These are the lights my husband put up over my cutting table. I think because the light is coming from several different directions I don't get many shadows.

for the overhead lights, I installed one of the inexpensive dining room lights with 5 or 6 bulbs in a circle and have it hanging at ceiling height - it has clear glass globes, so I have lots of general light in the room - much more than the single bulb fixture that was there before. I also have a floor lamp with two flexible arms on it near my machine so I can get additional light as I need it for the work I'm doing. If I ever sell the place I'll have to change the light back to a "normal" bedroom fixture, but for now, this fixture does what I need.

Ott lights are very good..

I have 2 Ott lights, one with a flexible neck, sits on my table behind my machine and the other is a floor lamp which lights my ironing surface. I also have the overhead ceiling fixture, but that is mainly background general lighting.

I have a central flourescent "shop" light in the middle of the room, and one right over my cutting table. I also have a long-armed OTT lite that shines right over my machine.

The shop lights have changed techology, size and type of bulb, etc., in the last couple of years. No flickers, no hum, don't have to warm up, etc. I'm really very happy with them. Like others have said, not so pretty, but very functional.

Hmmmmm, managed to post twice without even tryin

I can't advise you, but I can tell you that I love the 2-bulb fluorescent shop light hanging above my machine. I, too, require good light to sew by and the shop light does it for me. There are several LED lights on my machine; the manufacturer brags about how good they are and how strategically placed, but I find them to be fairly inadequate.