With nothing but an idea in his head, John Martin of Waterford starts layering fabric. White is quickly covered with black, a light layer of quilt-basting spray holding it together. Then he moves to his sewing machine and stitches around a design he drew onto the first layer.

Martin is making a kite.

“I guess I just never grew up,” said Martin, 47.

Martin flies kites year-round and looks for any excuse to fly. Most weekends, he can be found at Bug Light in South Portland.

His passion for flying kites began 25 years ago when he was in the Navy.

“When you go overseas, it’s a great way to meet people. As soon as you start flying, it’s a natural draw.”

With each deployment, he took a kite. He has flown them in more than 15 countries. His passion grew each year, but the kites kept getting more expensive. Ten years ago, he decided to try his hand at making kites.

“It’s a fun hobby, something you can get creative with. It’s just a fun time,” said Martin, bent over his latest creation, one he calls a “Kite of Indecision.”

The black and white kite made from rip-stop nylon could be a saxophone player or a woman, depending on how you look at it.

It cost him about $40, not including his time, but Martin doesn’t make kites for profit. He makes them for fun and occasionally, as gifts.

His pride and joy is a kite arch he made with 50 small blue kites decorated with snowflakes, strung together and anchored to the ground at each end.

“The best thing is when you’re done and you take it outside and it flies,” Martin said of his creations. “And seeing the enjoyment from other people, and knowing you made something.”