Newbie!

Hello all! I'm a newbie, both in this community, and at making icons. The program I use currently is Photoshop Elements, though I'm trying to get hold of Photoshop 7. My icon here is my first (and so far only) attempt at icon making. Opinions?

In any case, I do have a real question to ask: Where can I go to download gradients?

And here's another: What general tips and/or tricks can you give to a rookie icon maker like me?