Pam B - I also grew up sewing on a Singer 401A that was level with the cabinet. I like it much better that way too!
Denilynn - Thanks for the compliment, that is a Carpenters Star. I made it in a class in the spring of 2009 when I was getting reacquainted with quilting.
DH really is so sweet. He will often come home from grocery shopping (yes, he does that on his own quite often when I am trying to finish a project ;-) ) and say, "while I was out, I stopped and Joann's and look what I found on the sale pile". And then he will produce a tool or little gadget that I had mentioned might be useful. And now he is beginning to collect vintage sewing machines...if I could only teach him to quilt! ;-)