New to using a sewing machine

[VicTheShark]

My mom bought me a brother sewing machine model jx17fe, I set it up and honestly seems great for basic sewing. I know well of having to use quality thread and ive been using Gutermann thread while handsewing so no issue with that.

What sort of skills or issues should i look into and work on when machine sewing?
Also would appreciate any inspiration on what I should sew as a first project!! Im going out to shop for material in a few hours :]

[Vazchu]

Sort of felt like looking for sewing threads and found this and that no one had replied, sorry that I'm sort of late. o':

I honestly have no experience with that exact machine. Anyhow, from the stuff I read through about it the machine seems to be a good choice and sounds like it's capable of doing most things one can want from a machine while only sewing for fun. And from my personal learning process of working with a sewing machine it's in my opinion better with a simpler machine that can help you get used to working with it. And then at a later point go up into more complex machines.

One thing I can give you an advice on, don't do like me and my mother and think your machine will be okay when you don't take proper care of it, lol ... xD I learned that the hard way when my mother's machine that I learned how to sew on (an old Husqvarna 260) started having issues with tangling the thread and the fabric getting stuck down the cracks below the preserfoot. It made me really frustrated and really took all the energy from my joy in sewing.
So I took it to a store where they fixed machines since I love that old machine and refuse to buy a new one. The owner of that store told me that even if the machine is unused or little used; it needs service every three year to change the oils and to make sure everything works as it should. Though he indirectly said that the older machines are in more need of this; as the newer ones aren't built to last for generations the same way that the old ones were. But I'm guessing that newer machines also do require some sort of service if you use it a lot. I mean; it couldn't hurt to have someone make sure it will last for as long as possible.

As for projects, my advice is to sew stuff you are curious about how it's made and feel like learning (: