Tumbleweed & Dandelion

Happy 2012!

2012-01-19T16:48:00.000-08:00

American made furniture!! Need we say more! We love what we do and it shows in our goods. Share us with your friends and keep an eye out for great new ideas, sneak peaks at amazing homes and more!

Happy 2012

2011-09-11T12:28:00.001-07:00

Enjoying the cross country travel allowing me to work on my book. American made. My journey has involved making products in this country for this country!! Watch out walnut Iowa!!

lavender eggs

2011-07-25T22:52:00.000-07:00

Gets your attention, doesn't it? I did a photo shoot for the fabulous fifi and her new cookbook. I am sharing two pictures from my day. It was so fun to just be home for the day with my puppies and my chickens. Fifi is an inspiration. She is full of creative energy and she just goes for it. I am grateful to her for so many things....The design world is full of tension and stress and then pride. After all the drama that you inevitably have on EVERY job. Suddenly, it's done and lived in and you are no longer needed. The space and the occupants take their shape and your work is done. It was fun to spend the day on something no one would return....

A day off

2011-07-07T00:05:00.000-07:00

Or should I say an afternoon off? To be honest it was three hours and technically while laying on the beach, Jonny woke up and saw me texting and said "are you really working?" I was, I needed to pay a bill and answer a couple of work questions. If you are thinking of becoming an interior designer I am not sure you should read this. It is filled with the truth of the matter. I LOVE WHAT I DO. I AM GOOD AT WHAT I DO...Alas, too much of the time it is all I DO.. I have been criticized because I also manager my brother's music career, SEANPATRICKMCGRAW.COM...check it out...But, even on the most grueling week of being on tour I still have put in 40 true Tumbleweed hours...Crazy but true. This is a business filled with details, details and more details. It is not nearly as important as brain surgery or global warming but when a clients sofa is late or wrong, it might as well be. You are dealing with the most personal of things A HOME, someones personal space. They only let you in when they can trust you in all ways. Getting the job is the easy part. Getting Geo to arrive on time and Gabriel to make shelves that won't break and your client to feel safe enough to deal with Mkyal so you don't have to attend the installation of their cabinet, is well, as hard as world peace. Which may be why I am still going to deliveries and we are still at war.

But today, I took the afternoon off and I gave myself a break. Tomorrow I will pay for it but today the only pressure i put on myself was to pay the store rent and write this blog...So, if you think you want to be an interior designer,,,to you I say,,,marry rich and decorate for yourself...

Happy Birthday Eunice

2011-07-05T22:49:00.000-07:00

The fourth of July has always been a big deal in my family. For as long as I can remember my mother would espouse on her childhood family parties. It was her beloved Grandfathers birthday on the fourth and her mother's (Eunice) birthday on the fifth. When I was little I had an ear operation and I was not to hear loud noises. This meant the fireworks were out which was OUT OF THE QUESTION, so my parents would stuff cotton and Vaseline in my ears and take me to the lighthouse where you might see every other firework and the three of us would watch the event. This must have been very lame to them and to be honest the cotton and Vaseline thing was gross and I COULD STILL HEAR.... by the way....It was however our little thing and one of those things I took for granted. As the years went on my family has shared some wonderful fourth of July's. Many on Lake Erie at my sister in laws house with her family and a few at our cottage on the lake. We have laughed and sang and one year we had a really, really bad fight which will probably go down in family history but we are trying to heal from that.
This year, however was a working year and I painted the floors of my store all fourth of July day. It was not as sad as I thought though because I could smell the grilling of my neighbors and the sound of street fireworks everywhere. It was not nearly the fun of years past and in many ways it made me miss my father and my grandmother even more. It was however, filled with creativity and the power of cleaning...I drove an hour to Newport Beach so Jonny and I could watch the fireworks together but he got out of work late and there were so many people it was like swimming upstream but I didn't even care because this year my goals are more important than the event and a sense of urgency drives me. I decorate houses because I am good at it. I can sum up what kind of person you are and how you should live pretty quickly. This year, I am learning how to re-run my crazy business and make music at the same time. Challenging but isn't that why we came to America? Happy Birthday America, Sean, BBB, Jack and Gram....you all are my family

life at 9pm

2011-06-14T20:58:00.000-07:00

I was out the door at 7am today and I attempted to wash my truck...Attempted. After an early meeting with "The Marine" project and then off to the "Toscana" project. I returned to the store and "the Puppy" who was adopted by my neighbor today. I seem to remember a lot of furniture moving and instruction and too much to do..It's all vague now...TRAFFIC..that is what happened..TRAFFIC..ugh LA....

