Milestones

I don't remember what I was thinking in this photo...but I can imagine.  Looking out over that vast landscape of shadow and detail opens the mind to thought.  There is something about space that creates mental space.  I am in a reflective, self indulgent mood this morning as it is my 54th birthday.  Not a milestone birthday, just another day but...BUT...the fact that it is a milestone makes me stop and think.

1958...the year of Michael Jackson, Madonna and me! Not necessarily in that order and not without hundreds of thousands of other baby boomers born to be the biggest classes in schools across the US.  Born to be in high school in the 1970's, graduating from university in the recession of the 1980's, rocking out to Rock and punk, rap as well as new age...graffitti and big hair, wild makeup, pushing boundaries and breaking the traditions set before us...like every other generation.  Oh, we thought we were different but were we?

Born when families vacationed together and enjoyed the simple things in life without phones, internet, playstation or headphones. Wehn parents happily were the BOSS and said "NO! Because I said SO!" and maybe got spanked when naughty and no one thought it was wrong.  Born to see the invention of the tv, dream of phones without chords but only imagine Get Smart with his  shoe phone!  Born to be wild...like this...me, Larry Bud Melman and Megadeth on MTV!  I warned you about those bad fashions!

Born to be part of the introduction of "fashion watches" which offered many exciting opportunities

and one that led me to meet a handsome Australian, fall in love and move to another country without looking back.

We started a family...

and watched 2 grow to 3...

And learned what it means to be on your own upside down on the other side of the world.

Many of you have shared these decades.  Good things, bad things and everything in between. Today I reflect on these personal milestones and one other...it is also the birthday of material obsession.  Nine years ago today we took over the first shop location, painted it white and started selling fabric that we loved, making patterns born from a need to MAKE and breaking a few rules along the way. 

 

It's hard to imagine that this was nine years ago!  Nine years of learning, sharing and growing with quilters as we twisted tradition into what it is today.

 Not only that but one year ago today we moved into our new location!

I have been considering tradition for traditions sake for all these years.  Wondering how it fits into my life and the lives of those around me.  The old meets the new each day.

Some things fit in and some things don't while others just change the way we see it.

I say thank you... more please... to all the gifts that this life has offered.  I am grateful for the insight that I have learned from all my companions along the way be that at my side now or not.  And to all of you that read the blog, visit the shop or share your life in any way, I am grateful.  The connection we gain from our common medium and the days we share on earth are a treasure.  k

Comments

[Sharon]

Happy Birthday! What a great trip down memory lane, I did love the big hair and acid washed demin!

[Chookyblue]

Happy birthday.........have a great day........

[Linda]

Beautiful post...happy birthday!

[Rose]

All birthdays are milestones!!!! Happy Birthday

[Lynette]

Happy birthday Kathy - may it be a good one

[Sally Ickes]

what a nice tribute to your growth as a person, parent and shop owner. I'm so glad to be following you along the way and looking forward to what lies ahead for both of us.

[adele]

Lovely Post. Happy Birthday for today xx

[Miriam]

Happy Birthday Kathy! Many Happy Returns.

Have a wonderful day.

Thank you for the memories in your post.

[Jan]

What a lovely reflection on a full and interesting life! Happy birthday, Kathy. May you enjoy many more.

[Fernanda Beaton]

Happy Birthday, Kathy! Many,many happy returns...Have a great day.xx

[fiberchick]

Happy Birthday Kathy! Thank you so much for the memory tour and insightful post. What a wonderful life you've made for yourself. I was somewhat younger than you in the 80's but... True confessions... Sometimes I miss the big hair and the risk taking!

[Sue Sally]

Happy Birthday Kathy,

Loved that photo of you and Larry Bud...., I'm envious, enjoy your day !!!!
Sue Sally

[Lorraine Gray]

Happy Birthday ....I love having one of those reflective moments ....but it shows how time just goes
Lorraine from
Sunny Blueys Beach NSW

[Pam]

Happy Birthday dear Kathy! Oh I love your time travels...I understand so much of it from my own memories :) I still have my two swatch watches...and I pushed many a limit." Ah but I was so much older then I'm younger than that now"" xoxo pam

[Jan R]

Have a great 'rest of birthday' :-)

[Raylene Richardson]

Happy, happy birthday Kathy-enjoy your day and thanks for your inspiration and encouragement as we read your blog re the infinite world of creating via quilts.

[David]

I have rarely posted though I have been reading the blog for a long time now.
Happy Birthday ;-)
I'll be happy to meet you in one of your class in Nantes.

[Bronwyn Gosling]

Happy birthday Kath - many more to come -loved the photos - Bron

[Hilde]

Thank you so much for this post, and for every word you wrote in blog or books.
A happy happy happy birthday to you!
Hilde

[Steffi]

Happy Birthday Kathy,
have a beautiful day! Love your old photos and your writing.

