thrift store spoils, ch. 7: mid-century Formica table and Marimekko mugs

I’m off schedule with my posts, because my parents visited last week. (I had time only to keep up with others' fun thrifting reports!) Then for the weekend, we headed up north to see our boy who’s attending college in Connecticut. On top of that, the hubby and I (nuts, we are) have been binge watching The Walking Dead on Netflix. Meaning, I haven't had much time to write. (By the way, I'm thinking I would benefit by some training in the effective use of sharp and blunt objects to off zombie herds.)

Anyhow. I did score some good finds while thrifting with Mama before we left, and I’ll share that experience in my next “spoils” post. For now, I’ll review the fun stuff I bought last week pre-parents. 

Is this not the coolest-ever bedside Formica table? I picked it up at SA for only $15. I was surprised that no one else had already gotten it (the date on the tag indicated that it had already sat there for 24 hours), as it wasn’t even that dirty. It was an obvious gem sitting there, not a gem in the rough.

It’s in great shape, with only a small chip in the Formica on the back edge of the lower shelf. There’s no name on the bottom indicating the maker or a date, but Mama says that as a teenager in the early 1960s she had a bedroom set of the same gray faux woodgrain Formica. My bet is that this table was made in the 1950s?

I went back to SA three times last week after finding it, in hopes of grabbing another piece of the set that had been forgotten in the stock room and, thus, put out on the floor later. But, alas, I saw no more.

This table now sits in the second daughter’s bedroom, which is decorated in pale pink and black—with Audrey Hepburnish accents. Perfect.

Okay, I could be wrong. But I think these are original Unikko (poppy) Marimekko mugs (vintage 1960s), as opposed to the reproductions offered by Crate and Barrel and others. After much searching online, I can find only one other design that comes close to what I have, and it’s the blue poppy version.

“Made in England” is stamped into the bottoms of the mugs. And that’s the only other info I have. If anyone out there in blogger/reader land has any ideas about the mugs’ vintage authenticity, or lack thereof, please educate me!

The sunny yellow mug is by Federal Glass. The mod striped one is stamped on the bottom with a logo I can’t make out and the numbers “11-000.” I’m clueless as to what any of it means. But I do love orange.

I’m still on the lookout for Starbucks mugs, hoping that they’ll be a good baptism into Ebay selling. (Relatively simple to ship and too new for Etsy vintage.) The mermaid mug is stamped with “Catalina,” among other info, on the bottom. There is no date. The holiday mug is from 2006. Each cost me 56 cents.

I cannot pass up a melmac bowl or platter. This is my first white one, and it’s by Watertown.

This book, published in 1958, is huge and full of the coolest mid-century dining and cooking photos. I attempted to take a good picture of one of the spreads, but failed. See:

I’ll try it again after I'm finished with the de-stinking process. If I do better, I’ll post pictures. This book is just too much fun not to share. (And check out the party shoes!)

And last, I bought a good garden pot that matches a very large one I already have (so let’s call it vintage, say, 2010?) and a sweet copper jack-o-lantern, inside which I’ve been burning seasonal scented votives while watching DVRed episodes of Sleepy Hollow with the family. I love Fall.

Thanks to Sir Thrift-A-Lot and a living space for the opportunity to link up!

And much appreciation goes to We Call It Junkin for allowing me to join their link-up party We Call It Olde.

And that is all.