Then there's home and a broken dryer..I am not an ad for MAYTAG..that is all I will say....And my other puppies...I am so tired that the lovely herbs in pots my friend Shelley gave me have only made it to my coffee table and the most I can do is answer my emails and hang with my favorite, Alley pooch....I get to do great work in the world of design but right now I remind you all that a life wellspent is not always spent keeping life neat.

to blog or not to blog

2011-06-13T22:07:00.000-07:00

If there is anyone out there...Yes, It is me and I am writing in my blog...Why, you may ask? Well, my lovely Korean friends came to visit me this week. (they venture over twice a year) and lovely Shabby Coco said she follows my blog? Then she said, "I have been waiting for two years for you to update it!!" On that note, how can I not blog?

It is 10:10 pm and I left my house at 7am. I just got home and comparatively, this is a short day. I love what I do but the world of design is not an easy one. Neither is the world of Country music and I am enmeshed in both. Just last week, I had a tornado practically destroy my cottage in New York, then I found a dog (I still have) then I made an amazing bar for some clients, they were so happy, UNTIL THE SHELVES COLLAPSED...Ugh,,,long story...This week is a little better, Nothing has broken and the lovely people whose bar broke still want me to work for them. Still, there is a lot to do, Today, I got to the store and Mkyal and I met to review all of our tasks. We were going to visit a client who is not happy with her bed when I realized my car key came off my key chain and then suddenly there were 8 people in the store (even though we were closed) and I had to get a truck load of furniture to the warehouse to be shipped to Korea. Then I had to check on furniture even farther away in Paramount. Did I mention, I had to make sure we were all set for Sean to go the Porterfield Music festival? Then Mkyal and I had another meeting and now it's 430 and I ask Mkyal if we should have lunch. He just laughed. We brought in a table that needed finishing so when Mkyal left, I locked the front door, let the puppy run and painted a table..It was 830 pm when I finished and then I had to make a list for Mkyal..Are you tired yet? I left the store at 945 to go to the grocery store for dog food...I am having a glass of wine as I write this and soon I will pass out, as I have to be up at 4am...Yes, a day in the life of a designer,band manager...

Bonne Annee

2010-01-04T09:07:00.000-08:00

Well folks,,,I am not sure what has happened to 2009! But, it was a wonderful year despite economic hardship, lots more work for lots less money, etc. etc. Still, My Brother Sean Patrick McGraw and his great band played all summer long with Toby Keith and Trace Adkins. We traveled the country, twice. We still drink wine and we still live well. We enter into this new year thinking of those who are less fortunate and always trying to help on the way.

I am about to leave my parents home in Fredonia, New York and journey back to Los Angeles which is three flights and probably many delays away. My cell phone has decided to break so that book I have been carrying around may actually get read. I just spent the morning making plans for the New Year. What wonderful things can I design and what great ideas can I pitch to the wonderful magazines who endorse me? I woke up very early and stressed about all that lies in front of me and then with a cup of joe, a warm spot by the fireplace and a wonderful winter wonderland outside. I just let it all go and I am ready to proceed with joy. I have vowed to start really writing in this blog as I have such a fortunate life I should share my tales...So, look out New Year!

Stagecoach Mcgraw!

2009-05-03T14:21:00.001-07:00

Stagecoach 2009- Sean Patrick Mcgraw played in front of 30,000-40,000 people. This is what the LA times had to say!!

