Pixie dust and enamel questions...

[lusciouslampwork]

I found some teal sparkle pixie dust on the bay and was thinking about ordering. I have some gold dust and tried it, but wasn't happy with the results. I'm also quite interested in playing with enamels, but don't know the first thing about using them, (except for copper enameling projects.) I have questions...When using pixie dust, after rolling bead in it, does it need to be torched in? How much goes on the bead? Can pixie dust be sprinkled on with a sifter? How does one get that special sparkle?? When using enamels, are they just sprinkled onto the bead, and if so, how hot should the bead be? Can I roll my bead in enamel? Or is that just like rolling in frit? Do I then cook the enamel into the bead? Can you please show off your enamel or pixie dust beads!!

Thanks for any help,
Julie (Clueless in Kansas) F

[Solana]

I've posted in several threads about Pixie Dust since I use it a lot. You may want to do a few searches to see if any of those threads will help.

Here's what I do when using pixie dust:

I store all of my pixie dust in small baby food jars. This way, I can keep a lid on the pixie dust when it's not in use, and I can "dunk" the bead into the dust to coat it.

I slowly heat the bead until it's evenly glowing red all over. Be careful not to heat it too much or the pixie dust may mis-shape the bead when "dunking". To dunk: Carefully put the bead into the baby food jar and roll it around in the dust....completely covering it. Make sure NOT to let the hot bead touch the side of the jar. Once the bead is coated, tap the mandrel on the side of the jar to knock of any excess dust, then tease and twirl the bead in the flame until the entire bead is slightly glowing red again. Remove the bead from the flame and pop it into the kiln.

That's what always works for me!

For enamels, you can either roll a hot bead in it like frit, or purchase enamel sifters to sift the color onto a hot bead. You can purchase these sifters from www.ThompsonEnamel.com. You can also use enamels to mix new colors.

Once the enamel is on the bead, heat the entire bead and melt the enamel into the surface. The more you heat the enamel, the smoother it will be come. Eventually it will be smooth with the surface of the bead. If you leave the enamel raised just a little bit, it will resemble the surface of an orange peel.

Be careful when heating enamel, because it can get hot very quick and boil. I usually heat the enamel in the back (cooler) part of the flame to melt it in.

Play around and show us your results! :)

[Shawn T]

Great information Karla and thank you for posting it again.

I just want to add that I like to overcook enamels, if you boil them lightly you will get a very watercolored look with them. I don't play with enamels a lot but they are fun when I am in the mood and get my respirator out.

[melissabeads]

One more quick note.. When you apply the teal pixie dust on medium red it makes a pretty..almost fushia color..

[JanMD]

For images of lovely beads with pixie dust, look for work by Pennsylvania artist Patti Dougherty. As an example, see: http://www.inliquid.com/craft/jewels/dougherty/dougherty_a.shtml

The last image, #8, is a good close-up.

Do a Google search for her name in quotation marks to find more images of her great sea-going beads.

JanMD

[bead-licious]

I have a q too!
Whenever I use pixie dust and my bead has cooled, the dust rubs off onto whatever surface has touched it....is this normal? Not completely as the bead is still stained with color.
I heat the bead after rolling it into the dust and anneal as normal.
Carli

[Solana]

Yes, this is normal. You will always have a little extra, loose pixie dust on a bead after it's been rolled. The bottom of my kiln is all sparkly from the extra dust. :)

Once you clean the beads, the extra dust will be washed off, leaving you with the sparkling bead underneath. :)

[bead-licious]

Thanks Karla,
That makes me feel better!
Carli