first, sign up for their emails for blog and newsletter--you will get their free monthly downloads of projects and fabrics, plus the monthly "lesson" And most important--notice of sales. As soon as the books are 20-25% off (they do this several times per year) purchase the lesson books--design a block; design a quilt; design more quilts. The paper "manual" is nice but the lesson books really provide step-by-step info and are organized so that when you decide to do the type of design in the lesson you can easily find that design lesson and use it--great reference! I go back often to lessons I'm done in past (i.e. different size blocks in a quilt lesson whenever I am planning a t-shirt quilt).
Also--most fabric manufacturers have a way for you to download swatches of new lines for use in EQ--and EQ will tell you how to re-size the panels etc. so usable.