HOT SHOP: The official launch of Sparrow & Co.

I’m sure you remember Ellie mention Sparrow & Co. earlier on this year. Well, things have been very busy in the Sparrow household of late and Samuel Sparrow (great name!) has been creatively slaving away and his lovely on-line shop is now officially open. Once an interior designer for Habitat and Ikea, Sam now runs his own little homeware business with his wife, Laura, from their home in Glasgow. The photography and styling is beautiful and all done by the man himself:

1. Cableknit throw, £150; 2. Campfire candles, £20; 3. Ikat cushion covers in mustard and slate grey, £35.

Inspired by traditional crafting techniques, the collection includes handmade pieces designed by Sam and made by artisans around the world from bonnie Scotland to Morocco. Sam tells me the candles have a unique fragrance of leather bound books and gentleman’s cologne (hmmm..!) and the packaging, designed by illustrator Debbie Powell, makes me very happy indeed. You may recognise her designs from the M&S savoury snacks packaging!

4. Welsh tapestry cushion, £50; 5. Tin lantern, £15; 6. Spool candlestick, from £45; 7. Sheepskin rug, £75.

If you are a fan of Toast, love texture and warming autumnal colours – the site is well worth a visit. Look out for some of his designs in Urban Outfitters too. Sam plans to introduce two seasonal ranges a year and hopes to launch a Sparrow & Co. dining range (handmade in England). Can’t wait to ogle over that! Personally, I will be re-visiting on a regular basis. This man knows a thing or two about tasteful design. – Alice

New TOAST images EXCLUSIVE

Oh, Toast, lovely Toast. Thou art the nicest of all mail order companies by far. I didn’t think you could top your Greek-fest summer images with their beautiful moody lighting, fresh seaside-y feel and various visual delights, but you’ve done it again.

I’ve just seen the new autumn/winter collection from Toast, and it’s every bit as gorgeous as we’ve come to expect. Think Scotland, think fog, think thistles, think chunky ceramics, snug tweedy textiles, knitted woollen socks and gorgeous rustic homewares. It might be June, but these lovely images instantly transport you to a chilly December afternoon…

I see yet another vintage milk bottle has sneaked into this blog…really need to sort this obsession of mine out! I LOVE the teal-green ceramics with the bright red tamarillo fruits here.

Cups on hooks and vintage books, these are a few of my favourite things. Loving the blue and white bobble hat with those blue and white vintage china plates behind, too.

Mmmm, check out the vintage wallpaper in the background of the matches shot – tasty! Lime green and dirty orange, my favourite 1960s combo. How does Toast manage to make something as simple as a few old wire coat hangers look like gorgeous utilitarian-chic treasures? We mere mortals will never know the secrets of Toast! But one thing’s for sure…these lovely pics are more like works of art than catalogue shots, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.– Ellie