The Magic of Glass

By Rae Grout

My husband, Bill Grout, a former avionics technician, started working with glass in Montana in 1993. In 2002, Bill introduced me to the wonderful world of creating beautiful things by forging silica glass rods into pieces of art. Our glass company is Aspen Hot Glass. Bill and I produce unique, handcrafted glass art and Steampunk designs. We both left our scientific careers behind to follow our passion.

This book shares my opinions and lessons learned from working with glass. My first lesson began when I was about ten years old, after I threw a glass bottle into a campfire. The next day, I retrieved it and burned myself as it broke. I learned that glass retains heat for a long time and must be cooled properly to prevent breaking.
Kids don't do this at home or while camping.
About Rae Grout, Engineer, Storyteller, & Steampunk Builder:

Hi, I'm a glass artist, engineer, storyteller, and Steampunk builder.
My journey began in 1979 in Bozeman, Montana, as a lab tech in the printed circuit board industry at Summit Engineering. One day, as I was working in the lab, my boss walked in and asked a question that changed my life:
"How would you like to go to college and major in Chemical Engineering?" I was part of their "Baby Engineer" program. I had to maintain a 40-hour work schedule and a 3.5 grade average, and Summit Engineering covered my books and tuition at Montana State University, allowing me to study Chemical Engineering.

That one moment sparked a lifelong fusion of science and art.

I married a Mechanical Engineer, had a son, and moved to Seattle. I continued my education in computer science and statistical analysis, then ventured into the world of creating art, striking a balance between the analytical and creative aspects of these fields.

I worked as a Process Engineer and Quality Assurance Manager in high-tech avionics for years. But when life shifted in 1997, I returned to Montana to raise my son closer to family. I explored electrical engineering, lasers, optics, and web design. I even beta-tested for Adobe (and still love their tools).

Then came the unexpected spark that changed everything again, igniting a new path in my life.

In 2002, I met Bill Grout, a glassblower living on a small farm in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana. I fell in love with him, the art of blowing glass, and the valley's magic. This discovery led me to leave the corporate world a year later and begin a new chapter as a full-time artist, a decision that has brought me immense joy and fulfillment. In 2004, Bill and I bought The Lord of the Rings wedding rings, inspired by our first date movie, and eloped.

Today, I create whimsical fantasy, dragon-inspired designs, and a splash of Steampunk flair.

In 2016, I published my first illustrated book, Sea Beavers & Rattle Slugs, a whimsical, heartfelt collection inspired by my son and our adventures.

Then, another life-changing event, my son gifted me with grandchildren. This led to reading many children's books, and I decided to write my own, combining fun stories with my whimsical art in hopes of creating something enjoyable for both the reader and the one being read to. It was just the beginning. My series, The Punk Shop Dragon, celebrates life's strange, silly, and soulful stories through artwork, poetry, and humor.

Every experience, from laser work to glassblowing and engineering to storytelling, has been a unique and enriching journey that has brought me to where I am today.
I am deeply grateful for these experiences and the invaluable lessons they have taught me.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FQ44VY66
• ISBN13: 9798263808365
• Release Date: September 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 28 Pages
• Weight: 0.13 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 5.5" x 8.5"