June-
I just started quilting and found sending them out to be quilted was out of my budget. My solution was to purchace a Grace Frame. It holds the quilt back, top and batting on rails with no basting. You put your own sewing machine on it to quilt. I found it on Craig's list. The lady selling it was unable to use it due to health reasons. She also purchaed an industrial type machine for it but was not selling it so I use my Bernina 830 and have not had any trouble with vibration or anything. With the price of sending them out I figured I would only have to do 4-5 quilts and I will be money ahead. There are other companys that make a similar frame. Not a long arm but it does the job and it is FUN!
Here is a pic of my very first one!
My second is on the picture page and has the Clifford fabric.
Getting ready to do # 3 and it will be my largest yet.
Best of luck to you whatever you decide. May we all live by John Wesley's Rules for Living: "Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, At all the times you can, As long as ever you can."