Welcome from NJ! Just take the plunge! Find a small (lap - like lap size) pattern you like, buy your fabric and go for it. Your local quilt shop is your friend. They will help you. Look at some samples in the shop. You will make cutting and sewing mistakes - we all still do regardless of how long we've been doing this. You are in the majority being a right-handed cutter. Your LQS should be able to give you some pointers there as well. Enjoy the process and don't sweat the small stuff.