"Cannot use selection".... message when creating part in an assembly

I am trying to create a new part in an assembly.  I select an existing part in the assembly an when I try to select a feature on the existing part I get the message "cannot use selection.  Only components that share the same parent sub-assembly as the part being edited can be referenced"  I have created hundreds of parts in assemblies and this has never happened.

SolidworksModeling And Assemblies