Phooey, I say. Phooey!

I have never made a Drunkard's Path quilt. I found a fascinating variation with a very nice border using the patches as well. Months ago I decided it would work wonderfully in black and white and began sorting and acquiring good contrast b/w fabrics, made careful templates and began cutting. Cutting is boring so I didn't cut all I would need but enough to get a good start.

I started sewing and ran into difficulty. They are only 3-1/2 inch blocks so the curve if pretty tight. But, said I to myself, I have done innumerable sleeves and done them quite well so I can master this. But I wasn't inspired to return to the package of cut pieces very often. I always had other projects to work on. Now and then I'd unearth the baggie of pieces cut and sewn and do a few more. But it didn't call to me even when I looked at the picture for inspiration. Whatever I did to help the sewing didn't really work. I didn't do a neat job and I didn't get better with practice. This has dragged on since last summer.

A few days ago I said to myself, Phooey! Yes, phooey on the drunkard's path. I had sewn most of the cut pieces which, when counted was approximately half the number needed. Why should I continue doing something I wasn't enjoying and was not doing well? Phooey! I said. No one says I have to do this. I'll do something with what I have, starting with ironing which IS helpful for making them lie flat. I'll make a small quilt, possibly with a large border or it will be throw size -- these B/w fabrics are not really suitable for a crib size quilt.

I don't have to do something I"m not enjoying. I enjoy mastering something difficult like a very complex paper pieced block, but I was not mastering this and I've seen so called "easy" methods, which don't look easy to me and seem very time consuming. My life will not be less wonderful because I cannot sew Drunkard's Path blocks. My life will be more wonderful if I say Phooey! I will do what gives me pleasure. I can make some other B/W quilt, there are many possibilities. I am going to enjoy the process of putting my imagination in gear, looking for inspiration in other quilts and then hitting on an idea that excites me ... and making IT. Tune in a few weeks or months from now for the continuation of this story.