Hi Bob ... I'm new to soap making, but have spent years using home made soap I've bought from other people. Plus I've read heaps.
There are some great ideas on this site and I highly recommend you do plenty of reading of this forum and also check out other sites on the internet. There is sooooooooooooooo much to learn ... but eventually it's about picking a recipe, running it through a soap calc ... making sure you have the protective equipment and soap making equipment needed ... then just doing it!
Make heaps of notes while you're making soap and learn from your experiences.
Enjoy!