AKIPRESS.COM - Having retired from a long career in teaching, Nurkamal Turdumambetova has embraced needlework, continuing the rich legacy of Kyrgyz women.

Born on January 1, 1968, in Dolon village, Tyup district, Issyk-Kul region, Nurkamal and her husband raised five sons. Now, she creates various handcrafted items alongside other local artisans.

"I worked as an elementary school teacher for 37 years," Nurkamal said. "Children are very interested in making things with their own hands. I taught them to create various items from paper and other age-appropriate materials."

She recalled many unforgettable and amusing stories from her time teaching young children. "They have such pure hearts. They'll say whatever they see. They'd tell me about different things happening at home and make me laugh. Once, a student told me he hadn't done his homework because his dad's friends were visiting. When I asked why he hadn't done it in the morning, he said the guests stayed so long that breakfast was also set up. Because the table was occupied, he couldn't do his math. That really made me laugh. Working with children is wonderful; I still remember their various antics."

After officially retiring, Nurkamal Turdumambetova continued to teach for another six years, only fully stepping away from work last year.

"My fellow villagers and I decided not to be idle in retirement and to take up handicrafts," she shared. "My interest in crafts was passed down from my parents – my mother was an artisan, and my father was a carpenter. That's why handcrafts have been close to my heart since childhood."

Nurkamal creates shyrdaks (traditional felt rugs) and beautiful souvenirs, which she also exhibits at fairs and exhibitions.

"We work with our fellow villagers, help each other, and craft together. This way, we spend our time in an interesting and useful way. We try to make everything from high-quality, clean wool. We buy the wool. It's very good for health, and wool items are natural and pure," she said.

While Nurkamal raised sons and has no daughters, she is now passing on the legacy to her granddaughter. "I don't have a daughter, but my granddaughter takes after me and is very interested in needlework. She's only 8 years old, but she already makes various things on her own. I want to take her with me and teach her the secrets of my craft."

Among her sons, the eldest has followed a similar path, crafting various items from metal.

Turdumambetova sells her creations for prices ranging from 800 soms to 20,000 soms. Her customers include foreigners. "Foreigners mostly buy felt seat cushions. At a recent fair in Karakol, tourists from India bought such cushions for 800 soms," she added.