Hey Slayer,

Normally if you are going to do the "GrainPop" you'd start with that as a light stain or ink wash, then rub it back while its still damp/wet prior to applying your colours.

With the binding, it usually pays to polish the binding before colour (Up to 1200-1500 grit) and masking it off. Stains have a wonderfull ability to find any flaws or cracks in the binding surface and adhering to that like Brown stuff to a blanket. You can sand back, or you can use a cabinet scraper or similar to scrap the bulk of the stain off, but if there are surface cracks in the binding, the stain will stay there.

Looking at how your grain has come up though I'd say that unless you really wanted to get a "Tiger Stripe" effect, that yours is coming up pretty sweet as is man. Nice job!

Edit: and while I was typing Zandit got there first!! So, what he said!