First: I am shocked and amazed by the advice and support I've been given. I never expected such a large volume of responses. Thank you.
Second: I am not entirely sure about what sort of quilting she's been doing. I've seen pictures and that's about it. Circumstances at the moment have required us to live separately until this upcoming spring when I finish school and get a job transfer. The long distance aspect of things is what is complicating this situation. I just hear the excitement in her voice and can tell it means a lot to her. She's been doing a lot at home by hand I can tell.
Third: I believe the discouragement stems from the fact that we've always had an ideology that if you do something, you should do it right the first time (if you can). That includes getting the right tools for the trade so that you don't get discouraged by mistakes that seem like beginner's errors to the inexperienced when it is in fact an equipment shortfall. I think she's worried that without the 'right' tool, she can't do a good job, which I know is false. There is a difference between the right/wrong tool and a basic/elaborate tool. I think she's confusing those two things at the moment.
I think I'll probably get her to really investigate what she's wanting to accomplish in the short term, and then evaluate what things she would need in a machine to achieve those goals. I have a feeling the list is shorter than she expects. Once a basic list is established we'll look into buying a machine that will fulfill those needs under the pretense that if she really enjoys it and she can upgrade when the finances are available in the future. I think that's a fair compromise.