Charlie Whinney, the UK's leading expert on steam-bending, shares the secrets of his unique and seemingly magical craft! 16 steam-bent projects for coat hangers, trivets, chairs, lampshades, and more Practical introduction to the craft of bending wood with steam Step-by-step instructions and inspiring photography Learn how to make wood behave in remarkable ways with just a little heat and steam Although author Charlie Whinney's gallery of creations might seem impossible, you'll soon discover that wood can be made to behave in remarkable ways with the application of a little heat and steam. An award-winning product designer, Whinney has spent his career combining his architectural knowledge with his knack for 3D design. He now commissions his art through the Charlie Whinney Design Studio in the UK where he creates practical pieces such as furniture and lighting, as well as fine art that is seen in galleries and other spaces. Steam-bending is an ancient woodworking process, most traditionally used in boat building and barrel making. But for Whinney it's a mystical practice that produces astonishing works of art. "When you bend a hot piece of wood, it is briefly reanimated into a living thing, and you can see and feel aspects of the wood which are not perceptible until that moment," Whinney says. "There is a sort of conversation going on between you and the ghost of the tree and you must respond, or risk losing the piece you are working on." Whinney's beautifully compiled book was created to demystify the art of steam-bending. Inside Wood & Steam, Charlie guides you through best practices for the ecological sourcing of wood for your projects (an increasingly growing concern for wood artists) and then, with practical instructions, reveals how to create 16 steam-bent masterpieces for both beginner and advanced artisans. Form a wooden coat hanger in the embers of a campfire, create perfectly round wooden hoops using just a saucepan and a mug, or use the steam from a kettle to shape a beautiful fruit bowl!