I have a roll around dazor light and I have a under the cabinet florescent light attached under a shelf just behind my machine, and under a cabinet over sewing room counter. I get daylight bulbs. I use 4 - 60W Reveal bulbs in over the dining table - colors look real. I won't use the curly bulbs, they don't give off enough light for anything. I'll let the non-quilters use those. I get presciption strong glasses to use when I need to see something small and got my daily glasses strengthtened and that helped too. I have no line bi-focals. I see just fine now. I also have a ceiling light too. I also have a florsecent light w/2 three foot bulbs over the machine. I am set up real good - in case someone needs the 3rd degree.

My ceiling fan has 3 lights and I have a 3 light floor lamp behind my machine. Plenty of light for me. Both cheap.

I have several Ott lights for sewing, and one by my chair in the living room for when I am doing handwork. You can get on the Ott Light website and sign up for their updates. They showcase new products at sale prices (I got 3 desk lamps for $19.95 each), plus they have sales on various lamps and they always have the bulbs.

My sewing/cutting area are lengthwise together, so I have two 5' double florescent ceiling lights for that area, and a 4' double florescent ceiling light over a comfy love seat for my hand sewing.

Lighting is extremely important. Buy what you can afford. If possible, get an ott light even if it's only a desk type lamp so that you can place your fabric under the light to see the true colors..otherwise you can take the fabric outside in daylight to see the true hues. I have photographed some of my quilts under different lights and was surprised to see the distortion of color. I prefer the daylight bulbs but they are more expensive.

I have overhead lighting and also an ott lite that I use when cutting my fabric. I bought one light in the beginning and as finances allowed bought more. I had slowed down on my sewing as I didnt' realize it was a lighting problem (and my age) Once I "fixed the lighting problem, I have once again enjoyed making quilts.

I have the same problem with the "energy" bulbs. I have 2 Ott lights which help by my machines, but the ceiling lighting stinks when I am cutting fabrics, no windows in my basement studio, so I too need better ceiling lighting. I will get some "spectrum" bulbs and give them a try.

I purchased my floor model Ott light in Canada at Michael's using their 40% off one item coupon.

Last night I bought some Ott bulbs that have a standard base, to try in some small lamps in my sewing room. I don't have any overhead lighting, just two small bedroom lamps on top of bookcases. I put in the new Ott bulbs (equiv 60watt), and left the lamp shades off, and it is a definite improvement. Ott lighting, including bulbs, is 50% off at Joanns this week. The 60watt bulbs are regularly $9.99, and I also bought one 100watt bulb, regularly $14.99. I have old eyes, too, and can't see a thing with the energy saver bulbs.

Ott lights are so expensive. I have a couple of clip on lights with adjustable necks. They work ok, but I never thought of a shop light. I will try that. I too have a window, the only problem is, most of my quilting is done at night.

The Ott light is the best sewing light I found that doesn't cause eye strain and I can see black thread on black fabric using the OTT lamp.

Get rid of the energy saving bulbs. They are ruining your eyesight and the enviroment. (They are hazardous waste when broken.) The few pennies you save aren't worth the god awful light they put out. I use those bulbs for accent lighting that stays on 24/7 but not for lighting a room. I stocked up on regular light bulbs, they are getting rare! DH bought several cases last month.