Murinni headpins
 

Been searching high and low for an explanation on how to make murinni headpins (the ones that are just the murinni....not applied as decoration to a base bead) but have not had any success. Any links or tips you would care to share?

I'm just guessing, but maybe put a small amount of glass on your wire tip, then put the murrini on that and use heat & gravity to slowly melt in in so it spreads on the base?
Do you have a link to a photo?

I didn't know if it was ok to post a photo that isn't mine or that I don't have permission to post....??

That's why I mentioned posting a link to it :D
Is it on a website you can direct us to?

ok, here a couple of links that show the kind of headpins I want to make:

http://www.glassaddictions.com/produ...-jen-cameron-0

http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/...-elements.html

I'm not sure, but to me it looks like a small base of glass, maybe pressed to make a flattened area to attache the murrini, maybe a drop of clear on top then melted down.

thats is pretty much what I had figured, but just want to see if anyone that has experience with this will share some tips...????? Please...with sugar on top??

Those are beautiful! I think Eileen's right for the hearts, but my guess is that the others probably aren't capped with clear.

If you make them on the wire, I would make a hook or small bend in the wire so it stays embedded. And I know that you'd want to use a vise to hold the wire, as it will get hot. Or you could make them on the end of a mandrel and glue the wire in.

if there is no clear on the top, would the murinni just get smeared and distorted?

I've made small thumb tacks on the metal post after I busted the plastic top off with murinni. I heat up the end of the post, while also heating up the murinni holding it with a pair of tweezers. Once the post is glowing, and the murinni is softening, I embed the post into the murinni. Then you heat the murinni up and it expands out nicely. It takes some heat control, they move quick. It gives the effect of the first link you posted. Hope that helps.

yes it does, thanks. I just couldnt figure out if the murinni was placed on a base and if clear was applied to to top of the murinni

Just so you know Norma, both the headpins you showed are capped in clear. You can see it in the side pics.

Here you go - sorry for the crappy picture, just made this quickly at the torch for you:

Pre-warm your murrini chip
Put a small amount of glass at the tip of a wire inserted in a pin vise
Flatten to form a maria
Heat the maria and the murrini chip
Place the chip on the maria
Gently heat and flatten, repeat until the two become one
Reduce (I used silver glass murrini)
Melt a gather of clear and drop on top of the murrini
Gently heat and marver so the clear covers the murrini and the base glass
Add more clear if needed



It helps if your murrini chip is cut thinly and evenly (mine wasn't cut evenly, thus the lines are not of the same length).

I made some almost identical to those in the second link a couple of weeks ago.

Tiny base bead on the end of the wire, then flatten. Apply murrini, tap it flat gently, reduce and encase.

The ones with the bubble in the middle are poked before the clear is added. Those are super cute.

Thanks!! I'll give it a try tomorrow

:) Loving this thread...

I've done it before, but mine weren't so pretty. Thanks for reminding me to play some more.

That sounds like the easiest way. Thanks!