I mix one-third of a cup of linseed oil with two-thirds of a cup of mineral spirits. I invite Tina to help with this part because it’s pure magic, and no one feels the magic like she does. We brush the oil mix onto the walnut wood, which up till now is a dusty brownish grey color. Boom! The wood turns a moist, deep brown. The grain, cells, and rays pop. Swirls of wood around knots ripple with luster.
I spent all of winter break building these bedside tables. Few things help me feel more centered, more grounded than working with wood. From drawing up the plans, to kicking up dust, I’m in a give-and-take with nature. I work with the grain as much as possible. There are frustrations, when 1/64 of an inch feels like a foot, and lovely moments when things come together perfectly.
But the moment with the most satisfaction is this one. The moment when the oil is applied, and all the characteristics of the wood–dead since the moment the tree hit the earth–come back to life.
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