This is my first try at a gourd purse. I think it turned out real nice but I have to say it is more of a decorative piece because the thickness of the gourd. It really should be a bit thicker for more strength. It can be used but you would need to be careful with it. The design is dremel tooled in and gourd dyes used for color. The hinges and front closure is a golden buckskin. The front closure also uses a golden horn hair pipe and red and green glass beads along with two metal copper beads and really nice antiqued bone feathers. The long braided shoulder strap also has the bone feathers and beads. The gourd measures about 7" round.