Stagecoach 2009: Missing a stage, gaining a McGraw
04:31 PM PT, Apr 25 2009

One of the first things you might notice upon arrival at this year's Stagecoach is that despite all the barbecue, it feels a bit slimmer. It's not for a lack of lawn chairs, beer koozies or brisket though -- the fest is just down one stage this year. What was the Outdoor Stage last weekend has become barbecue alley, leaving a Mane Stage, a Mustang Stage and a new Palomino Stage in what was the Sahara Tent at last week's Coachella.
It's not all lean times early this Saturday, however. The Mane Stage saw a last-minute early addition, and a welcome one at that. Sean Patrick McGraw, a "Nashville Star" semi-finalist (and, as he specified, "not related to Tim, so I didn't pull any strings to be here") scampered in at the last minute to ply a zeitgeisty brand of country-rock that confirmed why he did well on the show. His tenor is strong and befitting of the bar-brawler ruckus that so many of his younger peers are working in right now. (It doesn't hurt that he kind of looks like Dwight Yoakam to boot.)
His early contender of a hit, "A Dollar Ain't Worth a Dime," is one of the first of what will surely be many recession-themed laments, but unlike John Rich's "Shutting Detroit Down," McGraw keeps his sociology enticingly vague, warning that "People do desperate things in desperate times/ if a man don't turn to Jesus, he'll turn to crime," but it doesn't feel like Christian proselytizing -- more an acknowledgment that neither course of action is likely to help in the long run.
But it's not all doomy warnings -- in between song banter, McGraw welcomed the occasion to be in California, where he could "let his freak flag fly" and indulge in our lax botanical pharmacopeia laws, which is our kind of country music philosophizing. As far as unexpected visits go at Stagecoach, McGraw can swing by any time he likes.
-August Brown
Photo credit: Getty Images

A rough week and then the water started to leak!

2009-03-29T03:55:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been really, really, stressful. Which is very sad since my mother was here and she was so helpful and lovely to be around. Still, we had a difficult client situation which took the wind out of our sails...Literally. I think we all needed to get through it. The funny thing is even when life is bad it can always get worse. Knowing this is one thing. When we were kids we could never have a problem because my mother would always say "At least you aren't a Curd!" True, our lives were not embroiled in civil conflict but,,, when you are 16 pain is pain. Gratefully, we have changed our attitudes, turned a corner and made money this week! WE all have to continue to manifest ourselves...Then just when we do....My mother calls and says that her water line has broken and the Village can't seem to find the shut off so her yard and basement are being flooded. As the day progresses, the water rises and a double, triple time plumber is in the yard destroying her driveway trying to find the shut off. Suddenly, she remembers that the old owner (she has owned the house for over 20 years) so, I really mean old, might know where the line is...Sure enough he does but not before the driveway has been destroyed and the water has risen in the basement. Did I mention the repair is many thousands of dollars? I would send her to Paris but our Paris apartment connection just emailed me her whole guest bathroom caved in and the apartment won't be available until June! So, Mom, all I can say is "Thank God, you are not a Curd!"

Ode to a few of our Favorites

2009-03-07T17:25:00.000-08:00

Our clients are just as unique as the furniture we make for them. As we go from home to home, spreading our Tumbleweed love, we can't help but want to share it with all of you. Here is a little taste of some of our Favorite homes that we have worked on and enjoyed so much...

Simple Romance added to a room can make your space feel warm and welcoming.

We Love the sunlight beaming through the windows radiating warmth through out the room.

Bead board cabinetry adds great subtle detail.

Simplistic and Clean.

Beach living at it's best...

Just a little Interior eye candy courtesy of Tumbleweed & Dandelion.

Is it a depression or are we just depressed?

2009-02-24T22:22:00.000-08:00

When I need a break I think of Big Sur. When I am lucky I visit Big Sur. When I'm really lucky I get to take my friends with me. There is something so fullfilling about sharing a place you love with the ones you love.

On our tour we stopped at Hearst castle. It's a tour that never gets old. This time though, the message was different for me. This time, the story I heard was about a very successful and rich man who built a castle during the depression. It has really seemed like we are in a depression recently. The news and the outlooks are gloomy. I find myself steering towards the positive. We have heard so much lately about people (celebrities) who are downplaying their fame and fortune in reverence to the hardships many are facing. I understand this but at the same time I hope we don't sacrifice beauty, art and creativity in order to show our loyalty. We are a wonderful and exuberant nation filled with ideas and stories.

I hope the current economic crisis stimulates our ideas and senses to create what we have maybe been too lazy and satisfied to think of. On the tour they said we can never build another Hearst castle. I beg to differ. We must build more places of wonder for the world to enjoy. We must cherish what is old and reuse it in ways that embrace it as art and something new. We must recognize our power and celebrate our lives. I know success is a team effort. I thank you all for making Tumbleweed & Dandelion so successful.

Coincidences

2009-02-19T22:08:00.000-08:00

This is a birthday blog...I have two friends that have the same birthday. They are both very special to me. We have all been through many changes in these past few years. Our friendships have changed. Our lives have changed. What will not change for me is how much they will both always mean to me. I sent Suzy a new item we sell that seemed perfect for her. Wine stoppers with intials on them. The funny thing is she sent me a wine stopper with a heart on it...I guess we both wanted a corkscrew? There is nothing better than the gift of friendship.

