I have been trying to track down a supplier for pixie dust for a while now without success - could anyone point me in the right direction please?
I bought mine from frantz...
yep, frantz still has some...
I think I'm right in thinking that pixie dust is just mica? I have successfully used Mica supplies in my fusing from soap making supply companies eg. http://www.soapbasics.co.uk/
However - a note of caution, mica ends up everywhere if you don't clean all your tools and the kiln afterwards ::)
I found this useful link showing the colours on wet canvas as well http://www.listen-up.org/kitty/beads/pearl/charts.htm
You can get some from Decorative Glass Supplies, Bradford www.decorativeglasshop.co.uk (http://www.decorativeglasshop.co.uk) their website is rubbish but give them a call as they're really friendly.
They are my local stained glass suppliers and I have been going to them for the last 16 years since I was a teenager!
I've not given it a go yet but I'll wait and have a go in the New Year
Jessie ;)
I bought some from the US a while ago to mess around with and have never really got round to using it much. If you just want a play with some, send me a message & I'll stick a bit in the post for you.
Yup cosmetic mica will do the trick - its what I have used :D theres usually some floating around on eBay or try some soap making places.
I should get my mica out again sometime, i keep forgetting about it!
Oooh, another new toy ... so how is it best used please guys?
usually best on a black or white base bead... make your bead then just roll it in the mica/pixie dust but try not to put too much heat on it - it dont like it!
Thanks for all this info Claire, you're fab :) :)
Is it sparkley?
Has anyone got any pics of beads with pixie dust?
it gives it a pearlescent effect
I tried to encase it, but it just ended up as a blob inside!
I made stringers of it... Mixed it to clear glass and pulled, but I don't think i had enough pixie dust in it. ::) Those stringers had a few sparkles here and there..
It doesnt really like going anywhere near heat, so if you can make putting the pixie dust on the last thing you do thats the best thing.
As for stringers apprently you make a "paddle" on the end of your rod, make it a bit "spoony" add a load of pixie dust to the spoon then foldover the paddle glass on top of the dust until sealed. You heat the glassy package then pull into stringer I have never tried it though!
I made two punties, dipped them in the pixie dust and melted them together. Then mixed the blob thoroughly by twisting it.
I got micra Metallic from creative glass in Gillingham in Kent, (same as pixie dust)
Go's every where and if you, use vermiculite it contaminates it and puts dust over every bead in the future!! so use a separate container.
I dip bead in micra, as it cools just out of the flame and brush very quickly under the flame then put in for annealing, as soon as out of kiln I wash off loose bits.
Wear a mask as it is soooooooooooooooo fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I also got Bubble for fusing from them, no good on the torch but great effects for fusing.
Dianne
plowdens also sell it in lots of colours ;D my beads in the sparkle thread have it on them, i love the stuff.
Quote from: Dizzy Di on December 18, 2007, 10:49:39 PM
I also got Bubble for fusing from them, no good on the torch but great effects for fusing.
Dianne
Bubble????? ???
Bubble is fine like pixie dust and when placed between 2 sheets of glass in fusing causes a bubble effect the more bubble you put on the larger the bubble, I mix with enamels and pixie dust for effects for fused pendants.
Dianne
Plowden and Thompson have it. www.plowden-thompson.com 01384 393398 Pixie dust sparkle encases well, pixie dust highlights is better on the outside of a bead. Heat just enough to get it to stick. I love pixie dust highlight blue.
Di