Hi beesneeds! Pure sunlight has a color temperature of about 5000-5500 degrees Kelvin, which is the scale we use to measure color temperatures. It is not very yellowish at all. (Yellowish color temperatures are down around 2000K to 2700K.)

You'll want to look for bulbs with a "natural" or "daylight" label to get the look of sunlight. If the bulbs don't have those words on their labels, find the Lighting Facts label on the side of the box and look for the Light Appearance slider area. That area will tell you the color temperature of the bulbs, so that's where you'd go to look for 5000K.

For the other bright white light bulbs, try looking for ones that say "bright white" or "neutral" on the label. Or, look for ones with a color temperature of about 4000K to 4100K.

In the article I linked to above, there is an image showing side-by-side the differences between color temperatures so you can check it out for yourself and see the difference between daylight and bright white.

I hope this helps! But, if you have any questions, please let me know and I can help.

Some bulbs will show another number, the CRI...Color Rendering Index. You’ll want at least a 90 or more for good color definition. We prefer the warmer white lights throughout the house but my husband couldn’t tell a pair of black slacks from navy in our closet. We swapped out the bulbs for daylight bulbs with a 90+ CRI and you can easily tell those two colors apart. Don’t mix light temps in the same room or it’ll drive you nuts...use what you need for specifics throughout. I can see the light difference in the closet from the bathroom but it’s a separate room so it’s ok.

Thanks so far with the help folks.

I guess maybe some fixture help might be needed after all.. I think I got a pretty good grasp on what I am looking for in the workroom bright and white and color action for actual work.

But what kind of spotlight setup/bulb action would I want to have to have a "Sunbeam" in my workroom? I often pick out my beads and fabrics in full sunlight- through the shop window, if I can take it outside and hold it up...

On dismal winter days when my biggish north facing window isn't enough sun and I'm holed up in my workroom I need a sunbeam...

Since you're looking for a sunbeam, you might want to look at fixtures that would use a PAR bulb. PAR bulbs look like this:

They create a very directional beam of light (they're often used in theatrical lighting, such as spotlights, for example), so they would be a great sunbeam substitute.