well, i picked up my machine yesterday (monday). WHAT A DIFFERENCE! i free-motion quilted my name as practice (just like before) and it was beautiful! I guess the $90 is worth it! but may try to stretch it to every other year. now that my kenmore is working nicely, i can switch out!
i'm off to my free-motion quilting class tonight! got some fancy-schmancy machine quilting thread (one spool, just enough until i can order some of the 'essential thread').