What began as a home décor store 12 years ago in November 2014 has evolved into a timeless tradition.
Jeanne McGowen, owner of Mud Creek Creations on Comanche’ s Main Street, has discovered that vintage has a lasting appeal. Vintage home décor and handmade items have never really gone out of style, but in the last few years, it appears to have experienced a resurgence.
Comanche is becoming a hub for these home décor and vintage booth stores. McGowen said many shoppers are from out-of-town, either travelers, or people who search out the vintage items. Several are shop owners in Texas who travel up to Stephens County. In fact, Comanche’ s beginnings date back to 1887, with the little Tucker post office. A new townsite was established in 1892 and the next year, the post office renamed Tucker to Comanche.
On this particular day, shoppers / shop owners from Comanche, Texas, only a three hour drive away, were hunting for treasures in Mud Creek Creations. Also, a couple from across the state of Oklahoma was in to pick up an antique dresser that had a mirror and marble slabs on the top drawers.
Every booth is a visual treat for those on the hunt for treasures. It’ s a nook and cranny scavenger hunt thanks to clever booth designers.
McGowen has always gravitated toward the old stuff. A green kitchen free standing cupboard filled with many items ranging from the 1930s to the 1960s and a few other decades isn’ t much different from the one she has in her own home. She shows off a photo on her cellphone of the one at home. Sure enough, it is similar to the one in the shop booth. Blending the colorful with the primitive, from 1950s glassware to older items comes naturally for her.
“ What I first started with back in the 80s was head vases,” she said.“ One of the things I like to collect is little choppers and little creamers, you know, syrup holders, and wooden spoons. If I bring something home, well, you can see all my little nutcrackers in there( pointing at the photo). But my husband goes, where are you going to put it? So sometimes I’ ll find something that’ s better than what I’ ve got at home. I’ ll just take that at home and bring it, sell it and replace it.”