You do NOT need an embroidery machine to do what she is doing. You can couch, do piping, do pintucks, use fancy stitches, FM stitching all without an embroidery machine. Thread play can be planned or not.
An embroidery machine is great if you use it. Remember the designs cost as does the stabilizer and the thread is different than quilting/sewing thread.
I know you can do it with your present machine and it will be great.
ali