It's show time for me, too, and I feel the same way you do. I just bought a machine I can drop the feeds on, so now I have no excuse. I will be watching this thread. Maybe we can learn something together. There was a post a while back about using a oven liner from Bed, Bath & Beyond instead of the pricey slider. Sounds like it might work. I think I will roll up my quilt and start in the center like I do to stitch in the ditch. Tomorrow, I am going to make a fake potholder - just draw some lines and see what happens.
My LQS has a class this week. If my practice runs are terrible, I may have to go.