I like ERSTAN947's ideas - test and practice.
I love paper piecing. I believe it is easy enough for a beginner. Here is a link to a YouTube video that might help you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bc1mU0LMF8
And here is a decent online tutorial for paper piecing a sail boat (I like this one's shape better than the You Tube one):
http://www.blockcentral.com/a-fpp1.shtml
And one more:
http://www.preservinghomebasics.com/...s-quilt-block/
Good luck!!!