I don't know what to write today. I've been a bit in limbo for the past few days as far as crafting is concerned as we lost someone very dear to us crafters and it knocked me for a bit of a six. My desk just has unfinished things on it, or things that went wrong when I tried to do them (ie the journal closed up so you don't see the mess I made of a simple workshop), the two unfinished books.
Our lovely Queen of Enabling, Shaz, left this mortal world on Saturday, after fighting so hard to remain with her beloved husband, Doug. She was one heck of a tough cookie and had suffered so much, but guess her mind was that much stronger than her body and she had eventually to let go. If ever two people were meant for one another it was Doug N' Shaz. Doug has asked that wer write, on their Facebook age, how we met and attach, if we can, any photos we have. Up to now I have not been able to do it, but maybe now I can.
As for photos there is this one from the Crop in 2018 - I have yet to see a photo of Shaz not smiling, that I must use.
Shaz, me and Shaz in Oz
It is from WOYWW that I first knew Shaz but I got to meet her and Doug several extra times at Port Sunny when they came up to the shows. I love this photograph of them both.
Has there ever been a photograph of Shaz where she is not smiling? Even when not well she had a smile for you. She certainly was willing to pass on her knowledge of how to do things and I well remember how she used to bring all of her dies (and she had a helluva collection) just for us to use as we wished at the Crops. One thing I particularly remember is when she started colouring in figures with pencil crayons. I could not believe the perfection she got using them. But she was not satisfied that day at the Crop and she went on to perfect and perfect her technique.
She was amazing in all that she did. She shared anything and everything, techniques she tried out, short cuts in crafting, her immense knowledge of products and her enabling. I think there are many WOYWW'ers who have bought something because they knew they could trust the product because it had been tried and tested by Shaz.
And so today I mourn the loss of a wonderful lady, but am thankful that, as her husband Doug said, she passed peacefully in her sleep. I only hope Doug will keep in touch with us all through the land of blogging and when we can once more meet up again at a Crop, that he will be there as one of us.
Shaz and I shared a love of Steampunk and Dragons in particular. I had this bought for me at a Steampunk Exhibition I went to and intended wearing it at the next Crop (which didn't happen) to show to my friend Shaz Silverwolf.
I will wear it with honour and remember Shaz, our friend and her lovely husband Doug on a special day.
She will be missed by so many, a true legend amongst us crafters.
41 comments:
A great tribute to a great lady Neet. RIP Shaz - she would have loved that dragon! Stay safe. Sarah #6
I feel sorry about your loss of dear friend Shaz.
You write so beautifully about her that I'm touched, too.
Take care xx
So sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. Such beautiful writing and a lovely way to remember her. Sending love x
Such a lovely tribute to Shaz and lovey photos as well. Yes, her smile lit up a room, and the love she and Doug share never failed to lift your heart. She is missed.
Hugs to all on a sad WOYWW day.
Mary Anne (1)
What a brilliant and heartfelt tribute to Shaz, I have so enjoyed reading about other people’s experiences with her. You’re right, she was always smiling and never ever took a bad photo. I really feel for Doug, it must be devastating for him when you’re as close as they were. The dragon necklace is gorgeous and how lovely that you’ll think of her every time you put it on.
Hugs LLJ 9 xxx
What a beautiful blog post and such a great tribute to Shaz. I didn't get to meet her in real life but her warm, kind and generous nature just shone through in the blog conversations we had over the last 9 or 10 years. I can label an awful lot of my crafty stash as having come from a Shaz post!
Take care and sending hugs,
Diana xx #22
Such a lovely post and reflection on Shaz. She will be sorely missed from the woyww posts.
Shaz would of been very pleased got see you wearing the dragon. Have a creative week.
Sandra de @28
Really beautiful tribute to Shaz Neet and you are so right, i've not seen a photograph of Shaz without her amazing smile, how I wish I had met her. Wear that necklace in her honour, she would have loved it for sure.
Take care of yourself Hugs Tracey xx
That's a lovely tribute, Neet! I must check out Doug's FB post - I have a photo of Shaz and me too from the last crop that I could share - the only time I met her. WOYWW will be weird without her :(( Hope you're well otherwise and your mojo will come back soon - Shaz would want you to enjoy creating xx zsuzsa #31
A wonderful tribute Neet - Shaz really was something special to so many folk wasn't she. Your dragon necklace is gorgeous and Shaz would have loved it I'm sure. Wear it with pride next time we meet up. Keep smiling - she wouldn't want us to be sad. xx Jo
I’m sorry I’m so late visiting this week. I’ve been head down making Memory bears this morning.