The Beautiful Things

2009-02-15T21:41:00.000-08:00

It's a two egg day! I am so grateful for this experience. Everyday is like Christmas. Really, I pretty much forced the chicken life on Jonny but I must say, as always, he's handling it like a champ. I love that we can give fresh eggs to our friends and clients. I guess, I like the business of giving back.

" A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in"...Pass it on.

Valentines Day

2009-02-13T22:01:00.000-08:00

photo by Hunter McGee

A few weeks ago we started laying eggs! Yes, that is correct the Fineman-McGraw farm has eggs. Not all of our girls are laying yet but we know a Polish chicken and Big Daisy are. So, our Valentines Day will begin with some Daisy egg omlets and then off to the weed to sell our wares.

Tumbleweed's Wooden Signs Featured in 'ROMANTIC HOMES' magazine, March 2009

2009-02-10T15:52:00.000-08:00

Check out our 'wooden country signs' in this months 'ROMANTIC HOMES'.... head to our website or give us a call to order one today....

We only Get What we Give

2009-02-09T23:29:00.000-08:00

2009-02-06T15:33:00.000-08:00

It was like it was written in gold... Our gold love letters come large and small.

Valentines Tumbleweed candles are a great way to say "I Love You."

Roses are red...Violets are blue...

Dont forget to visit us on First Fridays on Abbot Kinney! We're open late!

comfort you can afford

2009-02-04T21:14:00.001-08:00

Do you ever wake up and want to change everything? You know those days when you hate everything and you fall into a depression because you don't know where to begin and you really shouldn't spend any money and the sky is falling? I have those days. I have those days when I have been working too hard and I get another bill I forgot about and it's tax day and, and, and....There is hope. I find hope when I go to a clients home that I am working on and I feel comfortable and relaxed and I want to go home to the same feeling. Now, some of my clients are LOADED and well that's another blog but some just know how to live. I recently went to a home by the ocean I love but not because of the location.I love the people and their attitude. It's 7pm and there is a fire in the pit and a fire in the living room. The smell is welcoming and the kids are at the kitchen counter doing their homework. I love that they want to hang by their parents while dinner is being made and do their work. I love that everyone is finding their way around eachother and still communicating. I love that the house is not too big so as to lose eachother. There is a bunch of farmers market flowers on the counter and too many dogs and maybe a cat looking for attention from the interloper. I drive home with a smile on my face because that is what counts. I may still rearrange the furniture and do a therapuetic charity run but my life has been touched and energized by what matters and so the midnight rearranging of my living room although still REALLY IMPORTANT is put into perspective. At least until the next attack.

The black and white living room. Cool, simple and great.

Everyone should have a Walker family

2009-01-22T21:21:00.000-08:00

When I was 17 years old I met my new best friend, Chrissy Walker. I bamboozled her into inviting me to share her older sisters New York City apartment! Unfortunately, there were complications which meant I had to move in with her parents on Long Island while we re-thought our plan....
My memories of this time are wonderful. Agnes, her mother always saved a "hot plate" for me and her father, Charlie, insisted on picking me up at the train station every night. Did I mention they had 6 children of their own and most certainly didn't need to add me! Still, they welcomed me with open arms as did all of the siblings. Louise worked it out that Chrissy and I could move into her apartment. She showed us around the city and taught me that Venieros was better than Entemanns (only New Yorkers will get this).
Soon after, when Chrissy and I worked out the living situation her sister Suzy moved in. The next few years were full of folly, frolic and a lot of partying! Suzy was the only one of us who made any money, apparently, she graduated from college in a week with honors and had some sort of important banking job.This was great because it meant we all had an expense account,(It was a long time ago, so I'm pretty sure we are not directly responsible for the current financial crisis). Chrissy and I were the artists but Suzy was always behind every creative idea we had that involved her sponsorship/money.
This past weekend, I had a chance to surprise my old friend Suzanne, at her sister Louise's Colorado ski house. Being the Capitalist, liberal democrat that I am I knew this would be a hard weekend for my Alex B Keaton, conservative. I also, love her enough not to throw it in her face, (although, I did make a kicking gesture at the t.v. as The Bushes were leaving Washington). Over the weekend, we skied and laughed and watched 24 until my view of reality was distorted. We also, played with the kids. I found out that they disguise 30 year old men in the bodies of young boys named "Charlie". Charlie, is not only a good skier and totally fun to be around but he's wise. Now, his family may jokingly disagree but I tell you the kid is intuitive. During, one particular lunch when we were speaking of a long distance relationship gone bad he exclaimed "Long distance relationships never work"! Funny coming from someone just over a decade old. I really hate counting the decades.
I am not sure why I am so lucky to have the "Walkers" in my life but I am.
Although, I do think Charlie is the most imaginative and kind 11 year old I know I must disagree with him. Long distance relationships do last....At least, so far, in this case!
Cheers, Lizzie

