'valleyquiltermo' - I am not new to longarming, in that I have used many to do my quilts over the years. But, I am a new longarmer and I appreciated your comment and am going to print it out for my "notes".
I am currently still learning how to use my machine and have been very lucky to have a group that feeds me all their charity quilts to "practice" on. I have done about ten of them for them. I am also very lucky that they don't have any deadlines associated with them - only the ones I give myself.
I have been on vacation quite a bit since they came to me so I am looking forward to my life slowing down some so I can get them all done.