Welcome from Minnesota! All really good advice here. Use this forum a lot. Check out the tutorials at Missouri Star Quilt Company ( I love Jennie Doan). Check out "About Quilting.com", there is lots of good advice there too. Don't be afraid to ask questions, there are many seasoned quilters out there that learn something new everyday. Don't waste your money on a lot of rulers. I got by for years with a 4 x 18. After buying nearly every color of thread on the market I learned that I can make almost any quilt with gray. Most of all, HAVE FUN and keep your first quilts. You will cherish them in years to come.