When you download vb or c# express edition, you can  also download "Microsoft® Visual Basicâ„¢ 2005 Express Edition: Build a Program Now!", which has some projects, or if you already have VB, you can look at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vbasic/ms789080.aspx  where you can find some starter kits, which takes only half/ one hour but will be a starting guide for simple windows interface. Rather than the front end coding to how to access the data is harder part for me, but you are a sql guy, so u can do that easily I guess.