Zoë MacDonald is E-Commerce and Social Media Manager at Canada’s
largest manufacturer and wholesale distributor of quality sewing, quilting, and
knitting supplies. Crafty lady and recent quilting convert, she is keen to share
her love for the latest in notions.
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I hadn’t thought much about how a light could affect or enhance my
sewing experience... until I met Stella. (Okay, technically: the Stella
Lighting LED Task Lamp.)
Whatever light happened to be shining near my machine (or couch, if
I’m hand stitching) was good enough for me. This often resulted in moments of
frustration where my screen-tired and sensitive eyes encouraged my hands to
guess where my stitches were headed.
Enter, this life-changing craft light!
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When we’re having difficulty seeing properly for any number
of reasons, our instinct is to use brighter and brighter wattage, hoping that
turning up the light will enhance our ability to see more clearly.
Paradoxically, as aging/tired/sensitive eyes sometimes fail us, they can also
become more sensitive to bright light, making it even harder to see properly
and making our eyes even more tired and sensitive.
What we really need,
is better light.
What makes light “better” depends on your own eyes, personal
preference and what you’re looking at. Much of this relates to the tone of the
light, which brings me to…
True colours & contrast
The Stella light has three light tones, each have five
levels of brightness: Natural (daylight), Cool (moonlight), and Warm tones
(“indoor” light).
cool
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natural
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warm
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Natural:
It’s pretty much undisputed that no one is better than
Mother Nature at giving us the kind of light we like the most. So, it’s no
surprise then that the “Natural” light setting is by far my favourite. This
setting allows you to bring a ray of sunshine into your sewing room or craft
corner. This is especially key if you are working in a basement, at night, or
essentially any environment that doesn’t have the light of a perfect cloudless
day outdoors.
Mostly though, the natural setting will show you the “true
colour” of your fabric and threads, making it easier to discern the difference
between very similar shades and empowering you to make the very best choices.
After all, choosing
matching fabrics in an ill-lit area is like getting dressed in the dark: Not
advised!
Bonus: It’s not official, but there is reason to believe
that exposure to “daylight” is beneficial to your mental health. So even if
you’re not a stickler for colour precision, you might want to shine this light
anyway.
Warm & Cool:
Alternating between warm and cool colours works well for the
purpose of finding the best tone for seeing contrast; whether it’s one or the
other will depend on the colours and textures you’re working with.
This is truly
necessary when you’re dealing with black on black or white on white.
Aside from that, some eyes simply prefer working under the
light of these tones.
cool
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natural
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warm
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Solid, flexible, reliable.
In moments of inspiration and creativity, I’m known to
flail. For that reason, it comforts me to know that the Stella light has a
solid base and is not easily tipped over. Because its flexible neck can easily
point to the precise area that you need light, (and it generates NO heat) you
can rely on the Stella light to provide sunny support no matter what you’re
doing or how tangled your fingers/fabrics/projects are.
Move the light to
shine on your work, instead of manipulating your work to sit under the light.
Bonus: As a convenience feature, the light will remember
your most recent tone & brightness setting when you turn it off and on,
which saves time when you’re returning to the same project.
The only light you will ever need.
Stella is low maintenance, with no bulbs to change (thanks
to LED Technology), and a lifespan of over 50,000 hours. (That’s a long time.
Even with frequent use - like having Stella on for 12 hours a day, every day,
for 11 years - the light will still function with 70% of the original output)
My only complaint is that my
dimly lit corner doesn’t quite cut it anymore, now that I’ve seen the light.
For a Stella Light of your own, visit your local Canadian
quilt retailer.
For more inspiration and product education, follow H.A. Kidd and Company Limited on Facebook.
I can't seem to get into the CQA web site. I wanted to check to see if there were any quilt shows in my neighbourhood this weekend.
ReplyDeleteOhhh STellllllla, where have you been....HI Zoe...cute as a button you are...great post....
ReplyDeleteand yes there is something about a great light that really does make our task easier...x