These are my bittersweet Geckos.   

A few years ago I got a call that my Mother was not doing well. She'd been living in the nursing home for more then 7 yrs. and had developed yet another bout of Pneumonia. Her MS had robbed her of her ability to move, and talk, and although she could hear, her vision was badly deteriorated. I desperately needed a project to take along to work on while I sat at her bedside, and I wanted one that had enough contrast and bright colors that she'd be able to see some of it.        

My dear friend had just returned from a trip to Mexico, and had collected a half-dozen hammered tin geckos to hang on the walls surrounding her garden. I used her collection as a springboard and came up with this little lizard.  The original was completed only days before Mom passed away...  Her smile when I showed it to her was the last communication she shared before she slipped into coma.     

Not long after her funeral, I was again desperately in need of quilt therapy. The original Gecko was done with about 10 different fabrics to create the red/yellow gradiation on his back. On Gecko II, I decided to see what would happen if I only used one fabric for the flying geese. I chose a wild (and rather ugly) print and paired it with the ugliest orange I owned.  I sent pictures of them to Quiltmaker magazine and was amazed when they picked up the pattern!

I wonder what Mom would have thought of that?? I guess it was a triumph born out of tragedy.