Asking for help to buy an embroidery machine

I don't like asking for help, I don't think anybody does, but here I am anyway.

I'm going to give you two versions of this story, the short and the long.

The Short Version

I would really like an embroidery machine to do projects and make things. I would be willing to offer things like artwork, plushies, clothing, massages, help moving house, etc in exchange for donations. This could be for you, a friend or a charity of your choice.

I have a deviantart page where you can make requests http://gothicfrogdesigns.deviantart.com/

The Long Version

My name is Louise. I've always tried to be considerate of others and help out where I can. I've suffered with depression since I was 14 and I believe I always will suffer from this disease. I sometimes find it hard to express myself and sometimes find that people don't understand my illness. Here's a link that may help you understand and deal with your own depression (if you have it);  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/good-to-share/10568933/How-to-deal-with-the-black-dog-of-depression.html

When I was a teenager suffering from this disease I was alone, i'd tried to seek help from family and medical professionals but hadn't had much luck: I was once told by a doctor "stop being such a stupid little girl". It wasn't until I was in my twenties that I started being able to ask for help for this disease. I started recognising the patterns and behaviours that made me worse and started dealing with them. Unfortuntely part of this meant ending my marriage as I had been ignoring the problems that were within it.

I had no idea what I was going to do as I had no savings, no job and no where to go. Luckily a good friend managed to talk me through this difficult period. I turned my life around and found somewhere to live, a purpose in life and enrolled in college to do something I loved.

I spent the next 3 years studying fashion and learnt how to make clothing. I did fall on hard times during this period and still suffered from depression but I soldiered on because it was important to me that I finish with a good grade.

When I finished uni I moved to Manchester as there were more Fashion related and generally more jobs here. I had also met a wonderfully supportive guy who i'd accidentally fallen in love with. Being a realist and pragmatic person I knew I needed a job but couldn't wait for a fashion job so started applying for whatever I could find. I also started training for an SIA licence through the job centre, unfortunately due to cuts I had to pay for my licence myself, however I managed to get a couple of part time, zero hour jobs that eventually allowed me to get a full time position.I had settled into a career I actually enjoyed and, despite my depression rearing it's ugly head once again, I was excelling in my position. 

Since then I have again been signed off. This is due to something happening at work which I don't want to go into details of. I have been left with the after effects though. I'm more anxious than before and have developed slight agoraphobia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agoraphobia). I'm starting the long process of getting better but it could be months before i'm able to go back to work again. This has left me in the situation of having a lot of time on my hands and not much money. I had planned to eventually buy the embroidery machine I want by myself, but of course I can't really do that now.

And that's why i'm here. I don't want to let the fact that I can't work at the moment change my plans. Sewing makes me happy as I can use it to make others happy and actually feel useful. Some of the stuff I want to make involves having the ability to embroider and as i'm useless at hand sewing i'd prefer a machine to do it with.

I've looked into buying a second hand machine and as well as being hard to find they are still £600+. Money I just don't have currently. I will still be looking around but the goal of £900 would get me a brand new Janome 350E. This machine would allow me to program in whatever patterns I want to make.

When I make things for friends I either do it for free or at cost depending on their situation. If you think you'd like to donate I would be willing to offer things like artwork, plushies, clothing, massages, help moving house, hugs etc in exchange for donations on this same basis. 

This could be for you, a friend or a charity of your choice. I'd work with you to decide which of these would be suitable and am willing to take commissions to be done for the future should I achieve this goal.

I have a deviantart page http://gothicfrogdesigns.deviantart.com/ or a facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gothic-Frog/340455469347423?fref=ts  where you can make requests.