2009-01-09T17:41:00.001-08:00

Integrity in 2009! We are busy creating our new spring line. Here's a peak at what's new at the WEED....

BONNE ANNEE 2009

2009-01-03T06:49:00.000-08:00

December 23rd seems like weeks ago. Unfortunately, it was not but it was the day I arrived in Paris. As usual, my trip began with laughter (it's either that or tears). While waiting in the security line at the airport, I handed the agent my passport and boarding pass, he exclaimed "Miss McGraw, you should get a new picture, this one is terrible!" at which I was most excited because it is really terrible and I'm always upset when people don't question it? Then the strange question. He asked me if I liked Collin Powell? "What a strange question" I said, in my too loud voice." Why would you ask me about Collin Powell?" I then heard roars of laughter at which point I thought he said something about "Will Farrell" totally confused and the laughter getting louder from everyone. I think the woman behind me hit me on the back she was laughing so loud. I finally looked in front of me and there the very handsome and nice man said, "I think he's talking about me!" To which I replied recognizing him "Oh, well you're hot!" It was Collin Farrell and he is indeed hot. What a way to begin a vacation.
To all of you that know me, you know I work really hard. You even know that if your furniture is late and you are mad at me. It's not because I'm not working on it. A week in Paris with nothing to do but enjoy the holiday and be re-invigorated by the scents and smells and architecture. I know how truly blessed I am.
Adding to my adventure were my mother Gigi Joubet, My friend Jon Hall who thinks he's the pink panther and my swiss brother David and his son Jan....We had so much fun having picture taking contests which I am sure I would have won if I had not brought a cannon camera with all my Olympus equipment...Just didn't work. David is a concert pianist and our Paris apartment is equipped with a Steinway so it was like having Chopin in the living room.
One of the loveliest things I saw in Paris was their bouquets of flowers. They take a large piece of cellophane, evenly cut the flowers at their base, place the flowers in the cellophane tieing them at the top like a satchel, fill the cellophane with water and viola! you have a wonderful presentation...Add a lovely bow (which we should all have recycled plenty from the holiday) and a note...So, french, so lovely.
May 2009 be filled with lovely ideas, generosity and peace...
xo Lizabeth

Election, Reflection, Recession, Healing and Hope

2008-12-19T15:09:00.000-08:00

There's always extra substance packed into a year when there's an election,and do we all know how true this held in 2008. No matter how one feels about the outcome,few can deny it was historical. As we all know,President elect Obama was able to gain unprecedented momentum using "the Tao" of a grassroots movement; bit by bit,everyday people got politically active for the first in their lives,contributing to a movement of change. We here at "The Weed" have been the little engine that could for almost 12 years,thanks to our truly loyal customers as well as those walking through our doors in wonderment for the first time. You all have made the Tumbleweed grassroots journey so successful, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support in 2008.

It was also a year of reflection,especially for Lizzie and I. We often talk about how are dad's would feel about the election and how proud they would also be to see their eldest daughters continuing to share their creative gifts. Not a day goes by without sharing a memory of our papas with each other and our customers. How special it is to have Billy Big Bucks, a.k.a The Ivy
League Gun Slinger, smiling down on us from the shelves in our store-like angel blessings everyday....

Here's to Billy Big Bucks and Big Hank, we love and miss you everyday.

So,looking forward to 2009, we find ourselves truly filled with healing thoughts and hope for ourselves and our country. We have certainly not been immune to the economic state of things and have been trying to master the art of keeping our heads above water while still keeping smiles on our faces. Our spirits have been jump started thanks to the addition of our very first mail order catalog and our working website. They both were real labors of love for all of us, doing the majority of the photos ourselves and relying on our creative writing skills to make them both as inviting as possible.