[Louise Suffolk]

Your blogs are the best--Happy Birthday Kathy.

[Tatkis]

Happy Birthday! It is an exciting and fantastic story - thank you for sharing your milestones!

Hugs,
Tatyana

[Sara]

Happy Birthday Kathy!

I too fell in love with a handsome Australian and packed up and moved to the other side of the world. The things we do for love :)

[Judy]

Happy Birthday, and congrates at taking moving to a new country and conquering the differences so well. I too have moved from overseas, so lovely to share each blog with you and get lots of inspiration. luv it, keep on.too far away to get to your classes, so good you share so much with us.

[Deb]

Happy birthday!!!! A great day to reflect on the life that you have led!!! You don't know me, but I love reading your blog, love reading your thoughts and ramblings. Love your work and photos of your work!!! Thank you

[Pia Merete Hansen]

Happy birthday Kathy ... Interesting and funny to read your thoughts ... (I am turning 53 in August and have 3 children... I think a lot too about life and turning older...) I think you can be proud of yourself and what you have achieved. Kind regards from Denmark :-)

[Courtnie]

Happy birthday! I enjoy reading your post. You are such a creative person and always have inspiring quilts to show.

[Pia Merete Hansen]

BTW Kathy It is still the 1 of March here in Denmark soooo it is still your birthday ;-) / Pia

[LoriD]

Happy birthday Kathy!!! I hope you had a fantastic day!!

[Annie]

Aww! loved your reflections in pics. Happy Birthday! wishing you many more to come.
Love your blog.

[Susan]

Happy Birthday Kathy! Lovely post. There are many milestones for this day. I am soooo glad you added MO to the mix.

[Chris Goodall]

Happy Birthday Kathy. And Happy birthday for the shop! I wish I was up that way to to drop into the shop

[Michelle]

Happy birthday for yesterday, hope you had a lovely day!

[Kim McLean]

Happy Birthday Kathy!! Well done on MO too, Kim McL

[Liane]

Happy Birthday to you Kathy and to the shop. I always enjoy reading your reflections.

[Tamie]

Happy Birthday.

[Kathy]

Thank you for taking a moment to contact me. It is a huge bonus having the blog and being able to connect with people. Enjoy your quilting experiences! Kathy

[cathie]

Belated happy birthday wishes Kathy, and I also send you many hugs and happy thoughts for the year ahead. Although I only know you though the magic of cyberspace, I feel a growing connection with you as we share the same birth year, and the joys of raising sons (my five, your three).
Sometimes I wonder if my quilting/fabric world is my version of Mother-daughter adventures....what do you think?

[Amy]

Congratulations!!! Happy Birthday and Anniversary! And everything in between. I have really enjoyed your thoughts, writing and visual encouragement through your blog, quilts and books. Thank you for inspiring, because there are days that I need a healthy dose of it more than once.

[Sujata Shah]

Happy Birthday! Congratulations on all your achievements and best wishes for many more to come!

[Meg]

happy birthday kathy!! Hope you have a wonderful day, and an even better year filled with all sorts of great surprises:)

Hope you don't mind that I re-posted one of your photos on Facebook -- the yoga pose by Sydney Harbour is just too great not to send it viral;) xo Meg

[Marie Cheesman]

Happy, Happy B-Day! I'm only about a year behind you on the age thing so it was fun to read the parallels in our lives. What a wonderful, imaginative and colourful life you have had so far - here's to lots more of that!

[Ulla's Quilt World]

Your quilts/crafts are so fantastic! It's so nice to find other quilters all around the world!
www.quiltworld2.blogspot.com
Hugs, Ulla (from Finland)

[candy grisham]

Happy Birthday a few days late. thank you for all you share. Candy

[CissaK]

Happy belated birthday Kathy. Many more wonderful years. I am coming to Sydney soon and hope to stop by MO and see the new store. I was there the day you were moving last year.Have a great year!

[Candy Walker]

Same from another Candy x

[Michele]

Happy birthday!

[Elizabeth E.]

Happy Belated Birthday, as I am just now getting to reading some blogs. You have had an impact on how I see quilting, and have had an influence on many choices I've made, fabric-wise. I'm glad to get this retrospective of your journey. I wish you many more happy years of both quilting, and being with your family.

Elizabeth E.

[Sharon van de Zand]

Dear Kathy

Thank you for sharing that with us & I hope you had a truly lovely birthday! 58 was obviously a great year as my husband was born then as well. I only took up sewing & quilting just over 2 years ago after a serious operation & a few other health hiccups. The quilting side of things helped me through many a tough hour, I have made many new friends because of it. Best of all I have seen another side of some of my colleagues as some of them are also avid quilters which I never knew! I've worked in the same school for 23 years (admin) & I'm still learning something new everyday. I LOVE QUILTING & I LOVE THE FABRICS THE COLOURS & THE FRIENDS - HOW TOTALLY LUCKY ARE WE!!!