Such a beautiful tribute of our special friend. She touched the hearts of so many.
Hugs, Annie x #9
Hi Neet. That's beautiful. Well done! hard to write, as you knew her and Doug so well. Enjoy wearing your dragon.
Take care. God bless.
Margaret #29
Sorry you lost such a good friend, so sad! Hugs, Valerie
Aww Neet how lovely (((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))). I didn't get to meet Shaz IRL but she still felt like a friend and I will miss her posts. Sorry I am so late getting round - went to get jabbed. :) Take Care lovely xxx. I will pop by again soon ( even if I don't get the chance to post) xxx Soojay
Lovely tribute.
BJ#23
What a fabulous fabulous necklace! Thank you for your kind words on my writing this morning, it's lovely of you to notice and mention it. The wire basket on the front of my trolley came from Ikea when they first started doing the Raskogs. I'm sure it was in the kitchen bit but I have no idea if they still do them. Much love on this difficult day, Lisa-Jane #7
Neet, what a truly sweet and heart-felt tribute to Shaz!! I know all of you ladies that knew her well and on a personal level will miss her dearly for so many reasons!! She, it sounds, had a special way of bonding with anyone she met through crafting, music or it would seem, jewelry!! What a treasure you have and something to always make you think of her and "smile!" Blessings to you and the rest of your week! I LOVE the photo!! Felicia, #34
Hi Neet, a lovely tribute and some great photos of Shaz. The only small comfort is that she passed away peacefully in her sleep. I shall miss her enabling and her tutorials. I remember at one of the Crops the Gorjuss figures she was colouring in - and you telling me to go and look at what she was doing and how marvellous her colouring was. You were not wrong! The world had lost an amazingly wonderful crafter. Take care my friend, hugs Heather xx #19
That is a lovely necklace! I can see Shaz would have liked it too. and a wonderful tribute too. Stay Safe, keep crafting! WOYWW? ((Lyn)) #13
What a beautiful tribute to Shaz, Neet and the photo of you all is a lovely happy one.
Take care, keep smiling.
Love Lynn xx
So very sorry to hear about your friend, Neet. I was with you when you last met her at Port Sunny, if you remember. She was a ray of sunshine. Love your necklace and that's a lovely sentiment, to wear it in her honour.
Sorry your sadness has robbed your creativity. Some people's passing affect us far more than others, doesn't it?
Thinking of you. Big hugs!
Cath
xxx
PS, it seems inappropriate to say I love the die you're using, but I do! Sorry :-(
Well said, Neet! No, I never saw her not smiling! even those days of her early treatment, she raised a smile from her hospital bed. Brave and lovely to the end. the dragon necklace is beautiful! Helen #2
I started off okay today with the visits, walked dogs and went into the cabin and now I don't know where the time went to! Shaz will never have really left us because her blog will keep her alive for us and I can tell you it wont be the last time I pop over there for some ideas when I get stuck, God Bless her. Have a lovely creative woyww, Angela,x18x
Sorry forgotten to answer your question. The Vases you can see are stamps but I also have the dies and stencil too...naughty I know! xXx
So many fond memories of Shaz! You will have wonderful memories of your friend.
Hugz,
Chana Malkah, #36
Neet, thanks for sharing your memories of Shaz, she was such a special person, and we all have different memories of her, and can get comfort from hearing others memories, and yes she was always smiling.
Chris #15
A lovely tribute to Shaz . Take care x Angela 21
Lovely memories of Shaz. I'm sorry I never met her in person, as we had a lot of the same likes. Like that dragon! So beautiful. Now that she's where she can see all, I'm sure she's enjoying it from above. I used to love seeing all the steampunk photos and the concerts she and Doug went to. You are right, she was always smiling, you would never know anything was wrong. She will definitely be missed. Thanks for your visit, Lindart #35
Such a beautiful tribute to Shaz, Neet. Each blog I visit, where her friends have remembered her in special ways, brings fresh tears to my eyes. It is so devastating, and so unfair - the brutal lottery called cancer can call out one but let another go free, and at the beginning of the journey there's no knowing which you are going to be. She was so brave and strong dealing with it all. I shall never forget her support and help during my treatment. Each one of us has something special to remember her by - whether it be a card, a paper trimmer, a special necklace - in my case it's Kermit (my stoma) who constantly reminds me of his little friend Sid, who has sadly accompanied Shaz on her final journey.
I am not surprised your mojo has fled for now. Mojos are sensitive creatures and often leave us when we have to concentrate on grief or stress. I am sure he will be back, though, and on his return you will start to remember Shaz without tears.