Once again,we have had a yearof being blessed at Tumbleweed and Dandelion, and strive to remain conscious of our responsibilty to share these blessings with others. May you all have a beautiful holiday season filled with love, laughter and peace.

Thank God for My Family

2008-12-19T14:40:00.000-08:00

I find it really hard to believe Thanksgiving has passed. Especially since I gave up Turkey after the Sarah Palin debacle and we ate at our local diner! That said, Time really does fly. It seems like yesterday I was anxious to be an adult and then suddenly I was wishing I was a teenager. These past ten years have been filled with ups, downs, profits and debt. It has been so discouraging this past year to suddenly have to work so hard again when it seemed like I was going to be able to dress the world. Lucky, we are. We have the ability to create our future and make miracles every day. In our own little world Courtney is so, so, so, happily married with 15 children. She is building the house of her dreams and nurturing the most precious children in the world. (It's actually 4 children by the way). Hilary on the other hand is preparing for Casey's journey into the world of COLLEGE. Hunter is a newlywed. Ruth is on safari in Africa. Jonny is in the kitchen making toffee or taking a nap I can't remember. Bree is on myspace. I am still at work and it is much too late but it's not to late to embrace our dreams. They can still thrive and so can we. It is when times are tough that we re-evaluate our goals and assess the possibilities. We thank all of our loyal customers for making our careers possible and our dreams a reality. We hope to continue to soar and grow.

COUNTRY LIVING December issue

2008-11-13T12:42:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our blog. It has been almost 12 years since Tumbleweed & Dandelion opened its doors. We have been fortunate to continue to grow and prosper. Prosperity is a word we all like to hear in these troubled times. We thank all of our loyal customers and design clients for making this a reality.

Many years ago I met a lovely stylist named Sunday Hendrickson. I thought she was beautiful and in the know and a person I wanted to know. We did a small shoot for the now defunct HOME COMPANION magazine.. For years, and I literally mean years!!! I called her and tried to do more magazine shoots with her. I did mention the shoot we did was small and we never managed to get together...Then something changed!!!! This wonderful woman named Fifi O'Neal, editor of Romantic Country magazine came in with Sunday and off and running we were. These two beautiful, independent and very talented women have been pounding the pavement for us for almost two years now. Together, we have been able to photograph some of Tumblweeds biggest achievements as well as brainstorm about books and magazines to come. These wonderful laddies have tutored us in the art of print journalism and we are profoundly grateful. We look forward to many years of creativity to come.

On this journey we have also worked with photographer Mark Lohman and on this shoot for Country Living Tria Giovan was the photographer.

Again, many thanks to everyone who has made this possible. Please pick up your copy of COUNTRY LIVING MAGAZINE...available on newstands, now!

Warmly,
Lizabeth k. McGraw

The Hilary table and Henry chairs

2008-02-04T22:47:00.000-08:00

We are a bunch of painter chics...That is what we are. We create, we manefest, we clean up, we start again. Our days our filled with chaos, then laughter, then calm, then.....We make a table that can seat a lot of kids, family and friends. I call it the Hilary table because it is her finish that really makes it special. We don't like contrived and ordinary sanded finishes and luckily neither does Hilary. She paints them again and again until we all gasp at their beauty. We sell them like hotcakes but you better be patient because making our table is no enchilada! Our "Henry" chair named after Hilary's dad comes ina handsome blue striped cotton fabric. All available soon at tumbleweedanddandelion.com....

Spring is in the air!!

2008-01-27T21:30:00.000-08:00

It may still be snowing or raining, very hard actually but it feels like spring in my heart. I have avoided writing since last year because I was reflecting. I may mean procrastinating but the result is the same...No words. I guess I didn't have the words to explain what I had been through. Last year was a challenge to say the least. We lost a lot of people in the Tumbleweed world last year. So many, that I didn't want to write anymore. I thought, who will believe that after losing my beloved father, Hilary's father, Suzie's father and then one of our best friends, Brian, I could have anything positive or fun to say? Who would believe that we could still believe in our business and want to paint furniture and walls and create beautiful things... Who would believe? Maybe the faithful. Maybe I have found my faith? I'm sure I'll be pissed off for a long time that my father can't answer my calls but I am amazed at how with me he remains. He is the air I breathe and the reason I want to go on. I know my father would want Tumbleweed to continue to grow and prosper. I know he wants us all to live our lives and enjoy each day. I may include many more photos of my father and I promise you none of them will show him stressing at the drawing board. He knew how to live and still leave my mother money!

