Day Trip to Matilda's Mouse Antique Show and Sale

Matilda's Mouse is a once-a-month antique sale in Valley Center, California, close to San Diego, but more mountainous and 'deserty' than ocean cool.  The day was sunny and warm and we found a charming lot of antiques and collectibles all set about in pretty vignettes both inside and out of a great big ole barn. 

The monthly sale is the effort of seven women who combine their love of antiques and bring together their finds both domestic and international.  After the sale, the wares are put away and they set about planning for next month's sale.  When asked how long it takes them to set up the displays, one of the lovely ladies told it it takes a month to get set up all over again; each vignette is unique and one-of-a-kind.  You'll never see the same thing twice.  Quelle labeur!  Overseeing all is Matilda, the "cutest Wire Haired Fox Terrier" in the whole wide world who dresses in costume and lazes on the counter.  At 15 years old, she's the grande dame of the whole shebang and can do what she darn well pleases.

Matilda's Mouse is a pleasant day trip and you'll find very well-priced treasures to take home.

Matilda's Mouse

Matilda's Blog

Vera With the Ladybug

It started with that tv show about hoarders. You know the one. It makes you take a long look at yourself and you snort and feel all superior and you declare......"No! I couldn't possibly be tha-a-a-a-t. I'm a collector. Big diff." Ummmm yeah. Sure.

One thing led to another; another led me to the garage. Cliff Notes version of the story: 6 boxes of books went to a favorite thrift store. Six shopping bags of clothing went to Salvation Army. I'm reeeeeally feeling superior now! It always helps to make room for the stuff that will inevitably be dragged home.

When I dropped the books off, I felt guilty about dropping and running, so I felt I should be polite and browse. Which I did. In the bottom basket at the end of the men's pants row are the scarves. And there was my latest Vera scarf. It's polyester, but the condition is terrific and the pattern's groovy. I love the color combination of pink and olive. The paisley pattern is classic and can never go out of style. It feels so rich and has a beautifil drape. I haven't taken the time to date it, but I wanted to share!

Emilo Pucci Formfit Rogers Gown and Robe

I was strolling down the lingerie aisle at a favorite charity store and this fabric leaped out at me. It was a splash of color in a morass of tired flannel and saggy teddies. It was immediately special. I'm a fabric toucher and a label reader, so when I saw the two words "Emilio Pucci," I knew I had a winner. It was a very good day.

In 1959, Emilio Pucci decided to create a lingerie line. His atelier in Rome advised him to develop the line abroad, avoiding the difficulties of a decade earlier in matching available fabrics to the patterns of his first swimwear line. As a result, Pucci came to Chicago giving the lingerie contract to Formfit-Rogers mills. The venture proved to be successful, and Pucci was made vice president in charge of design and merchandising for the company a year later.

This peignoir set is vintage 60s or 70s. It features Pucci's signature bright colors of hot pink, rusty orange, light pink, and pale chartreuse with his initials being a design element. Known for his bold kaleidoscopic prints, this pattern is almost dainty in comparison with rows of loose bows on a lacey border. Pucci designed in Italy and his garments were American made. The borders are pieced on the gown and robe with tiny darts forming the circular border around the neck of the robe. The nylon fabric is thin and fine. The set is a lovely example of quality American made lingerie.

Wexford by Anchor Hocking

Gene Florence says in Anchor Hocking's Fire King & More Third Edition by Gene & Cathy Florence on page 120, "Wexford might be the next Early American Prescut in the collecting world." This isn't an old pattern; perhaps from the 1960s forward and is not worth a great deal. I wouldn't be surprised if you don't have a piece of this glassware that you're actively using. Don't list it on ebay yet as it's only worth a coupla bucks, so use it and enjoy it.

These four pieces were found in Covina, California and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I bought them separately and didn't realize it was the same pattern. I also have several pieces from my ex mother-in-law and a couple of pieces from an aunt.

On my last thrift store rummage-a-thon at a new church-run thrift store at 601 North Kings Hwy. in Myrtle Beach, I started out the door and saw these in the case. I bought them without a thought. I paid exactly what they're worth by the book, but I love the color. It's a teal-y, aqua-y, blue-y color which I think is properly called azure or azurine. The shaker set is funky and interesting in that the color isn't consistent throughout.

National by Jeanette Glass Company

The National pattern by Jeanette Glass Company was produced from the late 1940s through the mid 1950s. It was produced in the colors of blue, crystal, pink, and Shell Pink. It has distinctive log-like handles on the cup, creamer, and sugar.


My latest find is this group of 6 berry bowls which measure 4.5 inches in diameter. They're gorgeous and look brand new. The faceting causes them to sparkle almost like jewels. Pictures don't really do this pattern justice. It's heavy and chunky and has the most wonderful knobby bottoms.

These bowls match other pieces that I've found in various thrift stores and consignment shops. Yay me.


This relish tray is huge at about 15 inches in diameter, heavy, and beautiful. I found it on a bottom shelf in the half price room at Twice As Nice in Socastee. Isn't it gorgeous?

Why Glass?

I think my "glass collecting" started with that one tall skinny florist's milk glass bud vase that always sits in a rarely used upper cabinet. That led me to pick up another one in a thrift store... I felt sorry for it. And in doing so, I discovered that my bud vase has a name. Thousand Line; Stars & Bars; Rainbow Stars; all variations of an Anchor Hocking Glass Company pattern You know the rest of the story.

I don't think people respect glassware. If they did, it wouldn't be so plentiful in thrift stores, consignment shops, garage sales, and trash bins. So much of our older everyday glassware has a rich history; it has a name; it has a family. And it's American-made.

Once upon a time our country was filled with companies that made beautiful glassware; some utilitarian, some art pieces. Hocking Glass Company. Paden City Glass Company. Federal Glass Company. Sooo many others. I guess that's why I've come to love these pieces of cast-off glassware because of those very reasons. I want to rescue and share as many pieces as I can. I want to do it justice.