Hi and welcome from Connecticut. I hope you find a machine from all the suggestions here quickly. I envy your opportunity to buy African fabric, although I understand your comments about the danger there. Keep your head low, and keep on quilting!
PM = Private Message = you click on a person's name in their posting, and it goes directly to where you can click on a box that says 'private message.' You type it, click 'send' and it's done!