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Monday, February 13, 2012

Which Ikea Lamp?

Must be an IKEA thinking kind of day. I got a message from MaryAnn G asking which lamps I use for my sewing machines and I am happy to oblige with the info!

She writes:

Bonnie,

I am really enjoying Orca Bay--my first mystery. I work at it when I can, and am enjoying the process even though the mystery has been solved!

I was wondering what little Ikea lamp you have used/seen. I am heading near an Ikea store at the end of the week, and would like to check them out.

My Virginia Bound and Star struck quilts are living at my sister, Teri's, until she has time to quilt them for me. Soon I hope to have lots of "Bonnie" at my house.

Everytime I visit Shipshewana, I remember what fun we had the afternoon after the Camp Mack retreat.

MaryAnn from Cincinnati.

She didn’t have to remind me who she was – I already knew! We met up in Shipshe a couple years ago ((Could it be that long already?!)) and scrounged through the bulk foods grocery together, dug through the boat in the basement at Lolly’s together, had lunch and an all around great day. Who could forget?!

I stopped at the IKEA just south of Washington DC heading home on my way down I-95 on Tuesday and picked up a couple more lamps myself. There is a nice big IKEA right off the interstate at Potomac Mills in Woodbridge.

ikea 001

THIS is what you are looking for in the lighting/lamp section on the bottom floor at Ikea. This is the one with the heavy round circular base – price? About $10.00 And it is much brighter than those little bright bendy lights you have to attach to your machine with sticky hooks.

VeniceFL2012 143_thumb[3]

Here I am sewing using this lamp ((Had to get the pink one, dontcha know?! And as a Minnesota born girl, I just had to ADD that DONTCHA to the dictionary! LOL!)) It’s got GREAT light that shines way out in front of the needle….love that long bendable neck on it.

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It packed easily in my bag and came with me up to PA and MD this last trip too! ((It’s OFF in this pic though.))

ikea 002

It comes in a clippy version too. ((Yep, just added the word CLIPPY to dictionary too! :cD )) So far I’ve only used one of these on my longarm machine, clipped to the handle….when doing things like using white thread on white fabric, or black thread on black fabric, the best way to see what you are doing is to SIDE LIGHT the area you are working on. Side lighting with this lamp is AWESOME. The light bulbs do NOT get hot….they are nice and bright. Here’s the pic of a white one clipped to the long arm handle:

ikea 003

Price for the Clippy Version? About $14.00 or so. Nearly broke the bank there --- could buy about 4 of these for the price of ONE of those bendable bright lights that have to stick to your machine.

And Ikea must really be on the brain for more than just myself and MaryAnn! Look at the message I got today:

jasonchat1

Jason and Kim want to meet up at Ikea TOMORROW! Spending part of Valentine’s with my son and his sweetheart? Priceless – I’ll be there with bells on. I wonder what I will find to come home with me? Maybe this time I’ll actually TRY the Swedish Meatballs in the cafeteria. ((Hey, I’m a cheap date!))

PS--if you go, don't forget THIS! It's milk chocolate with crunched up butterscotch pieces in it...HOLY. MOLY!!

33 comments:

  1. Ikea is a lot of fun. I usually manage to bring home something. and the meatballs aren't half bad.

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  2. I am going to have to take a road trip to Ikea! I think the closest one to me is in Minnesota, but I'll be up for a road trip when the snow stops flying!

    Thanks for sharing the pictures.....and you sure can't beat the price.

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    1. What part of Iowa? I am in the far southwest and no IKEA here. :0(

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  3. I can't imagine sewing without my IKEA lamp! How did I see before? I'm with you, Bonnie - they are great!

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  4. Love the Ikea lamps. Have a black floor model like your pink one.

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  5. I love Ikea. My DH and I just went a few weeks ago and I bought that exact lamp because he thought it would give me the best light. He was right, I love it! Try the meatballs, we always have them I treated DH this time. He's a cheap date also.

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  6. Bonnie, that is too funny about the lamp @ IKEA. I saw it on your website and of course we don't have an IDEA anywhere near where I live, so my cousin in Phoenix is going to get me one and mail it to me! She said the only color they had was black and I told her it didn't matter what color. I bought a Singer Spartan similar to yours and of course it doesn't have a light on it.

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  7. I have to have a mission when I go to our Ikea or I find myself burning half a day and bringing home things I didn't even know I needed!! Ha Ha The meatballs aren't bad either.

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    1. The kitchen pots & pans section always draws me in -- there have to be a ton of gadgets I want in there!

