Treasuring Shchiteqler (November 10, 2025) – an overview of two museums’ -one in Offenbach, Germany, another Arshcha, Tatarstan, Rossiyan Federation- discoveries.

Our findings on connection of “Kazan” stitch of Kaiyly Kün with “sarma” stitch of leather artistry of the Moroccans contributed to professor Guzel Valeeva-Suleimanova’s talk “Past and Present of the Tatar Leather Art of Kaiyly Kun” at Tatarstan National Museum in Kazan on November 3, 2025.

Connecting the Dots (October 3,2025) post – a recognition of Islamic Arts’ internal harmony, symmetry, order and its undeniable presence in the ancient leather art of the Tatars.

Defining Ageless, Timeless, Borderless (September 7,2025) post – an attempt to freshen up Gayaz Iskhaki’s 1912 fun story “Kezhul Shchiteq” with a cute one-year-old trying out one-of-a-kind tiny shchiteq hand-crafted in 2012.

Stitching the Interconnectedness of Muslim and Turkic Craft through Kazan Zhoyu and Kaiyly Kün (July 19,2025) in-person presentation at Tatar Open House

A Force of Transcending Inspirations (May 19, 2025) post – a tribute to myriads of impactful contributions that have shaped ornamented footwear. A call for a respectful and appreciative mindset: different, versatile, distinct people and cultures contribute and inspire the evolution of material heritage that is interconnected, and, thus, the most valuable!

Describing Leather Decorative Technology of the Tatar People (April 11,2025) in-person presentation at George Washington University Textile Museum

Celebrating the Beauty (March 8,2025) post – a quick dive into touching poetry of Tatar poet Gulnaz Deniz, that is as beautiful in its original Tatar language as the Art of Quiely Qün (Tatar Leather Mosaic)

Exploring the Labyrinth in Marrakech (February 11,2025) post – a journey to Morocco to be lost in Marrakech medina souks and in search of “sarma” stitch that is almost identical to manual “Kazan” stitch.

Compare the Boots! (December 25,2024) post – a lineup with six boots each uniques decorates with leather crafting technologies: leather inlay & overlay, leather mosaic and Tatar leather mosaic.

Kайылы күн – дөнья мирасы (December 16,2024) – online discussion of “Kazan Zhou” documentary and presentation in Tatar about the Art of Kaiyly Kun being a world heritage.

Praise the Hands! (October 9,2024) post – an ode to the “wisdom” of hands of a pianist-virtuoso Ramilya Saubanova, and to the hands of the crafters of Tatar Leather Mosaic items who have mastered the skills for many years.

Symbolic Power of Footwear (July 23,2025) post – a short connecting story of the oldest survived decorated boots from Altai with the Tatar boots – shchiteqler, and the interpretive meaning of the intricate manual ornamentations on them.

Emotional Attachment (February 22,2024) post – a comparison of two boots originated in different places that carry unprecedented similarities in design and technique.

A Tree of Life. Meaningful Life (November 23,2023) post – a brief overview of “tree of life” concept globally and in Tatar Leather Mosaic Art.

Preserving the Arts (September 22,2023) post – a call for action to preserve own minority heritage languages and traditional folk arts. Those are endangered, loosing its speakers, makers, supporters, and in need of attention.

Memory, Spirit and Legacy (July 27,2023) post – a short story of heavy machinery industry, manufacturing, and leather processing and tanning industry in post-Soviet Kazan.

Discovering Tatar Boots in Bukhara (July 20,2023) post – a quest to find traditional footwear of “Uzbekistanees” and a intriguing discovery in Akbar House collection.

Nailya Koumysnikova-Goddess Umai (May 1,2023) post – a recognition of a prominent Tatar leather mosaic designer of modern days.

Rescue a Heritage Language and a Handicraft (February 23,2023) post- a call for action due to dramatic decrease of Tatar language speakers, importance of securing heritage language and handicrafts for wellbeing of a community.

It Is Time for a Hat! One-of-a-kind Hat! (January 14,2023) post – a story of a photo with a man in a hat that is, unexpectedly, decorated with Tatar leather mosaic elements.

Dirt or Snow, Tatar Boots are to Glow! (January 23,2022) post – a story of tradition of wear of Tatar Boots -shchiteqler – with outer boots – qalushlar. A shoutout for the Tatar famous creative minds including Baki Urmanchi.

Wishes for 2022! Thanks to 2021! (January 3,2022) post – an impressive discovery of hand-painted cold-cast porcelain miniature of shchiteq worn by Caroline Ogden-Jones Peter. A brief overview of Paris World Fair of 1925, the USSR’s pavilion and Tatar Folk Art exposition.

How Old Is the Oldest Leather Shoe? (April 1, 2021) post – a table of eight oldest footwear including exceptionally decorated 2300 years old ones found in Pazyryk burials in Altai Mountains.

Exceptional Boot Is Called Shchiteq -(October 17,2014) post – an exploration of “recognizability” of an original Tatar word “shchiteq” for a uniquely designed and decorated boot mastered by the Tatars.