Hi Deb,
I started with a Plane without a Face, Beveled the Corners and the Extruded up a bit. The made some loop cuts, so I could extru part of the Mesh up further and then did that again. And again…,etc.
The point is, just try something out and if it doesn’t work, start (partially) over.
What you did ‘wrong’, is that you started too complicated in 3 dimensions, which gives you too many Vertices too handle. I basically just have a 2 dimensional surface, that is bent, which is much easier (and a Mirror Modifier also makes your life a lot easier).
But let me say it again, there is not just 1 way that gives a good result.
At some point, you will look at an object in real life and ‘see’ the wireframe of the Topology…of any object…and person or animal. But even then, you usually won’t get the Topology of your model ‘right’ in 1 go.
Trying out different things and see what works and what doesn’t. And have fun doing that.
