pixie dust & star murrini

[HappilyEverArtist]

Hi Everyone! :waving:
can anyone tell me how to use pixie dust?? i have had a few goes but im not sure its working right for me!!!:-? So i would love some guidence!
Also does anyone know how to make the star murrini/ star burst pieces?? :-s thats something i've wanted to know for a while too!!!
hope to hear from you soon,
Thanks, Sally.

[PixieFireBeads]

Arrow Springs has a good tutorial on pixie dust. Here's a link: http://www.arrowsprings.com/html/using_pixie_dust.html

[Emily]

Here's a tip for pixie dust -- get the surface of your bead hot (ideally, you'd shape the bead and let it cool a little so it won't deform, then give just the surface a quick turn in the flame to get it hot), then roll it in a heap of the pixie dust, then (here's the tip) roll the bead quickly on a damp cloth or paper towel to take off the excess pixie dust before you put the bead back in the flame. If you're using a paper towel, make sure it stays damp. If it starts to get dry, it might catch on fire. (Please don't ask me how I know this.)

Don't try to put it on too thick, and don't try to melt it in to the glass if you've got it on thick. It can get icky, and I have the beads to prove it. It's powdered mica, and it's just not going to melt. It's not like frits or enamels, which are glass.

Pixie dust won't give you a bright metallic, just a subtle sheen. Some of it will likely rub off when the bead is cool, but some should stay.

If you're using Pearl-Ex or one of the non-Pixie Dust brand names, be aware that some colors do burn out in the flame. I don't know if anybody's compiled a list of which ones work or not, and there may not be general agreement. I had best luck with the metal colors of Pearl-Ex (like golds, bronzes, and so forth), but had some turquoisey blues (can't recall the name) burn out and go blah on me.

Pixie dust separates when you encase it. It's a different effect. Some people like it, and some don't. The pixie dust also can make it hard to get encasing glass to stick.

Not sure exactly what you mean by the starburst/star murrine. If you mean the ones that look just like five point stars, like Bernadette Fuentes uses in her beads, they're done with an optic mold. Can you link to a picture of what you mean?

[HappilyEverArtist]

Hi guys, thanks for the info!!, most of the time my pixie dust just burns or comes off the bead when it cools!! , so i think that info should help alot!!,
Emily i'll have a good look for a photo link, im not after the burnadette type ones, the ones i mean look like barnicales on rocks, usually brown & white with the centre poked in slightly, the are often on seascape beeds i have seen & thats what i'd like to use them for,,,, i think theres a glass artist from here in Australia on ebay called nelliemaelampwork that uses them to decorate her beads too.
Thanks, sally.

[HappilyEverArtist]

i just noticed they were used in the first pictures for the ocean swirl beads tutorial too!!!,its probebly obvious how its done, im just not putting 2 & 2 together!!! hope you can help!!!
Sal.

[PixieFireBeads]

Is this what you mean...

http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24672

[HappilyEverArtist]

Thats It!!!!!, awesome !!! now i feel silly for not figuring it out though, as i do make twists,,, it just wasn't clicking with me!!, thanks a billon!
Sal.

[Heather/Ericaceae]

This chart is really handy as well:

http://www.listen-up.org/kitty/beads/pearl/charts.htm

[lvsglass]

I love the chart Heather! Thanks for sharing.
Jolene