hi Beth Welcome to this board from Quebec city
As it's been said, I started with a 3 day class for small projects: pot holder, placemats. I had a book my sister-in-law lent me and it's been my reference book for many years.
I thought I would give you a link to tutorials of Jenny Doan from Missouri Star. She makes it look easy and fun and there are way to many quilts ideas there so watch out, your list for future quilts will get longer and longer
http://quiltingtutorials.com/
One other site that I started with is quilter's cache
http://www.quilterscache.com/
You tube has a lot of very helpful video
and
http://quilting.about.com/od/stepbys...ke_a_quilt.htm
Have fun and show us your "first steps" and your progress.
that's what this board is all about "show and tell" and encouragement and advices!