's probably worth just buying it instead of perishing.

Marcel Wanders napkin rings, £9.50 for 4

A giant OH YES to diamond napkin rings, also in the Marcel Wanders range. They're quite the thing, aren't they? And cheap!

From the same range, an honourable mention must go to this snowman vase. It's a bit overwhelmingly *hushed tones* Christmassy, so I've spared you the photograph. It's fantastically odd, though, so do go and have a look.

Conran bookend clamp, £12

I am a bit of a sucker for having lots of pretty things in my house and then offsetting them with something  brutally functional-looking. This Conran bookend clamp fits the bill. Now, I'm not saying that you couldn't go down your local B&Q and just buy a clamp, probably for a fraction of the price. I'm not saying that. What I am saying is that this one is lovely, clean, quite possibly scented with some kind of homely, competent M&S aroma, and it also comes in pale green.

Conran candle holder jar, £39.50

I didn't realise I needed somewhere special to keep my 'dinner candles' until the M&S website told me that, in fact, I do. To be honest, I didn't even realise that we are supposed to call those long candles 'dinner candles'. But now that I know all this stuff, I obviously want this stylish Conran candle jar. The lid doubles as a candle holder! Bit expensive at £39.50, but you know, if you do insist on bathing in candlelight every night.

King-size Cotswold striped bed set, £27

I collect Cornishware, so this blue and white-striped bed set is right up my street. It'll be like sleeping in my favourite jug. Hopefully a bit more comfortable, though.

Clerkenwell floor lamp, £99

Most of the really great things from the Clerkenwell range have already sold out, which gives me a severe case of bereftface. The owl pot! The badger mug! Mega-woe. We can but cross everything in the hope they're back in stock soon. In the meantime, I can't quite decide if I like this floor lamp. I might just be being taken in by that fabulous armchair.

Great British Bake Off cookie cutter set, £8

Missing GBBO already? Dear old Marky Von Sparky (as Mama B likes to call it) has a Great British Bake Off range to help us recreate the magic at home. This United Kingdom and Ireland cookie cutter set is my favourite thing, but I'm quite partial to the cake tin, too. 

Well done, M&S. You're about to get all of my money.