Mary Amick started making yard art in the ’80s. She has been selling her art at Mary Mays in Pearland, formerly known as May’s Products, since the early ’90s. In 2011, owners Roger and Louise May asked Amick is she was interested in buying the store as they were getting older. The following year, she bought it. Amick runs the store along with the help of family friend Kathy. The store is a family business, as Mary works with her two children, her husband, Bruce, and her three sisters. “For me, the biggest reward is getting to work with my children,” Amick said. Located on East Broadway Street, Mary Mays sells yard art, as well as lawn chairs, pottery, concrete statues and metal work. The wooden figures are made by Amick and her children, Bruce Jr. and Ashley. The lawn chairs, metal work and statues are imported from all over the U.S. as well as Mexico. “Art is really a reflection of what we celebrate, what we love, what we hold dear,” Amick said. While Amick loves running the business, she said the job has come with its share of hardships. The store burned down in 2013, and the barn burned down in 2014. The fire resulted in the loss of both the building and all of the tools and machinery it contained, causing the business to almost fail. Amick said the situation left her in a dark place, until she felt the love and the support the community offered. “In my heart of hearts, I believe that we have no control over what happens to us, but we do have control over our attitude,” Amick said. In October, Mary Mays invested in a new computerized numerical cutting machine which can cut and carve wood at the same time, enabling the store to start selling personalized items, Amick said. “We could do personalized stuff, but we weren’t competitive,” Amick said. “Now, you’re only limited by your imagination.” Mary Mays 1705 E. Broadway St., Pearland 281-799-2252 www.marymayspearland.com Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily