Is there some sort of program out there to help you to design/figure out a quilt complete with the colors and fabric? Something on the line of Autocad but for quilters and simpler? A program that will let you cut and past different ideas in place and move them around so you can see what it would look like.
Peggy

EQ is the most popular. Version 7 was recently released.
http://www.electricquilt.com/
However, you can sometimes pick up an earlier version for much less (EQ5) to see if you like it enough. For figuring out blocks and fabrics and measurements, including applique, quilting designs and thread colors, EQ5 is more than sufficient.
For even less money, there is a very "lite" version of EQ here:
http://electricquilt.com/Shop/QDW/QDW.asp
I've never used it so I don't know how "lite" it is. But the price is right.

This software also has a lot of fans.
http://quiltpro.com/

And there are some less expensive (or even free) programs out there. I'm sure someone else will list them.

thanks for all of your information

http://electricquilt.com/Shop/QDW/QDW.asp
I just watched the demo for this, and it really does a lot. I have to agree that the price is right! Thanks for the links for them all.

I have Quilt-pro and its great for sizing blocks, filling in blocks with fabric or colours, and then organising into a quilt. It also does a chart to tell you how many of each block are required for a quilt the size you want, and how much fabric to buy.

Has lots of other features too. However, it doesn't have strip piecing charts, although it does tell you how many squares to cut, and how many triangles etc.

EQ7 is out of this world. Nothing else quite compares in my opinion. I also have Quilt-Pro, and my Bernina embroidery software includes a quilt layout program as well. While they are very functional, EQ7 is just amazing.