Bożena Bochomulska

Bożena Bochomulska – A pattern cutting and sewing master

When they met each other, something just clicked. They like each other, so their cooperation is excellent. Bożena can devote to her artistic work and pursue a profession of a sewer. Her good spirit is Zofia Gadomska, who sews Kurpie shirts and crochets apron insertions. Once Zofia searched for somebody with tailoring training, who would help her in sewing complete folk costumes. And that is how it all started. As a result, Bożena Bochomulska has a regular job, because among locals (and not only) folk costumes have seen something of a renaissance lately.

Having her own business gives her enormous satisfaction and the sense of achievement, although she earned a living in Germany not so long ago, missing the country and Kurpie. She feels free in her workroom in Kadzidło. She works everyday and she has time to go for a walk, mushrooms or juniper berries used to make psiwo kozicowe (light beer brewed in Masovia), soaking up Kurpie with her whole heart, body, soul and … palate. Mushroom stew which she makes is a real masterwork.

Bożena puts all her efforts to sew costumes of the highest quality and with artistry.

She takes special care to copy accurately particular elements of a Kurpie costume. She sews for locals for whom a folk costume becomes again an object of desire – more and more people want to have such original costume in their wardrobes. Following the latest fashion trends, she makes Kurpie christening, First Communion and confirmation costumes. She makes also pillows, dolls dressed in regional costumes and matching red beads, which she threads on a string on her own. She sews costumes in different sizes, also for stock, as an urgent order might always be placed. On the other hand, her mother-in-law, Helena Bochomulska, crochets beautiful lamb wool or soft merino wool shawls.

Bożena cooperates with pr. Mieczysław Mieszko Kurpie Culture Centre in Kadzidło – a substantial part of the “Kurpianka-Cepelia” folk ensemble’s garments was sewn by her. She participates also in fairs and local events, treating this participation as an excellent opportunity to show her own works. She is a laureate of the “On the Kurpies’ Trail” (“Śladami Kurpiów”) Award of the Head of the Municipality of Kadzidło and one of the youngest participant of the project Masovian Route of Traditions.