Getting Started - Need Advice!

I am so excited about being part of this blog and getting started on Stars & Sprigs!  I started collecting fabric as soon as I saw Janet's first pictures of the quilt, and was thrilled to finally get my hands on the pattern last week. I have one question before I dive in, though - how do you all manage the huge pattern?  I was very surprised to see how big it is!  Does anyone cut them into more manageable pieces?  Any disadvantages to doing that?  It's nearly as big as my sewing room!