That said, the good news is....Courtney Delancey became a married woman and 4 lovely children became a family. They are building a house which I'm sure we'll feature here with stories to tell. My brother survived the dog bite, just won another song award and he's traveling around the country in a grape truck!! Check him out at SeanPatrickMcGraw.com. My sister is walking in the L.A. Marathon for my father. My mother and I will be going to Dubai and India this spring. That is if I can get all my work done, make some money. Get my website up and running and sell some furniture!....Did I mention that Jonny will be watching the dogs while I'm away? So, it looks like a good year so far and even when it's not so good it's all we got and as my mother always says. "Put a smile on your face and a song in your heart!"

ROMANTIC COUNTRY cover story

2007-12-19T12:52:00.000-08:00

Romantic Country featured Tumbleweed & Dandelion and our very own Lizabeth Mc Graw in their winter issue, out now!!!

PAINTmagic cover story!

2007-10-30T13:16:00.000-07:00

PAINTmagic featured Tumbleweed& Dandelion in their 2007 catalogue.... the story was by Diane Speros; Photos by Mark Lohman; Styling by Sunday Hendrickson...check out a taste of the Weed below.....

How did we get here so fast?

2007-10-25T17:20:00.000-07:00

The tumbling of the weeds...
I'm sure blogs have many purposes these days. At Tumbleweed, we are excited to be able to share ours with you. We have been so fortunate to acquire the talents of two young and creative designers. Together, we are finally creating our long awaited website and as you can see our new blog. Our goal has always been to satisfy the design needs of our clients with integrity, forethought and good planning. It has also been to go to the beach, drive carelessly and ponder the meaning of life. We hope you will join us on this journey of reckless abandon and pillow making.
This holiday we will be introducing our online shop. We will be presenting our lovingly packaged holiday candles and other yummy gift items. Our collection will also include a wonderful selection of custom and vintage, lighting, gifts and furniture.
As many of you know we lost my father William J. McGraw recently. It is a profound and silently painful experience to lose someone you love so very much. I can only hold on to the goals and dreams I shared so fervently with my father. I know how very much he wanted for me and how very much he loved us all. Now, I'm still not so sure what the point of a blog is but I know that I can't sell sofa's or design furniture or make your life prettier with out sharing the story of our lives. 2007 has been hard for the "weeds" Everyone really supported me while my father was so ill but the story doesn't end there. At the same time as my fathers passing Hilary's father was getting ready for his own journey.
Now, let me tell you a little bit about Hilary. She has been my friend and worked with me for 9 years. In that time NO ONE has ever complained about her (don't start now), If you think that is a interesting bit of trivia wait until you hear this...In 9 years she has never and I mean never called in sick. Yes, this makes her eligible for some kind of saint status but she is way too cool for that. She is honorable beyond mention. My father said she was a beautiful woman inside and out. He was right and I am blessed to be able to create and laugh with her.
My fathers daughter
My father said and did a lot of profound things in his life. Shortly before he passed away this year he said to me in a dreamlike state "How did we get here so fast". I honestly didn't know. I know that growing up with Billy Big Bucks was the best adventure any kid could ask for. It seems like yesterday when we were rescued by the coast guard and I was embarrassed because he kept referring to himself as "Skipper McGraw". He would laugh when we would feel insecure by the crazy things he would say and do. I think he knew we all just wanted to be as bold and certain of our words as he was.

It has been 10 years since Tumbleweed & Dandelion opened its doors. The only benefactor we ever knew was William J. McGraw. I'm sure he thought he was throwing his money away but he always gave me a chance. My father was ill for about a year before he died and he suffered like a saint. He never worried or fussed about himself. Instead, like a true mensch he would ask about others he knew were suffering. Two of those people have also passed away. They are Hilary's father Henry Simmons Romaine and Charles Walker. I like to think the fathers of my dearest friends are sharing stories and cocktails as I write this. Great men never die. They pass on their strengths, hopes and dreams for us to honor, cherish and fulfill.

Endeavor to persevere
We truly are the "little shop around the corner" except the corner is a street called "Abbot Kinney" and "the man" doesn't seem to be swallowing us up yet. As a matter of fact we are after "the man". We are chasing the dream and catching rainbows.