So when I got my own place in April, two things happened. 1) I had to buy some new furniture, and 2) I came into a lot of free time that I wanted nothing to do with. I needed a project to stay occupied and out of my own head.

So here I was, showing a picture of my new basement room and paint job to a friend at work.

Me: “I think I’m going to buy a headboard.”
Friend: “Why don’t you build one?”
Me: “That could be fun, but I don’t know shit about woodworking.”
Friend: “Then figure it out. It’s not that hard.”

My friend happens to be a master wood worker. He does it as a hobby, but he could match or exceed his current salary making and selling shit he makes. So at his suggestion, I went to the internet to find a headboard style I liked and he’d help get me started.

I signed up for Pintrest and I wasn’t impressed. In fact, I was Pindisinterested in everything I saw until I found this.

This design excited me. It’s stunning, is it not? So a big shout out to the beautiful and talented Sheri of Hazel+Gold Designs for having a way better blog than I do and for posting her guide to building this headboard. And while you’re checking out her blog, give her Facebook page a like as well.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I REALLY don’t know shit about woodworking. Even still, I can build this, right? Me, the guy whose only experience with wood is when [REDACTED]. The design is perfect, the guide was great, but the more I looked at it, the more I felt it needed something... more. Already I was looking for a way to over complicate this project which is basically the story of my life. In fact, if you look up overengineer in the dictionary you’d see that, 1) it’s a verb and, 2) it means “to make something more complicated than necessary. And while you’re looking that up, I want you to think of me because my picture isn't in there. Webster said it was too racy.

So here we go. My first woodworking project ever and in my head I've already gone way off script. I never even made a birdhouse as a kid so this is gonna be interesting.

And here we have it. This post is the first part in my project series. Check back next week to see how badly I fuck this up… or Don’t. I guess you'll find out next week.

Note: Photos of the Hazel+Gold Designs headboard are owned by Hazel+Gold Designs and have been used here with permission from the owner.

Also, special thanks to K-Liss for the custom artwork in the featured image up top. Check out his work on Facebook and also his webpage! This guy has some good stuff.