I made my first quilt top in 7th grade(oh no--40 or so years ago). That was totally on my own. I have watched programs like Sewing with Nancy, Georgia Bonesteel, and the best Simply Quilts. I have magazines Quilters Newsletter, and Love of quilting, and have more recently have taken classes from the Quilt festival and my local quilt shop. If you have never taken a class I really recomend it. Folks do things differently, and it is wonderful to get a different perspective. Then there are the things I want to do, silk painting-fabric painting, dying etc. That going to the experts in class makes such a difference. It also helps with your confidence.