Paper bags may sound like the grocery store alternative to plastic, but Nancy Alexander’s handcrafted paper purses are unique works of art.

Alexander’s art is influenced by the 29 years she spent in New Orleans before moving to Mattapoisett with her family.

Once in New England, the former pre-school teacher decided to try her hand at being a full-time artist, starting Blue Maya Designs in 2006.

“I didn’t have a job. I got started by necessity,” she said. “I’ve always made things by hand, but I never thought you could make a business out of it.”

Alexander’s bags range from iPod cases to large shoulder bags and feature carefully arranged collages of vintage images from the artist’s collection of papers.

“I’ve always collected old bits of paper and postcards,” said Alexander. “I like vintage imagery. I like old things.”

While in New Orleans she amassed a collection of Cuban cigar labels that have inspired many of her designs.

“The visual artwork on the cigar labels really appealed to me,” she said. Alexander’s bags also include imagery from nature, Catholicism and Paris.

Alexander creates her bags at her studio in an old New Bedford mill that she shares with her husband Neil, a freelance photographer, and other artists.

With a large desk to layout her work, Alexander cuts out each image and begins the meticulous process of arranging and rearranging until she’s happy with the design.

Once the design is set, Alexander covers the paper with a protective vinyl coating and appliqués it on her antique Singer sewing machine to bring out the details in the piece.

“It’s quite a process,” said Alexander. “They’re very labor intensive.”

A series of bags can take over a week to complete. Now in her sixth year of business, Alexander admits she’s not good at marketing, but she’s been selling her designs online and taking her work to more shows.

Alexander’s work is currently featured in “The Bug Show” at the Gallery 65 on William’s in New Bedford, a cooperative she started with 13 other artists.

She is also preparing for her largest event of the year, the New Orleans Jazz Festival’s juried contemporary crafts show at the end of April.

“Every year when I sign up I think ‘Oh no, where am I going to come up with 150 new designs?’” she said. “But I start with a nice clean environment get some fresh images of flowers, and it seems to come back.”