Notes on Shaz

My friend and WOYWWer Shaz Silverwolf died last weekend, defeated by cancer. It may be a cliche, but she fought a long and brave battle; did you ever hear her complain? No,nor me. Her devoted and loving husband told Jan that she slipped away in her sleep and he was grateful to the hospital staff who kept her pain free and allowed him to be with her. Those of us that loved her will be forever grateful for that.

I met Shaz online, in 2010. I was intimidated, to be honest. Her blog was full of interest, and her projects where amazing. But they weren’t the sort of stuff I was doing. Shaz was using brands and products I hadn’t even heard of and making wonderful cards. If you’ve ever visited her desk for WOYWW, you will know about her passion for the research and development....she would plunge in and try everything and anything and report on her blog about usefulness, value, and best ideas. She never failed to share her craft knowledge. Or her stuff. I can still see Doug lugging in the boxes of dies they brought to WOYWW crops so that we could all use them. And we did. I’ve spent some time going back through her blog over the last few days. It is an incredible resource for any paper crafter, I recommend you browse at leisure. 

                                         
If you met Shaz, you will hear her voice as you read her posts. I love the bits where she’s honest about the longevity or value of a product, reminds me that Shaz was a woman who could only tell truth, and was rightfully unapologetic about it, whether it  was a craft product, a hotel room without air con or the cake you’ve just offered her. There was no malice, it was just how it was. It’s a skill isn’t it, to be frank and open about everything, and leave no one smarting. She once told me that she thought it was hilarious that someone had described her as ‘a bit marmite’. Love her or hate her. I can hear her laughing and see her shoulders going up and down ; I really think she thought the funny part was that anyone should even bother to have an opinion about her; it never occurred to her to be self important or big headed. 

Lifted from her blog. I don’t think Shaz ever had a naff picture taken!

 I think a lot of people would have had an opinion about Shaz. And had it changed when they met her. I did. She didn’t look like any other ordinary middle aged woman. She dressed in all black and had beautiful long red blue and purple hair. A fan of the heaviest of metal music and a woman who informed herself. Shaz knew who she was and was perfectly happy in her skin; I don’t know if she even noticed the surprise her appearance caused on meeting for the first time. She was certainly too polite to say so, and probably that’s a good thing because I’m pretty confident that I know what she’d have had to say about people judging books by their covers! 

Shaz had Doug her hublet, grown up children, and between them a large, close and loving family. Doug and she drove miles in pursuit of fun and friendship, WOYWW crops were visited no matter how far from Redditch, even in early planning stages when I wasn’t convinced that anyone would come, I remember that Jan assured me that we could count on Shaz and Doug being there. And they always were. Their travels were made of the sort of adventures you get when you take the road less travelled - see a brown sign and think, oooh let’s detour and go see this or that. As long as they were together, they were having a good time.

No memory of Shaz and her blog can avoid the label she quickly earned from fellow Deskers- Chief Enabler. She was terrific at it, not least because as I’ve mentioned, she didn’t just photograph her new stuff, she told us where to get it at best price, how best to utilise it and sometimes, even how to store it. Possibly her greatest achievement in this department would be the purchase by LLJ of the Tim Holtz deckle edge trimmer. I think she was a bit pleased about that! However, there is another side to this enabling coin. Doug. Doug was her enabler. There are countless posts recalling a trip to a shop or craft show where having made some sensible choices, Doug would pile up her basket, particularly with more stamps, it seems. Reasons such as ‘I like it’, ‘I’m pretty sure you’ll want it when we’ve left’ and ‘why not’ seem to be Doug’s stock responses to what I can only imagine would be quite feeble protestation from Shaz. And why not. A partner who understands your ‘thing’ is wonderful, but a partner who contributes and supports you in doing your ‘thing’ is even more wonderful huh. 

My favourite ‘and finally’ from her WOYWW posts. As head of R&D, this could have been true!

My life is the richer for having known Shaz, my blogging improved after reading hers. I stopped fretting about whether I fitted in and just went with my crafting style. I’ve bought some stuff that I probably wouldn’t have: Distress oxides, and ironically, the aforementioned deckle edge trimmer. I’ve rejoiced in her friendship.  I’ve had giggly phone conversations regarding tech stuff that I just couldn’t understand, and wasn’t judged. I’ve had some beautiful cards. I’ve had hugs that made me feel like family. Of all the things I have to say, could say or have said, this one thing is constant - I will miss her.