Have fun
Be at peace with the fact that you need to aquire lots of new skills before you get really good- be patient with yourself and enjoy learning.
Don't spend too much on books and magazines- there is soooo much free info on the net, much of it right here!

Your sewing machine is your most importent tool for sewing. Keep it clean and well oiled.

When in doubt,ask questions.

I tell my DGD thee are 3 rules:

1. Be safe - irons, machine/needles.
2. Almost any mistake can be fixed.
3. The person doing the work gets to choose colors, pattern, etc.

Someone once told me that is it ok to make mistakes, because we learn from our mistakes. It is so true!

Take your time. Watch the pieces come together. Find a space where you can sew without taking down all the time. Maybe a corner in a bedroom. Setting up and taking down all the time is a killer to finishing the project.

One of my friends got me into quilting almost three years ago. The best thing she taught me was to SQUARE up all my blocks. I took one class for a table runner and then I jumped right into an oversized queen for my guest bedroom! My friend had nightmares, but I finished it and I love it! I have never used starch and I see that mentioned here often so I am going to try that - nice to read all the "tips"!

Yes, learn the lingo...I'm new to quiltboard and I don't know what LA quilting is...maybe someone can explain this and any others abbreviations.

Lots of good advice here! I'm a firm believer of pressing pressing pressing and clip those threads as you go otherwise its a monster of a job at the end.

Buy the best fabric you can afford. No polyesters! Your time is worth a lot, so go for the best you can do.