Tag Archives: Antique

This week for my Etsy Focus, I am looking at a great little vintage store called Laura’s Last Ditch. I came across one of Laura’s lovely vintage items for an Etsy Treasury I was putting together.

“Vintage kitchen utensils, small appliances, replacement parts, retro kitchen collectibles, pots, pans, bakeware.

Have you looked, to no avail, for an elusive vintage kitchen item? Don’t give up just yet–let Laura help you in your last ditch effort to find that special something!” – Last Ditch Laura.

1950s Pink-Black Dow Styron Divided TV Dinner Plate Tray

Laura has offered my readers a 10% discount in her store using the code TRSY10 on checkout. She’s based in the USA but ships all over the world and the discount can be used wherever you are – thanks Laura!

“I am a crusader for durability, passionately against disposability; for conservation, against mindless consumption; for fixable items, against gadgets with “no user-serviceable parts.” - Last Ditch Laura.

Green Vintage Club Aluminium Cookware Skillet & Sauce Pans

I was struck by the variety of vintage items in Laura’s store and decided to get in touch with her to ask her a few questions.

*What is the ethos behind your shop?

I sell things that help people avoid purchases of new, throwaway items replete with their wasteful packaging. Why not a vintage pan, which, if it’s lasted 50 years already, likely will serve another 50 more? I’m a Christian with strong convictions about stewardship; I try to live them out, while making it easier for other people to do so, too.

Mint Green & Cream Antique Kitchen Utensils

* What inspires you?

I’ve been inspired by the book “Living More with Less” by Doriz Janzen Longacre. It explores the spiritual and environmental implications of consumerism, North American-style. Our choices often affect the poor in other parts of the world—factories degrading or gobbling up land, leaving the only means of survival working in one of the very same factories under unconscionable conditions—stories like that—all so we can buy a bunch of junk that, often, we don’t truly need. “Living More with Less” told about some Indonesian visitors at a church picnic, wondering what they were supposed to do with their disposable plates, just to be shocked that you’d use a plate once, then throw it away.

Vintage Wire Bird Cage by Hendryx

*Can you describe your own home and interiors style for me? 

My style is simple and utilitarian. I don’t own any knick knacks–the only decorative elements are a few dishes in the china cabinets and some paintings on the walls. Almost all of our furniture came from garage sales or trash piles. My husband is really good at restoring furniture, so you’d never guess where it came from! I want my house to be peaceful and classic, so we won’t need to redo everything when the next decorating trend comes along.

I’m very patient. It took us about 10 years to put together a living room that doesn’t look “newlywed style.” We’ve slowly switched out our unattractive pieces as better things come along at the right price. The next thing I’d like to find is a vintage sofa.

Mauve Pink Plastic Measuring Spoon Set

*What vintage item do you have in your home that you would say is your favourite? 

This will sound crazy, perhaps. We have a vintage Flint Arrowhead spatula. It’s my favorite cooking utensil, and it’s probably the item I would miss most if it were gone. It’s hard to imagine until you use one how superior it is. I cook everything from scratch, so it’s important to me to have cooking utensils I enjoy.

I also love our vintage kitchen table with an enamel top and pull-out leaves. My brother gave it to me and my husband our first Christmas. It replaced a fold-up card table, so not only do we love the style, but it was such a thoughtful gift.

Pink Vintage Ekco Forge Small Spatula

*What’s your favourite material?

I’m not sure I have a favorite, but I appreciate practicality and durability, in whatever form it presents itself.

Laura blogs at Adventures in Thrift Land, where she enjoys writing about her unconventionally frugal life: www.adventuresinthriftland.blogspot.com