23 July 2012

Reader Under The Spotlight - Alice

We had to get a new 'low energy bulb' for our 'spotlight', but Gromit found one on the interwebs, whilst I was persuading some willing victims, sorry I mean volunteers to stand under it.... and this week I would like to introduce you to Alice. 

I'm Alice and I have just turned 21. I study Aquatic Zoology at University and I live in the UK. I have a menagerie of pets including snakes, spiders and insects and I am very family and friends orientated.

I have a passion for....stationery, Filofaxes, organic make-up etc as well as animals. My hobbies are reading and studying and spending time with my multi-species family!

1. When did you buy your first Filofax and what was it?
It was an organiser from Paperchase - not strictly a Filofax but the are just an unbranded version, it was in 'Spring Scene' and had fruit, flowers and animals all over it, very colourful! It is the equivalent of pocket size but had quite small 14mm rings. I got loads of inserts for it....kraft paper, dividers and stickers and soon filled it with a lot of Filofax bits and bobs too!!

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

I use anything which will fit in it, from Paperchase inserts to Filofax and with a lot of custom dividers etc which I added. The motto is; 'if it fits and I like it, its going in the Filofax!'. My boyfriend thinks I'm obsessed, maybe I am a little.

3. Out of the organisers you own which is your current favourite (Style and Size)?
My favourite is my Pink Pocket Baroque which was given(!) to me by a lovely lady called Andrea. I donated some money to the Philofaxy charity in acknowledgement of the gift she gave me.
It has such lovely big rings - 19mm I believe. I can fit so much in her, and she is so soft and squidgy and supple. And her pattern is gorgeous!!

4. How many Filofax organisers do you own?
I am ashamed to admit I have only got (and have only ever had) the 2 Filofaxes in Pocket. I have had school planners for most of my life or just simple 'week to a page' diary's from WH Smith for 6th form etc.

5. What do you use your Filofax for?
Everything!! For things to do, appointments, birthdays, University, to record my life generally. I don't write anything personal in it like feeling etc - just bits and bobs i need to remember to get on in life.

6. What was the feature about Filofax you like most?
If you do something wrong you can just rip out the page and start again! I was always the person who would write perfectly to the end of a page and then make a massive mistake on the last line and then have to rip it out and do it again. I hate things looking messy so the changeability of Filofax really appeals to me.

7. If you could design your own Filofax what would it feature?
Soft leather, big rings and most of all COLOUR!! I have found that Filofax colours are just so...plain/boring. There is no pattern, no colours just muted, understated chic leather Filofaxes and the odd 'special' ones they bring out like Swift - which do appeal to me but feel so......hard and fake!
It would also have a sort of thread through fastening - like the Baroque appears to have - instead of a popper/magnetic one which so many feature. I quite like the idea of an elastic one like the Domino but made a bit better perhaps (if that is possible) and on a leather diary or just something a bit less...plastic?

8. How do you carry your Filofax?

She goes in my handbag with all my other junk - she gets bashed around a fair bit and gets bits of crap in her pages when i don't clean my bag out for a couple of days :(

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

Hmmmmm....let me look at Filofax UK. The Pocket Zip Pennybridge in purple was one of my 'ones to consider' before my Baroque came along....but she is so...plain, even in the purple. I like the material of the Osterley but at that price I have no chance - more chance that little piggies start to fly than me possessing that one!! It has the wrong fastening for me too.

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

Erm...nothing I suppose. My first was a gift from my boyfriend and the second cost me a donation to charity of £20 - so I guess its the Baroque at 20! But the amount I've spent customizing them is a lot more than the actual diary's ever cost!

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

That there are geeks like me who love stationery!! And lots of lovely people who are really helpful and generous with their time. And so much information is available!

12. And what do you not like about Philofaxy?

I have noticed no-one ever puts anything here!! Maybe more posts would be good - but then you don't all want to be tied to your computer/Filofax blog!

13. What was the last music album CD you bought or downloaded?
Dear lord....Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday Reloaded. Cringe.

Please visit my blog if you want to see my lovely little colourful Baroque!!


Thank you Alice for standing under our new 'cool' spotlight.
 

12 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Oh my i am ever so sorry not to reply to you all!! My blogger dashboard completely ignored the fact this post has been written and i have literally just found it!!!!
      No wonder my blog hits went up so suddenly!!
      Hi Joseph!!

      Delete
  2. Hi Alice, nice to "meet" you!

    A lot of us started out with unbranded binders, I know I did, and 2 other filofaxers I know, it's like dipping your toe in first, I suppose.

    Just wish I wasn't totally terrified of spiders, I envy you for being able to live in harmony with them... snakes I like, but if you'd been snuggling a taratula or something in that pic, I'd have clicked away from this page so fast, there'd be a scorch mark on my "Back" button!

    One of the things on my "Someday/Maybe" list is to do the desensitising "Friendly Spider" day at London Zoo, because it really is a ridiculous phobia, but absolutely heart pounding nausea and everything sets in the minute I spot a largish one in my home.

    Were you ever nervous of insects, or have you always just been at peace with them? Hope you don't mind me asking, I know it's TOTALLY off topic!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am exactly the same - I cannot STAND spiders!

      Delete
    2. Actually the thing is i am totally afraid of spiders, always have been and still am.
      My tarantula is called Sophie, a little Chile Rose - she is my second (my first being rescued and found to be one with very potent venom and with my allergies that is not such a good mix were i ever to get bitten - so she was sold to a nice man who gave her a lovely home).
      You don't technically handle tarantulas as you cause more harm than good and they don't 'like' it.
      But i have held Sophie and i did erm pass some bricks as it were, but she is ok, quite calm.
      But she is a pet to look at and study - she roams around a lot and really is very cute.
      I don't like quite a lot of bugs - stick insects which look like actual twigs freak me out, i hate moths flapping around my face etc
      Im really just your normal girly shrieker at bugs - just with a couple living in my bedroom!!
      They do grow on you with their little personalities and moods :)

      Delete
  3. Hi Alice! It is SUCH a shame that we can't make our Dodo Pad diary inserts work at pocket size as you sound like they would be perfect for you! If you ever 'trade up' to Personal or A5 then please do give the Dodo Pad a whirl :)

    Here is a page with links to samples of what you would find inside:
    http://www.dodopad.com/pages/Dodo-Pad-search-inside.htm

    And here is the page dodevoted to all things Filofax compatible:

    http://www.dodopad.com/shop/mid-year-academic-diaries-calendars/filofax-compatible-organisers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much - i have already perused nearly everything you stock and have decided that dodo inserts are definitely for me - but frankly anything above pocket size is not :(
      But i did recently see a blog post where you can butcher one of your planners to fit a pocket - this may be the way forward for me!!!

      Delete
  4. Hi Alice, and thanks for your post. That *is* a colorful Filofax - very nice!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do like my colour - but its not to most peoples tastes lol

      Delete
  5. Hi Alice, and welcome! I love Guest Posts - they satisfy the 'nosey' aspect of my personality!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love them too! I like noseying into other people lives!!

      Delete
  6. I am so sorry for not replying to everyone for so long - im not really that pig ignorant - stupid blogger dashboard didn't show me it had been published!!
    Now i feel really mean and silly :(

    ReplyDelete