What inspires you? To create and craft and sew. Each week, I'd love for you link up on Monday Morning for some inspiration. I am not one of those that hates Mondays. I love Mondays. I'm ready to get my work done for the week and anxious to jump in. What a great way to start the week, sharing what each of us finds inspiration in and in turn, inspiring each other.

This week, I was inspired by FAMILY. My sewing included making a stash of these for my niece. (well, something like these - I changed up the pattern a bit from this first one)

She was married on Saturday and I made a stack of these for her bridesmaids. They were a hit with the girls. At the reception, they had a dance for all of the married couples. They would call out, "If you've been married 4 hours and 10 minutes or less, leave the floor." Or 10 years or less, etc. Until they had one couple remaining who had been married the longest. The one couple still on the dance floor...my parents.

My parents have been married for 54 years. They are in their late 70's and they were dancing it up. (My parents still work out at the gym 2 days a week!) They asked my Mom first what advice she had for a lasting marriage. She said, "Communication and Cooperation". Then they asked my Dad. He said, "She communicates, I cooperate". Good answer Dad! Additionally, I have video of my Dad from that evening dancing with all of my nieces, my nephews girlfriend and all the "young college kids" hooping and hollering my Dad's name and cheering him on. He seriously has still got the moves! He and my Mom both really inspire me.

When I think about most often why I sew, it does always come back to one theme, family. And friends. Which is why over the weekend, I shared THIS Mystery Sew Along with my friends. Did you play along? If you didn't, you can still go back and follow the tutorial. I'd love to see all of your pumpkins! It would be really cute to make these in different sizes and stack them all around your house this season. I love the pumpkins because you display these clear through Thanksgiving!

So it's your turn to share. Share what inspires you. Share your sew along pumpkins. Share your crafty goodies! You can link back here using this button - here's the code: <a href=”http://twopeasinapoddesigns.com/2011/09/monday-mornings-inspiration-2/”><img src=”http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr225/2peasinapoddesigns/inspiration-button.jpg/”></a>

I'm sponsoring the linky party today and that pretty bridesmaid clutch pictured above...I'm giving that away to one of you! Just link up your posts and we will draw a random winner from the linky participants.

Happy Monday!