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  8. Anonymous2:40 PM EST

    Wish we had IKEA in Alaska! I used to shop at the one in Potomac Mills when my kids were babies....a mere 23 years ago!!!!!! I still have their Hippo-potty-mus. A darling little plastic potty chair that crossed the country with us!!!!! I think they cost a whopping $4.00 back then!!! Thanks for the "blast" from the past. Hadn't thought about that store in ages. Ok- back to Rectangle Wrangle. It is #1 on the UFO list!!!!
    Joy in AK

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  9. The nearest Ikea is 4+ hours from here. I googled those lamps/lights and see that Amazon.com sells them. For more than what Ikea sells them for ... but with the cost of gas and my time to drive 8+ hours (round trip) to the nearest Ikea, I think I'll order one or two (the clamp style to clamp on my sewing/cutting table). My sewing room is a north-facing room, and even with a large window, I need more lighting to see/sew/cut well (I could blame the age of my eyes, but I prefer to blame my sewing room's northern exposure - ha!).

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  10. Love the pink one -- looks lots more friendly than what I found at Target (we don't have an IKEA around here). But what to do when it's time to machine quilt? Do I have to get one of those sticky ones? Yuck. I've resigned myself to quilting only in the morning when I have lots of sunlight.

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  11. Need to add an Ikea run to the list of things to do on the next Atlanta roadtrip....

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  12. Bummer...I found Ikea online but they do not have the lamps for sale on line. The nearest store is 140 miles north to Canton MI. Bummer...
    Anyway glad to see you working away!
    XOXOXO Subee

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  13. I didn't realize how lucky I am! I have an Ikea about 30 minutes from me! It has become my home away from home now that I'm re-organizing my sewing area. Will definitely check out this little lamp next time.

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  14. hmm, will be close to an ikea soon, wonder if those are available in Canada, I like the fact that you can put it out of the way but bend the light where you need it.

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  15. I see I need to make a trip to my local Ikea. That lamp looks like it would really help and you can't beat the price. The Ikea meatballs are so good they've become a part of our traditional Christmas dinner especially since our daughter doesn't like turkey and stuffing. They're a tasty quick meal any time of year.

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  16. I use the same lamp (in stainless, tho!) and L.O.V.E. it! It goes with me anywhere my machine or hand work goes! Couldn't imagine not using it! Funny, too - because my mom gave it to me, and it sat in the box on the counter for MONTHS before I finally opened it up! What was I thinking!

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  17. Have written this info on a card & put with the IKEA gift vouchers I got for Xmas!! would be interested in the floor model a commenter mentioned as mine gets so hot & when its hot here already it's not good....

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  18. DH has wanted to go the IKEA that opened a year or two ago. It is just under 2 hours away. I have not been eager, but now I am!

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  19. Wonder ifthese are better than the OTT lights? Anyone know?

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  20. I have one of these Ikea lights and it is fantastic. I told my sister about it and she went to her local Ikea in Paris France and bought one. I gets the light right where you need it by the needle.

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  21. I think I will have to make an IKEA run. The one closest to me is only about 15 minutes away. The only problem is that I wander about for hours in that place just looking at everything. I have no focus in that place. LOL

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  22. Those lamps are great - I have two at my sewingtable and I plan to buy a couple of the clip-ons, as they are great light when you embroider.
    And Ikea is just around the corner - lucky me!

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  23. For those that have this light - can you tell me what kind of bulb it is - does it come with one - and can you replace the bulb? Thanks in advance....if so - i might need to get to an Ikea soon.

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  24. Isis has the same lamp in pink LOL

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  25. I've had IKEA mail me things already. Just call the store nearest you and you can do a mail order

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  26. Anonymous8:32 AM EST

    We are getting one in Kansas City. I am soooo excited. Shopped for a lot of years at the one in Potomac Mills.

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  27. Anonymous12:36 PM EST

    For those quilters that do not have an Ikea close, Lowes also carries a clip on light that I use. Just FYI!

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  28. HI, the Ikea in DC is about 5 miles from my sisters house. funny, Vicki Mc in Orangeburg.

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  29. I have 3 of these lights for use of my sewing table, they are great. You can buy from Ikea online http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20169658/#/90214233 but only black or white coloured ones girls ... sorry. Apologies for my English spelling I am from England! I went yesterday to Ikea with my mum and a friend. We had to strategically pack the car for the journey home. PS the lights are extremely bendable great light for detail work.

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  30. Love the Jansjo lamps and have bought several since I first heard you recommend them. Went with friends to buy more recently, and they are discontinued!! Have you found a good substitute?

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  31. Now Jansjo lamps are USB lamps, the one that looks closest to what Bonnie is using is the Navlinge, currently $16.99.

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