Together with his wife, he raises 6 daughters and 3 sons.
“I have been interested in craftsmanship since childhood. Because my maternal grandfather was a blacksmith, and my paternal grandfather was a craftsman. When I also started working with wood, dreaming of making saddles, my father supported me and provided me with all the tools. Then I learned the intricacies of working with wood and mastered how to dry it properly. For example, I carve the komuz from apricot wood. And I make saddles from birch and willow.
If I say that I spend years making my products, I won’t be mistaken. Because the preparation starts a year in advance. First, we harvest the wood, then, to protect it from the wind, we leave it in a dry place using a special method and wait. Willow should be cut in late autumn when its sap has already gone, or in early spring—before the sap starts flowing. It is stored for a whole year and dries out. Only then can something be made from it.
Since ancient times, our ancestors determined the price of a saddle as "one sheep." This price is still maintained today. For example, today it is 20,000–25,000 soms. The most expensive item I was asked for was a model of a deer head. They offered 400 dollars for it, but I didn’t sell it. For me, each product is priceless. I make everything with the same love,” Bulanbekov shared.
His wife is named Gulnara Zhilkybaeva. Together, they are parents to nine children.
“Right now, three are studying in school. All the others already have professions: nurse, dental technician, financier, veterinarian. But all our children are talented. All my daughters know how to sew and knit, and thanks to this, they earn extra income. The older daughters are already married—they live happily.
My wife and I raise all our children, giving them all our love: in the summer, we engage in farming, and when it gets cold, we do craftsmanship. In addition, I am known as a hunter. We go out in groups to hunt predators, and we sell their skins to the state. We respond to calls in areas where predators attack livestock and help solve this problem.
I am the happiest husband and the happiest father. Seeing the happiness of each of our sons and daughters is a great happiness for me,” Kabylan shared.