I agree with you about Doug and Shaz - joined at the hip and at the heart. They were such a blessing to each other, and Doug must feel that half his heart has been ripped away. I pray for peace, comfort and strength for this lovely man. I am sure that he will be there at future meetings to represent Shaz and to keep in touch with everybody.
I used to belong to an embroidery group and we had a Queen of a lady there (founder member, and an absolute expert and perfectionist), who was always there for us all and tirelessly helping us out if we were finding techniques difficult etc., and her lovely hubby used to attend every meeting, and make tea for us, and generally give moral support. When she died, the organisation made him a life member. Husbands like this are an absolute treasure and I know that this whole group will continue to love and care for Doug, and help him in any way we can.
I hope you manage to compose a piece for the Facebook page. When you do, I know it will be beautiful. I'd love to see a copy of it.
Thank you for your visit, and I'm glad the kitties continue to delight you with their antics, even when asleep! I'm glad you liked the card I made, too. It was all done rather quickly - events seemed to catch up with me this week and I was very tired and thought I'd never get one made in time for him.
I know what you mean about Tesco's herbs - I bought a really manky mint plant a couple of weeks ago - all leggy stems and hardly any leaves!! We don't have much choice though, do we... Anyway, today I made the second pudding with the Yucky Yoghurt, this time with frozen cherries and it was very good. I think there's only one more pot to go now!
Thank you so much for all your kind words about my work! I do love to design things myself. I did those Hebrew designs so many years ago and it was fun digging them out again, and I'm very grateful to that lady for asking for one of them. It brought back lots of happy memories. Our Hebrew class was another group that was incredibly supportive of each other - if anyone had a problem, whether personal, financial or whatever, we'd put our books down and devote the time to try and comfort and help. People do rally round. That group was more like a church fellowship group than a class and I loved it.
I haven't given up Zentangle - just in a different phase at the moment. I know I shall return to it in due course so watch this space!
Hugs and God bless,
Shoshi x #25
Oh Neet, it is heard when we loose a great friend who is so generous with her 'stuff' her time and her expertise. Grief is a peculiar thing, and so i encourage to to take card of yourself and don't beat yourself up if you can't craft in the short term. But I have no doubt Shaz would have strong words for you if you gave up altogether!
Stay safe
Blessings
Maxine
Well said Neet, a lovely tribute. I love that pic of Shaz and Doug together, and I agree, she was a very photogenic human bean and always quicker to smile and laugh than many.
Hello Neet. Thanks for your visit. Sorry I'm so late. Your tribute is so lovely. I look forward to sitting and chatting at the next crop 🤞 hopefully in not too distant future. Take care. Hugs. Anne x 33
Lovely words...
And I LOVE that necklace!
Susan #5
Neet, please don't worry about not sending an email. I checked Shaz's blog a few times last week and not seeing any updates I thought no news is good news and I was convinced that she was pulling through. Yes, it was a huge shock to find out on Wednesday morning - after I had convinced myself that she would be ok - but it was so lovely to read everybody else's tributes and knowing that Shaz will continue to be with us in spirit. I'm still coming to terms with her passing but it's not the first time we've lost a desker and inevitably not the last time either. It's nice to know that we can support each other as a community during these sad times. xx
Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. She must have touched so many people online as I have seen her name mentioned a lot. I love your dragon necklace. Enjoy wearing it and thinking of your friend. Hugs-Erika
Hi Neet! Hope you are well. Like you losing Shaz has knocked me a bit for six! I haven't been able to concentrate much on anything. I'm glad you liked the card - just a bit of fun I was doing with my daughter, we sent out a bunch and I didn't hear about Shaz till after they'd gone in the postbox - thought maybe my timing was a bit off. Lovely to read all the great comments about smiley Shaz. Sorry about the late visit, was a bit poorly Weds and had to go to bed for a bit!! Love n hugs, Cindyxx #20
Neet, that was a beautifultribute to Shaz. I'm so sorry you've lost your friend.
Your dragon necklace is a wonderful way to remember her
sending hugs
Lynnecrafts 30
Beautiful words and thank you for sharing the photos. I regret so much that I have missed out on the Crops, but especially now I will not get to meet Shaz. Ali x
So sorry to hear your news today, that's so very sad and my heart goes out to you and her family! You are in my thoughts and prayers - sending wishes of comfort and peace! Love and hugs, Jo x
What a treasure Shaz was and she will be so missed! This is a lovely tribute to her! It is hard to go through a day at the moment without thinking of her. Hugs, Chrisx
What a lovely post paying tribute to smiling Shaz - she sounds like a wonderful person, someone to celebrate having had in your life. Sending hugs xx
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