17 January 2012

Free For All Tuesday No. 50

So what questions do you have for us this week?

And for our new readers... Firstly Welcome.. and feel at home and feel free to ask any Filofax questions, this is a regular feature every Tuesday.

Fire away.

49 comments:

  1. Hello! Thanks for the welcoming note for newbies like me. :) I will start the questions then:
    I have searched and found a lot of comments and positive reviews on the Malden organizers. I couldn't find much regarding Aston and Baroque. Are they comparable with the Malden? Is the Baroque one been discontinued?

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  2. @Lime Tree In my opinion the Aston and Barogue are lovely binders and I prefer them to the Malden. It depends on which leather you prefer, and also which internal layout suits your use of the system.

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  3. Hi Lime Tree,
    Welcome.

    We have a couple of posts on the Aston:

    http://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2011/06/filofax-aston-review.html

    and

    http://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2011/12/aston-filofax-in-orchid.html


    The Baroque has been discontinued, although it continued to be for sale in France and Germany for a while, which is a typical sort of pattern we find.

    The Aston has very similar soft leather to the Finchley

    Steve

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    1. Yay! Finally found a Baroque! (personal size) :D <3 ... but... It's too expensive. T_T

      But thanks for the tip! I wouldn't have thought to check those websites otherwise. :)

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  5. Hello!

    @Lime Tree: I bought an Aston in the Orchid colour (pocket) just before Christmas. It was really gorgeous, but I found the pen loop to be VERY tight so unfortunately I'm currently selling it on eBay. If you're fussy about what sort of pen you use (which I am), it might not be for you. Otherwise, go for it!

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  6. Good morning everyone!

    I have a question. I have recently started reading “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin. I love it! I feel happier already and I’m only a third of the way through the book!

    Anyway, at the weekend I won a Personal Finchley Filofax in Teal on eBay (£28 – a bargain!). It’s really beautiful and has only been used a handful of times. The reason I bought it is because I want to use this as my “Happiness Project/Personal Development/Fun” Filofax. I currently use a Pocket Finsbury Filofax in Aqua for my appointments/reminders/to dos – this is basically my “Responsibilities” Filofax and I may even go down to my Mini Aqua Finsbury for this. My problem is that I put so much focus on my responsibilities as a wife/mother/worker etc that I hardly ever focus on anything else – like fun and personal development.

    My question (you knew I’d get there eventually eh?!) is this: how can I organise my Personal Filofax as my “Happiness Project/Personal Development/Fun” Filofax? It came with a week per page diary, some strange-looking day planner sheets from 1983 (!!), a few pages of ruled paper and some to do lists, as well as the usual dividers and addresses section. I’m willing to buy more inserts if necessary but I would prefer to keep the cost down. I recently bought a Rapesco punch so I’m certainly not averse to making my own inserts!

    Does anyone have any ideas for me? Have you done this before?

    Thanks muchly! Lucy x

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  7. @Lucy I love the idea of using a filo for that kind of thing! It reminds me a lot of Gala Darlings "Radical Self Love" idea (http://galadarling.com/article/radical-self-love-questions)
    You could use the diary pages to keep track of gratitude lists (writing down things that day that you're grateful for, things that have made you happy). I suppose it really depends what direction you want to take things in & what areas you want to develop in - that sort of thing. You could think about your "happiness" goals & then dedicate a section to each goal. Like taking time to read more, or putting together a wishlist of things you really want but maybe don't really need. I personally really love the plastic sleeve inserts, because you can stick all kinds of great stuff in there - photos that make you smile, tickets from a great movie you saw, that kind of thing. I hope my ideas can help in some way, & best wishes with your happiness project!

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  8. We have a Philofaxy Happiness Project group on Facebook! Join us!

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/hpphilofaxy/

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  9. @Lucy I use EXACTLY the same filofax for EXACTLY the same thing! Happiness must just radiate out of teal finchleys! Unfortunately I haven't had time to set mine up yet... :(

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  10. @ Emily: Thanks for your good ideas! I'll check out the link too. Anything to help!

    @ Laurie: Yes I joined the Facebook group yesterday!

    @ The Perpetual Student: Wow - that's just weird! I'd be really interested to know how you set yours up. I'm currently reading through the book and intend to read it again once I've finished but take notes the second time round. My new Filo will certainly come in handy for that.

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  11. Hi everyone!!
    I have a A5 Domino in brown and an A5 Malden in Ochre. I am looking to either temp trade or sell either/both of them for a Personal size binder (any color). I have a whole new packet of yellow lined paper, 40+ sheets of notepaper, a new notepad, 3 page markers, tabs (A-Z, blank and numbered),2012 Wo2P diary, 2 zip pouches,and card holder slots) I really really want to try a Personal before I buy so that I can get the best one that works for me! Make me an offer or try me on a trade for any of the above!

