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If you are like me, the more light the better. I tend to drag my bear mess to the kitchen because it has the best lighting. I got an Ott-Lite for Christmas which I love. But my overhead lighting stunk. My husband was even considering re-vamping the fixtures for me in the den, which is where I work. Today I invested in Globe Ener-Saver bulbs (60 watt bulbs that use 13 watts energy), which act like fluorescent lighting but warm light. I put four 60 watt bulbs in my overhead light. Holy cow! I could not believe how bright it was. It was a very good $10 investment. They also guarantee them to stay lit for five years.
Dolls N DreamsSounds good! I have to have a lot of bright lights to sew at night! I will have to check those bulbs out!
Flying Fur StudiosI work on a desk that is pretty high, and attached to the side is a lamp with a long bendy arm. It was like $10 at walmart. What I like about it, is I can move it anywhere and at any angle I like. So if I need some real good lighting so something hard to see, I can bring the lamp inches away from my work.
That's my super cheapo method anyway....... :hug:
Little Bear GuyHi Jennifer,
We do a lot of hand sewing (usually one of us on the couch and one of us on the loveseat). We each have a floor lamp that is pointed down onto us. We went out and bought these natural nights I think they are called, they are spiralled in shape. I have one 100 watt bulb but it only uses like 15-20 watts and is suppose to burn for 10,000 thousand hours. I could not believe how great they work, Steve does a lot of crocheting and with the old lamp he had a really hard time doing it at night or if he did after a short time his eyes would start to bother him. I think we paid about 10.00 for 2 of them and they are the best investment. They give off a great light but they do not cause any eyestrain at all, we can work for hours and hours without our eyes getting tired or sore.
big hugs
Shane
Lisa you are TOO funny!!!
Like Shane, I also use those spiral tube bulbs. I have one right next to me in the family room - by my chair... for when I'm there in the evening with the family.
I have 2 of them in my office/workroom too. I put them inside those alluminum clamp on lights and clamped them right onto my desk/work station. I'll have to take a photo later if I remember. It may not look the prettiest (those alluminum reflectors) but they were only $5 each at Walmart and with those bulbs in there... the lighting is fantastic!
I was very fortunate as when we built this house, I was able to pick out my sewing room. It was supposed to be a Pantry but had a big window which I thought was stupid. All that sunshine coming in was sure to melt my stash of chocolate chips so I moved the pantry and claimed it for myself (he.he.he.). My machine is right in front of the big picture window. I also have one of those "OTT lights" for extra lighting at night and a couple others as I love lots and lots of light when I sew and look through my fabric "stash."
muahahaha good to see you have your priorities straight there Lisa! Looking after your cookies *and* your bears- very important! 
I have daylight flourescent (sp?) over my workbench and an OTT light for really tricky night work- always surprises me how dull it seems to be when I switch it off after using it for a bit... like coming indoors on a bright sunny day.
Jellybelly BearsOhhh I love my daylight light too!!! and its great for photography 
I know. Those lights are wonderful. I bought one for my mom for her birthday and my dad stole it so he could work on his crossword puzzles. Then, I had to turn around and buy another one for my mom on his birthday a week later so she could sew. So, what I'm really trying to say is that they're greeeaaaattttt!!!
oh well at least you didn't have to figure out what to buy Dad for his birthday
Mutz's Tootsz Bears & BudsHi All,
I bought an "imitation" Ott light at our logal Big Lots store. Only $39.99 for a floor standing model. Works great for my work area.
Amy
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)
I bought 2 of those lights that Daphne pointed out on eBay. They arrived after this session so they're not in the pix.
I use the wrong side of Denim fabric (wonderful shades!) for my backdrops.
Ott light overhead and two lamps on each side. These will move towards the back of the subject and the 2 new ones will be in these positions. I'll vary the heigths to highlight different parts.
The new little Cascio is just smaller than a deck of cards; here it's on the tripod our large Olympus digi uses, just to signify its place in the whole scheme. I've found this one works better to be hand-held though.
I've got everything set up in easy reach - grooming tools, all of the bears I want to take in that session, all props.
The 5 bears here took about 20 minutes and I had about 60 exposures made. It was done on the dining room table at night so everything looks a little harsh, but the images to the side over there on the left are the results of this shoot.
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)Well as you can see I still haven't mastered uploading multiple images in a single post...
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)
...or sometimes they're missing altogether! Hence this third post.
Hey Bobbie, that looks like our setup when we shoot photos. I am always nervous one of my kids are going to walk by and snag one of the light cords!
My son bounced his Hulk ball in the kitchen once and it barely touched my husbands camera (he set it down for like one minute - it was my sons birthday and we were snapping pictures) but it was enough to send it to the tile floor, smashing a three week old $1500 camera. Ouch! We spent $400 fixing it. Kids.
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)OUCH!!!
I've done that myself before I had proper tripods :o(
In one of the images there's an extra multiple plug. All three cords plug into one heavy extention cord qdown under the table.
I set a chair over that cord between the table and the wall to remind myself not to walk that way round.
