Hi Cafe. I'm a beginning quilter too. I don't know if you have access to a quilt shop or a JoAnn's Fabric but they usually have classes you can sign up for for anywhere from $10 to $50. So that is an idea. They have a variety of different classes to choose from and it is a good way to learn techniques. Remember that quilt making is basically cutting some cotton fabrics apart and then sewing them back together again to make a design. That is all it is.
If that isn't feasible for some reason, then I think I would go through one of your basic books (do you have a book just of different blocks) and pick one or two blocks that appeal to you, that look simple and pull some fabrics together and start making just the blocks.
Don't stress over what fabrics to use--pick a focus fabric and then pull colors from that to find small prints, solids, medium prints. Make sure that you have some variety in the intensity of the fabrics you chose. But! do not let not knowing what fabrics go together stop you from starting. Just start. As you go along you will learn what works and what doesn't work.
Since you'll be doing this by yourself, this will allow you to not invest in a long term project right of the bat, will let you figure out how to cut the fabric in the sizes it needs to be, piece the block part into a block. You can make a whole sampler quilt from just making different blocks--one block at a time.
When you feel a bit competent about making blocks, look in your books about adding sashing to get the blocks together into a size you want (you can make hot pad size, or placemat size or crib size or twin and so on--again, I would start small). Put the sashing on, look up binding and prepare your binding, look up how to attach a backing and do that, look up how to quilt (by hand or machine) and do that. Once you've done that you will have made a quilt whether it is a hot pad (one block), a placemat with six blocks or whathave you.
Having a ton of books is so exciting but can be overwhelming. Just try to clear your head, pick something out and dive it--it is only fabric, it is only thread and your are doing this to give you pleasure not to win an award.
If you would like to pick out a block, I'd be glad to find a pattern in one of my books and you could make your block and I could make the same one so we were kind of doing it together and could commiserate over whether our points matched, or our seams were really 1/4 inch or whether we liked the colors we put together as much as we thought we would.
I'm serious so just let me know.
Happy sewing to you.
I hope you get lots of responses. I framed mine this what because you said you had all the tools and were still stuck. Some people may tell you to make a certain quilt but if you are stuck and can't start like I think you are, then I'd start small.
Quilting Beginner here 
I am sitting here surrounded by quilting books, fabric and all the things to get started on making a quilt. I am embarressed to say that I have had all of the "equipment" for over a year, and just can't seem to get going. I don't know where to start, and what the first step is. All my life I have wanted to make a quilt!!
(Thank heavens I have a very understanding DH) 
I am going to do just what you said, "Just start." 
