20 May 2013

Philofaxy discount on Gillio Compagna planners! - Guest Post -

Hello lovely Philofaxy people…

As you might have seen, I visited the Gillio shop in Brussels yesterday and spent the entire day with Tom and Mieke, who were kind enough to take the time to show me all of their planners and answer all of my questions.

They were delighted to discover that there is a community of planner-lovers out there, a “new market” for the planners they’ve been making for over 15 years now.

They are a Belgian brand, no flagship stores overseas (yet!) and they understand that, as shipping to the US and beyond is expensive, you might be reluctant to purchase one. That’s why they designed a promotion just for you guys: if you buy a Compagna planner (my model), from what they have in stock, in A5, Medium (= personal), Pocket or Mini, before my birthday (June 16th 2013), just use my first name ‘mella’ as promotional code for a stunning 25% discount!

Enjoy and don’t hesitate to ask me any questions you might have about their wonderful collection!

Mella


19 May 2013

Reader Under The Spotlight - The One and Only Kent from Oz

You have seen the hands.... heard his dulcet tones.. now meet the man himself.... 

Here is a photo of me with couple of alien-looking llamas.
I’m the one on the right.
Here is a photo of me with couple of alien-looking llamas. I’m the one on the right.

I am Kent from Oz. I live in sunny Brisbane, Australia. The best place to live in the world. I am an educator and work in Middle School as a Curriculum Projects teacher for a private College. I have four children and my wife is also a teacher. I have used organizers and planners for the last 30-odd years and am currently using an A5 binder. I like anything to do with organizing and the Filofax life is my mission and passion.

I also love to teach. I have an interest in special needs children and especially designing curriculum to help teachers to accommodate kids with different abilities and challenges into the regular classroom. I believe children with special needs deserve the right to a normal and exciting education with their regular peers. I believe special needs kids have so much to offer their regular friends in a fully integrated classroom. I believe we all have challenges and gifts and when it comes down to it, kids are just kids. I gave up the chance to teach and lecture at university level so I can remain in the classroom with the children who never fail to inspire and teach me what it means to live life to the fullest. I have never looked back.

You can find me on the Philofaxy Facebook pages or in my blog Filofaxuations or follow me on Twitter or Instagram See you all in cyberspace.
Kent from OZ

1. When did you buy your first Filofax and what was it?

I was given an original black leather personal size Filofax in 1984 by my sister. Not sure what make it actually was but it was an open one with a clip closure. I really didn’t know how to use it back then and it ended up being a glorified address book for many years. The leather held up well and I finally found it in an old storage box about 2008. A bit mouldy but the rings were still great. A good clean up and it was fine again. The leather ended up a bit dry but I rejuvenated it with leather cream. I have used a series of A5 Collins Debden leather binders since 1995.

2. What other brands have you used or considered using?

I still use the Collins-Debden A5 black Leather binder. Their inserts a good but the binders are not as good as Filofax. I do like the Faber-Castell binder as well. (see Q 8).

3. Out of the organisers you own which is your current favourite (Style and Size)?

I am loving using the simplicity of the A5 black APEX, but I admire the A5 Black Malden and of course the A5 Balmoral. I also like the A5 Flex for it’s versatility and slimline features.

4. How many Filofax organisers do you own?

Well –the truthful answer is 6. But I also own 3 Franklin-Covey and 3 Collins-Debden binders as well – mostly A5 and Personal. I have a tendency to give them away don’t ask me why – it just happens. My love-language is gift-giving. I also have some really useful Franklin-Covey storage binders I got on eBay for a song. They are really handy for storing my enormous collection of dividers and inserts.

5. What is the oldest Filofax in your collection?
My original Personal is over 30 years old. I recently just received a very old Personal black leather one on eBay for a very low price. The inserts that were in it were from 1992.

6. What do you use your Filofax for?

I use it for EVERYTHING! Diary, notes, work, play, reminders, ordering, ideas, dreaming, sketches, postal things, creating, business, meetings, reminders, timetables, puzzles, iPad holder, journaling, planning, renovations and life. It is my fifth child.