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  12. You can contact me about the above stuff at jvaughnRN at gmail.com! Sorry, I left out that critical piece of information!

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    1. Jill - Check out the Philofaxy Adspot listed at the top of the page! Folks are selling and buying and trading Filofaxes of all sorts.

      Good Luck!

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  13. By chance, stumbled upon a LARGE PRINT tube map of London on the Transport for London website. Have printed off with index at back in
    A4 and folded into my A5. Very handy, as I usually have to squint to read the smaller sized tube maps. Thought this may be a handy tip for someone in Philofaxy Land. Now pondering.... I don't need to use large print for reading etc, just that the tube map is weeny, but.....What else would be useful in Large Print size I wonder?????

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  14. A couple of things....First off, is there any way to post pictures to this site directly? I have some before/after pictures of my 1980s-era Winchester, with the before being all drying up and dirty, and the after ...well, after using up TONS of leather cream on it.

    Second, I'm hoping to receive my new pocket Piazza today! And, after reading comments here, am now thinking that some kind of happiness/goals journal thingy could be a great way to use my old Winchester. I don't feel like signing up for facebook though. Are there any other places I might go for ideas?

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  15. @J ill V -- I am so very tempted by the idea of buying that Malden from you! I really want an A5, but do I REALLY need another Filo? Don't answer that one, people....:) A more important question is, am I an ochre person this year??? Off to look up images of the Malden in ochre, once again....

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  16. Hi Jill V., I would take that Malden A5 from you and name anything you like for that..

    I can trade a scanda personal and a slimline guildford for that Malden A5..
    (sent a mail too but in my excitement, the subject was left blank!)

    phew.. need a glass of water to calm me down..

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  17. Does anyone ever get sentimental (or even remember) the Lefax range of organisers and inserts? I particularly miss their bright purple insert paper; there was barely a pen that you could use and write legibly on the inserts because the purple was so overpowering!
    (Lefax were bought by Filofax many years ago supposedly to be used as their high-end label but to my memory there was only one or two ranges of Filofax-Lefax products before the label and products disappeared...)

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  18. @ailuros Post your pictures on Flickr and post a link to the pictures in the comments. There is no way for readers to post pictures directly in to the blog.

    Regards
    Steve

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  20. @Allison: Thanks! I guess not having a store around to go see and touch the binders does make a difference! Hopefully this summer I will be able to take a look at some of them in NY.
    @Steve: thanks for the link those were the one I found as well!
    @Lucy: I usually carry a a lot of pens with me so I can't really rely on the pen loop anyway. I am glad to know you like it otherwise! I am so glad you asked about the "Happiness Project" Book. I am reading it as well and that's why I was asking about Maldens, Astons and Baroques! I am planning on doing a happiness binder as well! :D I totally understand your point that you have been so absorbed in responsibilities and your roles that you leave aside fun and personal fulfillment. I am also just starting with this project - don't even have the binder yet! - but I started from very basic: making lists of things - small details and big picture planning - that make me happy and another one for the ones that don't. Also with my current personal Domino, I am doing a very brief summary of my day. If I felt good overall I go back to check what work that day. If at the end of the day I feel too exhausted, overwhelmed, etcetc also I go back to check what could have been improved to make me feel better.
    I am very curious to see how yours develops and how your final setup will be! :)

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  21. @Lime Tree
    I have 2 baroques and posted about them on my blog:
    start here...
    http://paperpensink.blogspot.com/2011/04/in-bag-test-of-baroque-part-1.html

    [I did a number of posts one after another)

    I LOVE them and they has pretty much the same layout as a Malden but it has this fancy interior and is a squahier leather.

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  22. Just dropping in to said, "Hi" to everyone.

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  23. Hi! Does anyone know of another pocket size apart from the Malden with a slip pocket for a notepad at the back? This is the most valuable feature of the Malden over the ones with zipped pockets on the right cover, and I am hoping there are blank notepads out there as well, not just ruled, even if I can't find them on the Filofax website. Those lines are just squashed too tight for my writing! Thanks, Linda

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  24. Hello @all!
    I´m really engaged to the Pocket size. Does anyone know whether there exists a Baroque (turquoise or pink) in Pocket? (and where it is available)
    @Amanda: I do love your fantastic Baroque post!!!

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  25. LM,

    The Kendal pocket is 50% off on the UK website, and has a full height pocket on the *outside* of the back cover which could probably hold a notepad, or just a series of loose blank sheets if you prefer. The strap extends across the outside pocket, so that sheets can't fall out.

