Hi Jackie!
Since I'm in South Carolina, I can't help with the Long Beach CA question.
However, I DO have a Viking D1 and can tell you that I LOVE IT!! If you don't already have it, be sure to get the 1/4" ruler foot - it's a life saver, for sure!!
I originally did not think I would use the embroidery part of my machine at all, but I've made two "5 Little Monkeys" quilts (pattern here:
http://www.oregonpatchworks.com/item...6180&pid=94446 ), as well as doing a Pittsburgh Steelers quilt for my brother (embroidered Steelers' logo in the open areas of a Triple Irish Chain quilt), and I'm currently working on a baby quilt with different animals that has 3-D embroidery on it.
If you don't have the user manual, here's a link to a downloadable PDF file for the USB D1:
http://www.manualslib.com/manual/636...sb.html#manual
(mine is actually a floppy diskette version!!)
I think that as you get more and more into the quilting, you will see that there are lots of possibilities for adding embroidery, and not just for quilt labels. Anita Goodesign is an embroidery company that sells a LOT of quilting-related embroidery patterns.
So, welcome to the Quilting Board (you'll get TONS of inspiration and encouragement here!), enjoy your quilty journey, and congratulations on being a cancer survivor!
Leta in Upstate SC (where I'm meeeellllttting!!!!)