We enjoying talking to people who collect vintage treasures. In this interview, we find out more about Laura, the owner of the vintage shop LaurasLastDitch on Etsy.
Why and when did you start collecting?
It started with a set of T-fal pans. My husband and I received them as a wedding gift 20 years ago, but by our paper anniversary, the Teflon had worn off. They ended up in a garage sale. My mom and grandma still used their wedding gifts decades later; I realized that, if I cared about durability, I had to find vintage things.
What is one of your favorite pieces and why?
I adore my Flint spatula. It feels good in the hand; the angle of the handle and flexibility of the blade make any other spatula a poor substitute.
What tips can you give us about collecting?
I don’t collect in the usual sense (I don’t own a single knick knack, and – aside from wall hangings – every item in my home has a practical purpose for our family). Keep clutter to a minimum by using your collection. Functionality and dependability are a form of beauty.
What would be your holy grail piece and why?
I’m afraid it doesn’t exist – but I’d snatch up a vintage gas stove without a pilot light (one I don’t need to light with a match). Environmental stewardship is another passion of mine, so that little pilot wasting gas would rankle. But new stoves just can’t equal the aesthetics of a vintage stove with chrome trim, tick-tock timer, lighted control panel, and integrated salt and pepper shakers, so I still might buy a vintage stove if the right one falls into my lap.
Where do you look for new items to add to your shop?
My parents are thrift store and estate sale junkies, so rather than succumbing to their hoarding tendencies, they find inventory for my shop. They keep me well-supplied, so I can hardly rationalize my own trips. But I was out foraging berries on my bike last week and came across Pyrex in a curbside purge (some might call it a trash pile), so I stopped and loaded up.
How has collecting changed or affected your life?
By using vintage items, I’ve grown to dislike poor quality new things. Whatever earns a place in my home is so pleasant to use that I no longer find myself drawn to shopping at traditional retail stores and only purchase used items. Our family has taken this ethic further, adopting a zero-waste lifestyle. After much practice, we produce only one bag of trash a year, but are working to reduce it further.
Where can we find you?
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LaurasLastDitch
Adventures in Thrift Land: adventuresinthriftland.blogspot.com/ (stories about my creatively frugal life)
YouTube: www.youtube.com/lauraslastditchvintagekitchenwares (demos of vintage kitchen items)
I’m with you, Laura 🙂 The old stuff is still around and still functional because it was made of quality materials, and frequently made right here in the US. Using vintage items is the ultimate recycling!
Laura, I admire your lifestyle and love browsing your shop! I’ve had to replace some of the small appliances I got in the early ’80s and most have been OK but I couldn’t find an electric wok I liked. So I keep buying them at garage sales and using them until they wear out. Sadly, the latest one just gave out this week so I’m on the hunt again! Thanks for sharing your story!
Mary, I’m not sure there are any electric woks that people are truly keen on – I’ve never had a person contacting me begging for a specific kind, and none sell very well. I think a stovetop wok might be the only way to go. We have an anodized aluminum Commercial Aluminum Cookware wok we really like. I don’t have one to sell right now, and I couldn’t find one exactly like it on Etsy, but here’s one on the other E: http://ebay.to/2a17qyI
I wish you success in finding just the right wok for your kitchen. Thanks for reading the interview and visiting my shop. I’m always happy to offer recommendations for the best vintage kitchenwares!
Laura, thanks for your response! I actually do love the West Bend wok I got for Christmas in 1982. It looked like this: https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ2H5Eexq_Uu8yqAKz-80hOQL8TEIZcMmmLvB0tafZJ-4NwD6v7
I’ve tried these taller ones with the smaller plug but they don’t seem to get hot enough for me: https://www.etsy.com/listing/271317062/vintage-west-bend-electric-wok-original?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=wok&ref=sr_gallery_2
The style I like is available on Etsy now but it’s used and will likely wear out fast like all the other secondhand ones I’ve picked up! Will keep my eye out for new in box or garage sale finds–good thing it’s summer!
Laura, I applaud you. There’s nothing better than using vintage everyday for all manner of tasks and pleasures. It’s a lifestyle, one more and more people seem to be embracing. Hooray!
Laura, your lifestyle is quintessential “live well, waste not!” love the life you’re living! Best success!
Your shop is so classy and you always have high quality goods no one else can find! Browsing is such a joy.
Laura – I admire you. You have such a well branded shop and you have found a perfect niche. Your photos are always amazing and the things you find for your shop fit so perfectly into your shop. I enjoy watching your video’s! I’ve especially enjoyed getting to know you over the past couple of years. I think you are a very wise business person. I wish you much continued success with your shop!