Welcome from the Bay Area of California!
Prince William Sound is such a pretty place. My husband and I LOVE cruising the Inland Passage and checking out all the parts of southern Alaska.
Check out "Quilts with a Twist" for some great patterns. Lisa does some really nice Alaskan designs - both Indian and wildlife.
http://quiltswithatwist.com/store/index.php
This group is so good for helping out folks at all stages of quilting. Check out various tutorials and use the Search keys heavily to get the most out of here!