inspired By Mother Nature purses

inspired By Mother Nature 
American designer Ms. Kathleen Dustin has created an extraordinary collection of purses – disguised to look like real flowers, stones and even a cactus. The bold accessories, sell for as much as 1000 pounds and look like the real thing. 

Made from clay, the exotic looking flowers and grasses, stones and seed pods all cleverly open to reveal space to keep your belongings. Ms Dustin, 58, said the purses are designed for women who are confident about their style. 'Most people are amazed at them. She said.
"They are for the woman who is very confident in her own personal style because they make a very strong statement."
Ms Dustin, from New Hampshire in America, said she had drawn her inspiration from observations made throughout her life.
She explained: "The imagery of my work comes from taking a deep look at my life, responding to it, and expressing it so that it strikes a chord in someone else too, encouraging them to pay attention." The designer hoped her functional purses would encourage people to engage more with nature.
She said: "I've been paying attention to elements in the woods such as seed pods, buds, moss, grasses, leaves, sticks and stones.
"My hope is that it causes someone to pay attention to a tiny seed pod or to the feeling of grass under ones feet, to pay attention to the small mundane things in one's life. "These purses are functional; you are supposed to touch them, caress them and examine them." Ms Dustin only makes 200 of the limited edition purses a year-each is painstakingly handmade by the designer.
Using coloured Polymer clay Ms Dustin sculpts the extraordinary designs before baking them in an oven.
She said. "When finished they are flexible and lightweight so they can be banged around and are quite functional. "My idea is for someone to use a purse from time to time for special events and then display it when not in use."
Ms Dustin's designs, which are all unique, range from £200 to £1000. •