Hi Guys,
WS2812's are normal RGB leds but with one major difference - each LED has an on board chip which will control each lead individually and once you remove the data line - will maintain the setting.
They work basically but clocking bits to the bus that sets the LED's to the desired output.
AdaFruit make the neoPixel and also have a library that you may want to look at, although fastLED is the deFacto go to library (according to the industry).
I have ordered a neoPixel and will give this a go - to try and find a solution - EISH !! - here go my week-ends again.