I tell people the very least you want on a "quilting" sewing machine is needle up/needle down and this machine has that at a very reasonable price.
I don't know for sure but I would guess this machine is made by Janome. It sure looks a lot like the Janome's. I am a big advacate of Janome's and I sewed on a Kenmore for many years and loves it, too.
Barb