Hi from Western MA. I, too, cannot afford a long arm, but I do FMQ on my domestic sewing machine. I took a class about a year ago on machine quilting and loved it! It does take a lot of practice, but using invisible thread helped and I'm getting better. I started off by making UFO blocks into pot holders and then practiced my FMQ. I really enjoy it! The fantastic instructor took the fear out of FMQ. She also had a book, Heirloom Machine Quilting by Harriet Hargrave which she claimed was her bible. I bought one and wow! it has everything you need to know.