eBay Find of the Day: Multicolored Raffiaware Mugs

Jane, ask and you shall receive: Eight minty vintage, multicolored Melmac raffiaware mugs, just like Jennifer Carpenter's. (And dig the darling little carrying rack, too! I would be all over these if I didn't have a pathological need to nuke my coffee ten thousand times a day.)

Current bid: $20.50. (Hurry -- the auction ends Thursday evening, August 7.)

Cool Stuff: jefdesigns Melamine Plates

Some fabulous new additions to that summer picnic basket, courtesy of Portland, Oregon's Joe Futschik of jefdesigns and New York City's brother-and-sister team of freddy&ma: Melamine plates made with Futschik's gorgeously vibrant nature-inspired designs. The plates are $80 for a set of four at DesignPublic. Above: Marine

Abstract

Botanical

A selection of jefdesigns patterns has also just been introduced for freddy&ma's customizable bags (genius idea!). Simply choose your bag style, pick a pattern, and specify your strap and hardware options. A bag will be made to your exact specifications and arrive at your door in about four weeks. Prices range from $65 to $295. Give it a whirl right here.

And check out more jefdesigns goodies here.

Cool Stuff: Marco Cibola "Middletons" Plates

I love these melamine plates by Toronto illustrator Marco Cibola.

Each lightweight, 10-inch plate has a subtly varied design, though they're clearly all of a piece. Cibola named the set "The Middletons" and ascribed a different personality to each member of the melamine family: Doug, Janet, Claire, and Perry.

Rather than serving food on them (though I have to admit they would be a pretty great addition to the picnic basket), I'd hang these on the wall, where they'd serve as both art and a tongue-in-cheek tribute to your granny's wall mounted plate collection.

They're $40 for the set of four from Poketo.

(P.S. Click here for more great melamine designs.)

eBay Find of the Day: Thomas Paul Plates

One of the things I like about eBay -- and that not everyone realizes -- is that you can find a lot more than just used and vintage items there.

In fact, there are thousands of eBay sellers unloading brand-new, name-brand products, often at a fraction of the original retail prices. (Many live near outlet stores and make a living selling their finds on eBay; others seem to have some sort of inside track on company overstock.)

Take this melamine Matryoshka platter and matching dessert plates from designer Thomas Paul's popular Folk collection. With "Buy It Now," the platter is $15 and the plate set is $24.

(Psst -- the seller also has a bunch of Jonathan Adler stuff.)

Trendspotting: Mah-velous Melamine

Melamine tableware has been around forever (it was standard issue in military mess halls during World War II). But lately these lowly, lightweight plastic plates have taken on a decidedly glamorous look.

There are plenty of fun, kitschy designs out there, too, of course -- Pop Ink has some great ones, for instance. But these newer patterns are luxe enough to use for more formal occasions as well as for casual dining on the patio. (I recently trotted out my Working Class Studio Ironworks Plates -- below, $6 each -- for a dinner party and got nothing but compliments on them.)

So in honor of the official start of summer, here's a collection of melamine plates that will glam up your next picnic or barbecue -- and look just as great on a candlelit dinner table:

Jackie Shapiro French Bull Ring ($45 for four), Crush ($39 for four), and Mosaic Dinner Plates ($45 for four), available from Plum Party.

Bongenre's Winchester Mandala ($40 for four), Louis ($45 for four), Tangier Sun ($40 for four), Coral ($45 for four), and Wilde's Lacunuae ($45 for four) 12-Inch Plates.

Pop Ink Wallpaper Plates ($40 for four), available from Velocity Art and Design.

Fish Pond Buffet Plates ($24 for four), from Anthropologie.

Jonathan Adler Origami Salad Plate ($10), Peacock Salad Plate ($10), and Origami Dinner Plate ($14).

Thomas Paul Coral ($29 for four) and Folk ($36 for four) Dinner Plate Sets, available from Velocity Art and Design.

Thomas Paul Gothic Dinner Plates ($36 for four) and Gothic Tray ($18), available from Elsewares.

Metallic Spiral Salad Plates ($15 for six), Metallic Dinnerware Collection ($15 to 18), Fusion Dinner Plates ($24 for four), and Red/Gold Dinner Plates ($12 for three), from Target.

eBay Find of the Day: Thomas Paul Plates

This 20-piece Thomas Paul Kimono Melamine Dinnerware Set is perfect for summer barbecues or casual everyday dining.

The plates would also make colorful decorations grouped together and hung on a wall, and the trays would add a shot of summery color when set atop a dresser to hold jewelry or loose change, or placed on a coffee- or side table and topped with a trio of bud vases.

Originally priced at $120, the discontinued set is $35 with eBay's Buy It Now option.