I love love love Eleanor Burns! She is my hero. I took a class as a beginner in 1993 using her Trio of Treasures book to make the Bear Claw. All of her books are wonderful. I am not crazy about the patterns - not enough information for beginners.
Irish Chain is probably the best 3 color quilt you can make. Log Cabin is second - and good practice to keep the seams at 1/4"