It's awesome that you're getting into sewing! I have been sewing since I was about 5 or 6 years old and love it, it is a great stress relief.
Since you are just starting out you want to go with a basic machine, as a newbie sewer the fancy machines can be daunting and frustrating. Here is a great basic sewing machine:
Amazon.com: Brother XL2600I Sew Advance Sew... I have this one and it works great for everyday projects and can actually do a lot on it. It's easy to figure out and maintain. It's best to work your way to up something fancier, the best thing is to learn on a basic and learn everything you can about the machine before moving on, this will make it easier to work with and care for the nicer machines. My first machine was an old simple Singer found at a garage sale that allowed me to test things out and learn about sewing machines.
As for classes, both Hobby Lobby and Michaels might have sewing classes depending on your area. Do you have a Hancock Fabrics near you? They have all sorts of classes.
This is so exciting! I can't wait to see your first project! Just remember, no one starts out as an expert sewer so don't get discouraged if something doesn't turn out right the first time and a seam ripper is your new bestfriend. Good luck and have fun!
