visit 'quilter's cache' website and *browse* all the free blocks- choose ones you are 'drawn to', intrigued by, want to learn- you can choose sizes you want to make, you could design yourself a sampler quilt containing all the different {skill building} blocks you choose- you could start at the beginning (with the A's) and work your way through the alphabet with a different block from each letter-
I had heard so many times that the first quilt *every* quilter should make is a 'log cabin quilt' -- I quilted *made hundreds of quilts* for 15+ years before I finally made a log cabin quilt-
there is no 'set' rule- to be a quilter you need to make- a particular block--- browse- look for what appeals to you- and try new things- expand, read about different techniques & try the ones that appeal to you. push yourself to learn (improve your skills) something new each year (or month, or week-what ever works for you)