Welcome. Glad you joined! I hear you loud and clear about making things that you HAVE to make vs WANT to make.
I'm a relatively recent quilter, and for the last 6 - 9 months have abandoned patterns and just do what I want. None of it is complex, and I'll never win any awards for my work - unless they have a 'most sincere' category. Even for that I'd probably be the millionth runner-up!
It's just more fun for me to 'make it up' as I go. The quilts seem to come out ok...no complaints from recipients so far.
Of course, anyone who knows me well enough for me to give them a quilt will tell you that I don't 'do' complaints!!!