Just got my sweet 16. I have a quilt top I hate. So I put some batting in and some backing I didn't like either. I have a stencil so drew the flowers on the quilt. Played with vines on the border. The quilting is terrible but I love the darn thing.
I was going to put it in the motor home but decided I want it on my bed. Hubby loves it..but what does he know. haa
I am sure I will get better in time. Have been doodeling on paper too. So much fun!!! I say, just go for it.

Have a look at some of the demos on YouTube and you should get a few pointers.

You are not alone - I have had my longarm for about 2 yrs - I still feel like I am in the "training wheels" section - it really does take time to become good at it. I look at all those quilts that have all the fancy stuff on them - when I try it - it does not look at all like that. I tend to "paint myself into a corner" I always want to continue my lines rather than stop - pull up the bobbin thread and start again. I really like groovy boards - they are expensive but they work great - when I need a quilt done quickly and don't want to worry about how it will look - I use my boards - my favorites are circles and the baptist fan. Just keep on trying - you will get it. By the way, I did not touch my long arm for a few months after getting it. I was petrified - I am glad to hear that I wasn't the only one out there. Just keep trying - you will get it.

Doodle designs on paper with a pencil/pen - builds muscle memory. I draw a quilt block and then play! Also, get a piece of quilters plastic - flexible, kinda thick, JoAnn's or a quilt shop should have it - I have an 18" square and an 18" x 24" piece as well - put blue painters tape all around the edges (keeps you from drawing off your plastic and on your quilt with markers) and get some dry erase markers. Put the plastic over your quilt block and play with designs - wipes off easily with a scrap of batting. I go through a few of these a year as after a while the black doesn't come off all the way.

Put a muslin sandwich on your frame, draw 10" squares, leaving little "gates" between to go through and practice with a meander, filling one square and moving to another (teaches you how to plan your ins and outs of blocks). Draw flowers, hearts, leaves, etc. on the muslin with a marker and then go over them with your machine, connecting them with quilting loops. Try drawing a square, quilt the square and then echo around the frame, keeping an equal distance from all quilting lines all the way to the center of the square. Write the alphabet with your machine.

The more you practice, the easier it becomes. Don't be afraid of your LA - they really aren't that delicate and your won't break it if you use it! The lighter touch you have on the handles, the easier it is to control (at least for my machine) - when you have a death-grip on the handles, it seems harder to control the head of the machine. Put some music on and quilt to the beat - dance with your machine!!! It's a lovely partner AND you get to lead!!!

Go to Walmart and buy some cheap tone on tone fabric or muslin,, and just start doodling on your fabric.. The faster you move your hands the bigger the stitches are..Slower you go, smaller stitches, Set your machine at a speed that you feel comfortable with then just start making loops and circles any thing that comes mind... As far as feathers, just make a ling curved line on you fabric then start making half heart shapes on one side then when you get to the end start up the other side repeating the half heart method... Invest in some books.. I go on Amazon and buy books cheaper than buying them on someones web site... And do go to utube, it has some great videos.. And relax, it does take lots of practice... be easy on yourself, it is like anything else you are learning, it will take a little time... Good Luck..

So far, I have gotten a lot of good advice. I am going to utilize all of it. Just keep it up. I am learning a lot and hopefully some other newbies will too!!

Definitely play with it. I made muslin and old curtain sandwiches and just practiced. I was a little intimidated, but after I took the class from my dealer, I was more willing to play with it. I have done a few already with more lined up. Now I just need to figure out my time (I'm working fulltime).

If you belong to a guild, volunteer to do charity quilts. That's what I did. I also picked one up from someone on another group I belong do that makes quilt tops and sends them out to people who volunteer. All the group that sent it asks is that you send a photo of the finished quilt. Go online and check with Quilts of Valor, Linus Project, and other websites. They will get quilt tops and need someone to quilt them. They are looking for help and not for ribbons. They will appreciate any ones that you want to quilt. That way you both benefit. You get practice and they have quilts to give out.

Last point, just have fun and enjoy it.

Mindy Caspersen's "I've got a longarm (and I'm not afraid to us it) is good. Longarm University you can take classes too!

When mine came I went to a thrift store and bought old sheets, flannel blankets, etc. and used those to make a quilt sandwich. I practiced on those until I was ready to put the real thing on. Now all I need to do is bind the ugly things and donate them to the animal shelter. Dogs don't care what it looks like!

Sally Terry and Karen McTavish are BOTH awesome help. Great books n videos.