One Stained Nightstand

It almost sounds like a mess-up of one-night-stand ;)  Or a really bad (or good??) one-night-stand ;)

Anyhow!  Second coat of stain went on today during preschool.  Ana is SO right when she says it's all in the finishing, for so many things.  She was talking about the Kids Storage Chair (I need to get off my hiney, buy the wood for these and start building...I know at least one kid who is getting a pair of these for Christmas!), but it really applies to anything you build.  I haven't LOVED any piece until I've finished the finishing..I don't expect to super purple puffy heart this nightstand, but I like it a heck of a lot more now ;)

 2 coats of Minwax Walnut Gelstain.  I'll give it another light sanding tonight, vacuum/tack cloth it, then do 2 poly coats in satin this weekend.  One each day, super-light sandings in between.  It should be moved into the house Sunday, and then ready for use Tuesday!

I didn't have any major Finishing Fail happen with this piece.  I used the Walnut tinted wood filler for the nail & screw holes.  On the screw holes you can kind of see the darker circle if you look for it, but it's not a huge deal.  I tried to keep them centered so they'd look like intentional design if they showed ;)

I didn't sand this to a silky-perfection before finishing.  I wanted it to go with the 'reclaimed wood' look of the headboard.  I did a decent sand with 80 grit and called it good.  I wanted some of the hammer bangs and flaws to show through the stain.

Yes yes, horribly untidy garage.