I never look at myself and think that I am an artist. I just love quilting and one of the reasons that I would tell somebody to buy the best they can afford is because I know that after the first thing they made they will also be addicted! I must admit that I think having the better quality machine, needels, pins ect just make the work so much easier. I one bought pins that have a flower head and it was for quilting, but much cheaper than the other ones I bought previously, but the didn"t have sharp points. That makes working with them unpleasant.