Mary Lou with Ellensburg Rodeo Queen
2007
    The question, I am asked the most is “Mary Lou, Why do you sew?”  “Your legally blind?”
     I have to admit having severe Macular-Degeneration.in both eyes does present quite a challenge.   Life
continues to provide me with plenty of opportunities, in learning to take alternate routes.
    Yes. I have to admit sewing is quite difficult, when I can’t see my own hands clearly, and I have to hold
every thing up within a few inches of my face.  To me it’s about finding way’s to overcome and move forward
“ANYWAYS”.   I have too much to do and can’t be crippled by this. I do make plenty of mistakes but I keep
trying and with years of practice I am developing into a designer.
     I didn’t tart out. to be a rodeo queen/western wear designer. I sewed out of necessity for my family.  My
passion is horse’s, my family to this day still is involved in the Thoroughbred Race horse industry.  
    My husband and I settled in Eastern Washington to raise our three children. Living in a rural landscape, we
were soon wrapped up in a life style of competing with our horses in 4H, Jr. Rodeo, High School Equestrian
Team.  When my children started showing and competing, I started making their arena costumes.  I wasn’t in
the position to purchase expensive show clothes, so we made do.  My children have always been my
inspiration, and they are why I do what I do.  When they would outgrow something I would sell it, so this
business evolved a little at time over many years.  It was just what I did, so they would look good and have
confidence about themselves when they were competing.

I now make western wear clothes for girls all over the USA, specializing in one of a kind rodeo queen clothes.  
Both of my daughters have won several crowns. Most of my sewing has orbited around them and from there it
spread out to others.

    Being legally blind, I have been assisted by the Department of Services for the Blind in several vocational
re-hab programs.  They first assisted me when I wanted to home-school my children, and I did through he 8th
grade.  Then, they provided me educational training, to become a Certified Equine Massage Therapist.  You,
see horses are still my passion I developed an equine rehab facility where lame, injured horses can come and
recover.  I administer Micro Current stimulation, massage, fascial release.  I now assist horses of all types from
mammoth mules to barrel-race horses.  DSB also assisted me in my rodeo-queen design business by helping
me acquire an embroidery machine.  This is one of the main methods I use to embellish my clothing line.  And
now, I am going back to school to get my human massage license.

I still enjoy riding horses.  I have had to overcome a lot of fear to get back in the saddle.  Fear is such a
crippling force.  If I can help young girls, face their fears and walk right past it, by embracing courage.  I then
feel like I have contributed something of worth.  I face fear everyday in many different forms.  But God has
helped me to keep standing and press on.  I figure if I can do it, ANY-ONE can.  My life in2009 was spared,
when I was diagnosed with cancer.  So, now with a second chance, I intend to live life, like the Martina
McBride song ANYWAY. So take a chance and don’t let fear hold you back.  Got for that crown, and better
yet receive that heavenly crown.  Here are the lyrics to Anyway.  I feel this song deep in my heart, it says all
that I want to say:
Anyway
  ------Martina McBride

You can spend your whole life building
Something from nothin'
One storm can come and blow it all away
Build it anyway

You can chase a dream
That seems so out of reach
And you know it might not ever come your way
Dream it anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
I do it anyway

This world's gone crazy
It's hard to believe
That tomorrow will be better than today
Believe it anyway

You can love someone with all your heart
For all the right reasons
In a moment they can choose to walk away
Love 'em anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
Yea - I do it anyway

You can pour your soul out singing
A song you believe in
That tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang
Sing it anyway
Yea, sing it anyway
Yeah, yeah!

I sing
I dream
I love anyway