7. What was the feature about Filofax you like most?

I just love the leather feel. It is so tactile and elegant. And the smell of opening a new leather Filofax from the box – heaven!  The real leather binder is essential. I think the filofaxes from the golden years were better made. Give me leather any day!

8. If you could design your own Filofax what would it feature?

I really love this one by Faber-Castell but in black leather and with 30mm rings and as long as it lies flat. I love the clip satchel on the left and the pen case on the left. It seems to be all-in-one. They are very expensive but if I ever was given one, I would call it Satchmo!



9. How do you carry your Filofax?

Always have it in my hand – it lives on my desk at home and at my desk at work. I say goodnight to it though and leave it on the desk. I have an A5 Flex on my nightstand for jottings, scribbles and ideas – that works best for me.

10. Which Filofax in the current range do you like the most? Are you going to buy it?

I am in love with the black A5 Balmoral and am looking out for one. Patience is virtue they say. And all good things come to those who wait. So, I am patiently waiting ☺.

11. What is the most you have ever spent on a Filofax? Which model?

Believe it or not, only around £29 for a . . . .hang on . . . . it’s a secret!!!!

12. What's your favourite Filofax tip or hack?

Anything from Kent from OZ. He is so brilliant. I love listening to his calming voice and his constantly moving hands. I think I have a man-crush on him! But seriously, I really like the tip by Ray Blake about printing on Post-it notes – Genius!!!

13. Turning to Philofaxy, what do you like the most?

I love Adspot and the Video and Web summaries. It makes my life easier to have it all in one place – well done to whoever does this as I am sure it is a mammoth task. I am always going back to the earlier posts – you can never learn too much from everybody else.

14. And what do you not like about Philofaxy?

To be honest, (and it is only a pet peeve) I love it all except for the brownish-beige colours of the blog template. It is a bit too drab.

15. What was the last music track you downloaded or bought?

Oh God . . . . honestly it was the Les Miserables movie soundtrack  . . . I am such a nerdified dork!!!

16. Katie Price or Kate Middleton?

Who’s Katie Price? ☺  I don't think Mrs Kent from Oz would approve...

Thank you Kent, a gentleman as always... and of course if you would like to appear on our Reader Under The Spotlight feature...
Please contact philofaxy at gmail dot com

