I have a Singer Futura and I love it.

I have a Babylock Ellisimo and can't say enough about this wonderful machine!

Previously had a Janome 10001 and it was also an incredible machine.

Now I am heavily into digitizing and embroidering.

I have a Bernina 650 and a 600, both cost less than $400 each. I also have a Brother Innovis, that cost $5000, I use them a LOT. I embroider on practically everything.

I have a Bernina 440 with the embroidery unit, and use it a lot more than I ever thought I would. I love using it for monogramming, applique, and quilting.

That 830 is fabulous, isn't it?!

I have to tell you that I bought a Brother 8500 back in 2003 that I loved. Machine Emb. was just starting out. The largest hoop was 6x10 and the designs were crappy. However, the 5x7 designs were great. I loved that machine, then I bought the Duetta...right before the Quattro...if I had my druthers I would have bought the quattro...I know, expensive...but worth it.
I found a Pfaff Creative Vision 5.5 for really cheap so if I want a large size embroidery then this is the machine for me, but I use it mainly for piecing.
If I could, I would buy another Duetta or Quattro and sell the C.V. 5.0 just so I would just have Brother machines. They are nice.
I love being able to do Machine Embroidery and have done many items. I also love the accurate, precise, easy piecing that I get from these top quality machines.
Kirsten

I use the Janome 10001 as my main machine....very user friendly.

I have the Brother Innovis 4000D upgraded to the Duetta, Brother 8200, Brother 7500 and Pfaff 7570. I use all of them all the time. During the holidays I sometimes have all of them going making Christmas gifts for everyone. I also have 16 grandchildren, 9 of them girls, that I do embroidery for. I embroider their jeans add, hotset crystals, make them totes, purses, etc. I personally get a lot of use of out mine. We have custody of an 11 year old granddaughter. At Chrismtas I make 18 gifts for all her teachers at school.

I too am 65 and find tons of things to do on my machines.

Why don't you look for a used machine on the sew it's for sale group. Or, if intersted I can email you the name of a dealer in Ky. that always has some great deals on used machines, not to mention, no tax for out of state sales. He's the dealer I buy all my machines from. I just bought the machine upgrade from him.

If you have a good basic machine, Janome makes a machine that does just embroidery and is reasonable in cost. check it out.

you can find a used one on Craigs list just be sure to get it checked out before buying. I have a Janome 11000 I love it but If I knew we would be out of work in two years I never would have spent the money if you need something embroidered I am sure there are plenty of people here on the board willing to do it for you

I have the Innovis 950 and I like it, but want to get the bigger hoop size, so I have been looking into getting this one. Glad to hear it is well liked.

I would then have two embroidery machines. I like the one I have, but the 4 x 4 hoop is too limiting.