Greetings from CA. When I decided to start, I took a sampler class at a local quilt shop. I had to buy all the goodies that go with modern-day quilting (mat, rulers, rotary cutter, FABRIC, lol) I started with a book titled Quilts, Quilts, Quilts that introduces a lot of beginner patterns. I recommend that you check out other beginner books, particularly those that work with fat quarters.
Have fun.