Which pixie dust?

[Pixiedebs]

Hi Everyone,

Those of you who use Pixie Dust could you recommend your favorites?  I need one that glittery for encasement and one that adds a shiney sheen on the outside (no doubt my finger will slip whilst ordering and I'll order more than two).

Thanks in advance
Debs xxx

[Pixiedebs]

Sorry to keep on but has anyone got any fave's

Dx

[Chameleon]

I have no idea what the actual colours are but the one i use for the outside of things is one of the highlight ones if that helps

[poledra1958]

Princess Pink (Shahlaa) is the queen of pixie dust so when she gets back of holiday you will probably get an answer from her.

Jenny

[flaming beads]

I've got a gold sparkly one and a pearl one...got them from Frantz i think?

[Kalorlo]

There used to be a colour chart at http://www.listen-up.org/kitty/beads/pearl/charts.htm showing which ones work and what they look like, but it doesn't seem to be working at the moment. Sorry!

I think silver and pearl are supposed to work pretty well?

[Trudi]

I wouldn't swear to this, but I beleive the highlight ones are great for surface decoration, they seem to burn out when encased as they don't take the heat too well.

I'm not sure if the glitter ones are better for encasing!??? 

[Pixiedebs]

Thanks everyone 

Dxx

[Mand]

Princess Pink (Shahlaa) is the queen of pixie dust so when she gets back of holiday you will probably get an answer from her.

Jenny

She is and she's back! 

[princess pink]

LOL!!! yes I am back!!

Ok all pixie dust are suitable for coating your bead in. The ones that are the highlight powders seems to leave the base colour showing more with an iridescence and the other ones can dramatically change your glass's appearance. e.g. old gold powder turned rubino a gorgeous bronze colour!

Encasing wise I've not have too much luck, but I've also not spent to much time worrying about it either. I believe the sparkle ones are best for a bit of glitz under encasement but bev (pegasus) would be the expert here. I prefer dichro myself!

Lotsa love

Shahlaa x

[June]

Shahlaa, do you find that the bronze colour tends to wipe off once cooled?  The highlight ones seem ok, but I put some bronze on a trans amber base and after batch annealing I could still wipe a lot of it off and I wouldn't want to sell a bead like that 

Debs, as per pm, you can get them from Warm Glass - http://www.warm-glass.co.uk/Shop/CategoryProducts.aspx?CategoryId=114 and if you haven't ordered from them before, your first order they will ship free 

[princess pink]

I always put the bead back in the flame after I've dipped in powder. This way it sticks without melting in. I usually warm it to just before glowing. Never get the stuff off after that. Give that a try. Saying that, with some if the sparkle colours it can be a tad more difficult.

[AnnaSpanna]

Ive got some of the highlight colours, and also a pearl one. I have had most success with highlights but they are not necessarily my favourite! I agree with Shahlaa ref the encasing - but accidentally I have managed to get a sparkle out of encased glitter dust - but then the rest of the bead goes a dreadful sludgy version of what it should have been! The dust will only stick to molten glass and as such won't stick to itself per se. When I put any pixie dust back into the flame and attempt to get the bead molten then it simply burns off and again makes the underlying bead somewhat sludgy.  I agree too that Bev (pegasus) is a demon with pixie dust too - check out her pics for some inspiration.

[June]

I did put the bronze mica back into the flame - and not just briefly either, I did heat it fairly well - but I can still wipe a lot of it off.  I also flash the highlight powder back in the flame, but as mentioned, this is ok.  Looking on LE I found a couple of threads suggesting wiping it onto damp paper towels or a sponge to take off the residue, but I haven't tried this yet.  Stick to the highlight ones, I think!

[Redkite]

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between the "highlight", "glitter" and "sparkle" types of pixie dust?

I love the irridescent effect on the outside of beads, but I also like the idea of a pearly sheen inside the glass - would I be better with dichro or can that be done with pixie dust?