    Available only in brown (in UK anyway) which may be a deal-breaker for you - worth a look though.

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  26. @LM White Plain Notepad for Pocket - Filofax USA sells them at http://www.filofaxusa.com/store/paperessentialsdetails.asp?productId=55 and filofax UK sells them at http://www.filofax.co.uk/store/paperessentialsdetails.asp?productId=55

    (Good to see them using the same URL structure!)

    Regarding other Pocket ones capable of holding a notepad.. I was thinking why not use a flex pocket sized notebook by inserting the back cover into the right hand side full length pocket of Kendal, Finchley, etc... Just thinking..

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  27. @LM I just checked my Pocket Denim (well another filo which is not getting much use) and as I remembered it has a slot for notepad like Malden! Not necessarily your style but ...

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  28. @Maus
    Italy has a pocket baroque in its sale:
    http://www.filofax.it/store/organiserdetails.asp?rangeId=115&sizeId=2&dsizeId=2&spId=878
    Glad you liked my posts! :-)

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  29. @Maus
    Oh - only in black for the baroque... France used to have them in colours but only seem to have the mini or personal now.
    Sorry!

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  30. Thank you for all your replies! @Gerard: I'll have a look at the Kendal even though the pocket is on the outside - that could be a good thing. @The Liar: Thanks for the links, but I only found normal unruled paper, not an actual pad which will slide into the back cover of the Malden. It is brilliant for quick notes which can be inserted into the rings later or torn off. Thanks for the tip about the Denim though, I'll check that out!

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  31. Here is a link to the Pocket Notepad with ruled paper...

    http://www.filofax.co.uk/store/paperessentialsdetails.asp?productId=61

    Steve

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  32. I've also seen on the French filofax site some diaries with other covers (as part of the Letts range) - does anyone have any knowledge of what these are like? They have some lovely baroque covers I see...

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  33. Maus,

    I have recently become totally addicted to Baroques. I have a mini and pocket with a personal on the way from France. Much prefer them to the Malden.

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  34. @Steve: I was hoping there was a plain notepad to be had, because the lines on the ruled ones are too narrow for me, but it doesn't look like there are any. Oh, well.

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  35. Ah sorry I thought you were looking for a lined one.

    Find a similar size note pad and get a copy shop/print shop to guillotine it to size for you 81mm x 120mm?

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  36. I keep wondering what ever happened in the Design a Filofax contest? The winner was to have been announced several months ago and, unless I missed it, I never saw any more about it or who won. I checked on the Filofax website as this is where contest was originally announced, but there was nothing there either. Does anyone know?

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  37. @Amanda and Lynne:
    Thanks for your answers and for your searching, Amanda. Yes, I already saw the Italian black Baroque... I´m not sure if the appearance is comparable with the one of the brilliant colours (pink an turquoise).
    @Lynne: What colour ist your Pocket Baroque?
    Will the Baroque be continued? Or ist it already discontinued?

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  38. Hello everyone!

    I'm a newbie after discovering this AMAZING blog this past week. I just had a metropol personal but after my dog trainer came round and I saw her a5 classic, that was it. I knew I had to upgrade.

    So thanks to Steve and everyone else here at Philofaxy, I've fallen in love with the a5 Malden. After much searching, I've ordered it in ochre and I cannot not begin to tell you how excited I am!

    Had to drop by and say hello to you all, I think I'm joining the ranks. The obsession has begun!

    Hope you're all well,

    Melissa x

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  39. Lime Tree,
    If you are looking for an A5 Aston, I just bought one in black in December, and used it one day but decided it was too large for me. So it's in perfect condition. If you're interested in purchasing it, let me know -- my address is: joannacook at yahoo dot com. I am in the US.

    The leather is matte and soft, quite lovely.

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  40. When will Filofax be introducing any new planners? I've just bought a new FC for my FC inserts, just for a change from my Filofax, simply, because I did not find any Filofaxes that appealed to me.

    Any inquiries?

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  41. Maus, my pocket baroque is teal - now unavailable I fear, got it from the Italian Filofax site.

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  42. @Amanda: The first pics look gorgeous! Just bookmarked your page to make sure to go back to it with more time to read all! Thanks for the link!

    @Novagirl: I hadn't decided yet if I am going for and Aston, Malden or Baroque. Either of them I was thinking of personal size. Thank you for the offer anyway!

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  46. so sorry for the repetitive post! I got alerts that they didn't went thru so I kept trying :/

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  47. @Lynne

    -- deep sigh ---

    That would have been the right one for me, too. What a pity.

    I´ve seen it already on the Suisse page, but it´s not possible to order online there... :-(

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