Another welcome aboard! One of my best friends lives in Gilbert,just outside of Phoenix.
If you can give us a name and/or a picture of your sewing machine that would probably help us help you with the sewing machine.
For the quilting part, if you have a goal for a project that would help too -- both on whether it is beginner suitable and with specific hints/help.
There is often a block of shows on PBS (especially if you have a Creates channel) on quilting, some more advanced than others but a good resource. Eleanor Burns and Quilt in a Day might be one of them, she has many beginner suitable projects and books and is available on Youtube if not on PBS. Warning -- some of us have a reaction to her voice but others find it endearing!