Just another comment on the myth that "real" quilts are hand quilted: I have a "real" quilt on my bed at the moment, quilted deep in the past by some woman in my husband's family, I don't know who. It is hand pieced and hand quilted — and so poorly done that I am afraid to wash it under any circumstances. I could never handle it for handwashing and I'm quite certain it would fall apart in a washer, and possibly would also fall apart if it were hand washed. And. It. Is. Dirty. It reeeeally needs a bath. I don't know what to do with it. However, I am in the (slow) process of making a fake quilt (i.e. machine pieced and quilted) for that bed. Once it's finished, the "real" one will go back into storage and await someone who is brave enough to tackle its fragility and grubbiness. My fake quilt will toss into the washer and dryer and be none the worse for the wear. I also anticipate it lasting many years longer than the "real" one.
Is machine piecing and quilting really an unrealistic choice?