HELP! please...

[lucy-the-kitten.livejournal.com]

Ok, my mom got me a brother vx-950 sewing machine from a friend. It dosent have any of the instructions with it, so i have no clue how to use it. Well, using it looks to be pretty simple. But I can't figure out where the bobbin is! I know, I know, it's usually under that little metal plate under the needle. Well, I cant get that open, and I looked at the front, near the little metal plate, where those weird little bobbins go in sometimes (the ones with the metal case, and they go in vertically, and they're a total bitch... god I hate those...) and all that was there was a little storage thing. Sooo... I have no clue how to work it, basically. I'm making  prom dress which needs to be done by June 1st. So i'm already pretty stressed. and I don't feel like doing all the hemming completely bu hand. This sewing machine has a stitch that looks like it would be good for the hem. It also has a stitch that looks like a little swan... Which I think is just great. Anywho, that's beside the point. I really need some help with this! 
 I tried to check the Brother website, but it wont load. So that's a real big help. I'll be posting pictures of my dress when it's done. I also need to make it fit properly, too. Which will be fucking lovely.. It;s a really weird neckline, so i'm not sure how to fit it. Anywho, the link to the dress is at the bottom in case anyone wants to see it, and maybe give me some insight as to how to fir the top a bit better. I'm going to shorten it by bringing it up underneath the drape a bit, because i'm an idiot and didnt think to shorten the pattern. The dress is about 7 or 8 inches to long for me, and as you can see in the picture, I cant just take it up at the bottom. Oy vey... I'm a bit stressed. so any help would me wonderful and i would be in debt to you for the rest of my life and i'll make you cookies or something!! Thanks!!

http://www.butterick.com/web/shop.cgi?s.item.B4212=x&TI=10013&page=6  I'm making that red one, only i'm making it in a dark purple taffeta with black and lime green trim. :) I'm about 4'11, and busty, but also very very skinny, so i'm always a weird fit. So I really need help fitting this. If anyone lives in the Nashua NH area, lemme know! I'll pay you! thanks again!