18 May 2013

Web Finds and Video Web Finds - 18 May 2012

Here are the latest Filofax blog posts from around the Internet:
  1. Too Many To-Dos - Quo Vadis Blog
  2. Dilemma... again. - Practically Pretty
  3. Filofax's New 2013 Range - Webster's Pen Shop 
  4. The Leather Satchel Company - Lady Tamlynn
  5. FiloFRENZY!!!! - Filofaxuation
  6. So The Question Is… - Filofaxuation
  7. At a standstill - No so Boring
  8. A little Filo-Flashing… - MellaMania
  9. Ongoing conversation... - Planner Chicks
  10. Redid my cash envelope system today - The Crazy Suburban Mom
  11. I blame my mother. - MellaMania
  12. The Leather Satchel Company - Lady Tamlynn
  13. Review: Filofax 'The Original' A5 Yellow - The Life of The Perpetual Student 
  14. Doodle Filofax Competiton - It's My Life!
  15. Meine neuesten Filofaxzugänge - Janas Book Look
  16. 3. Meet up in München - Filomaniac
  17. Electronic Planning vs. Paper Planning: Why I Prefer Paper - Homemakers Daily
  18. The 2014 Punctuate Binders are up on B&N - The Crazy Suburban Mom 
  19. Sexy red Filofax:The Personal Malden in crimson :o... - Chrissie's Universe
  20. 10 ADHD/ADD Organizing Strategies That Work For Everyone - Homemakers Daily
  21. My Philofaxy Story - Jagged Little Thoughts
  22. Student Organisation (with a few mini product reviews) Nine Grand Student
  23. my APEX planner - Nerd-Zilla
  24. My trusty Filofax - Ink Drops
  25. Filofax Original, my retro stationery crush - Women's Room
  26. Money, money, money - Nothing's Original Anymore 
  27. Make Room For Family – Finding Work-Life Balance - Day-Timer Blog
And here are the Filofax Videos
  1. Filofax Tip No 44 - How to Stretch Your Leather Filofax Pen Loop - Kent from Oz 
  2. 2013, Filofax Personal Purple Domino - Redtintedcrayons
  3. Colour Coding my Filofax Diary! - AdamsFilo
  4. My new Filofax! Quick share - mam1016
  5. Filofax Aston update - FrillyLeela7
  6. Kent from Oz Filofax Update - May 2013 - Kent from Oz
  7. Filofax: First Setup Attempt - ohaijoy
  8. My new Filofax-the Lavender Metropol in personal size! - KRCampbell42
  9. FILOFAX SAFFIANO PERSONAL AQUA - Life0Adapted
  10. Mini Filofax update: zip pocket hack - Ju La
  11. What's in My Filofax Pocket Finsbury? - TheGLOSSette
  12. Organizing Tips for Filofax, Markers, Washi, & Nail Polish - mypurpleylife
  13. A tour of my mini Portobello Filofax wallet - Janis Bennett
  14. Filofax personal Malden Set-Up - Erica McKinley
  15. A vintage slimline, an old Bond Street organizer, and a rant about slow Franklin Covey shipping - Joshua LaPorte
  16. The jolly green giant... For work planning - Joshua LaPorte
  17. The Dodo AcadPad wall pad - Joshua LaPorte
  18. The Franklin Covey Starter Pack - Joshua LaPorte
  19. My first Filofax! - happyscrappingirl
Enjoy

Don't forget to visit Write at Home. As a special offer until the end of May, enter the promo code philofaxy at the check out to get 5% off your order.

17 May 2013

Free For All Friday No 235

Today is World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.
Its purpose is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the internet and other ICT can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide. I think it's great that my love of pen and paper has led me to this wonderful online community, and it would have been much harder to find fellow Filo-enthusiasts without the internet.
How has Philofaxy added to your overall experience of using Filofax?

And as it's Friday, please feel free to discuss anything Filofax or ringbound planner related.

16 May 2013

Write at Home - Retailer Under The Spotlight - Update

Write at Home is a small family run business based in rural Perthshire, Scotland.  David and I set up the business three years ago and it is growing in popularity as we reawaken the love of stationery in the Great British public!

We have a wide range of beautiful stationery ranging from ink and quills to Crown Mill Writing Paper and of course Filofax!  We have been awaiting the new product range with baited breath and our patience has finally paid off with the first of the new ranges now in stock!

As a small firm we pride ourselves on providing a personal service.  We will take the time to find out what Philofaxy members want from their organisers and try to find the best solution for them.

We are stationers with a difference in that we are mobile!  By that we mean that we do not have a bricks and mortar shop, but we get out and about around the country going to all sorts of events ranging from local markets to Country Living Fairs to boat shows and we are hoping to introduce Write at Home to Chris Evans (Radio 2 DJ) at one of his Carfest festivals in August!!

As you can see 2013 is going to be a busy year for Write at Home as we are attending events from Elgin right down to Cheltenham in Gloucestershire and everywhere in between!!!  We would love to meet fellow Philofaxers while we are on our travels and there is always a discount to be given!!

Our website is continually evolving as we are always searching for new and exciting stationery products which are not readily available on the High Street.  We have our own range of children’s stationery, the Catriona Mary range, which has proved to be incredibly popular.  It is expanding as the year goes on with lots of exciting new products in the pipeline!

We hope you enjoy our website and look forward to getting to know our fellow Philofaxers much better!

As a special offer until the end of May, enter the promo code philofaxy at the check out to get 5% off your order.

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