Reader Under The Spotlight - SNARLing

SNARLing is a former roller derby girl (hence the name "SNARLing") and is currently a stay at home mom looking for work - preferably in prepress graphics but perhaps a whole new career altogether. She has been using filo related materials off and on since the mid-90's and has rediscovered them in 2009 - around the same time she became a lurker here on Philofaxy.

She is an avid fan of paper, pens, inks, books, book arts and book making makes Filofaxing a natural interest as well. She hopes to accomplish many goals and with the help of her Filofax she will one day have a nice positive attitude for her 3-year old kid, be making art again and be living debt free.

You can read about the process of her transmutation here.

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

I think it was in 2002 and it was a black Finsbury slimline. I loved it. I felt so professional and grown up with it in my bag. heh heh.

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

I've used Filofax inserts since the mid-90's but I always thought the actual binders were too fat (much like today) I think the one i liked best was a slimline pigskin which retailed for waaaay too much cash that I’d rather spend elsewhere (on beer) at the time. So i just used the inserts in a black cheapo memo book with 1/2" rings. I’ve also made calendars in the back of my sketchbooks and used the manhattan/metropolitan diary, brownline diaries (for work) and a Franklin Covey wire bound book. i do like daytimer inserts a lot but don't like their binders. I’ve tried to use Moleskine but i don't have the flexibility that i have with a binder. I’ve also tried to use the midori traveler's notebook but this was after I’d been using the ff, which already had a year of brain thought attached to a to-do system. I couldn't do without that to-do system I’d been developing for myself so back to filo I went

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

Compact Chameleon!

4. How many Filofax organisers do you own?

9 - in buying order:

1.) Black slimline Finsbury
2.) Slate personal Graphic
3.) Black personal domino
4.) Black pocket slimline topaz
5.) Black personal malden
6.) Orange pocket finsbury
7.) Black pocket malden
8.) Black compact chameleon
9.) Dark brown a5 domino snake

5. What do you use your Filofax for?

The compact chameleon is my main book where I plan, take notes, log dailies, project to-do list, set goals, carry info, list a BUNCH of stuff (things I want, stuff for the house, food to cook, Mexican restaurants, movies, books, music, people, good times and financials (unemployment, jobs applied+notes, checking account, money I owe) previous to that, I was using the pocket slimline topaz (now on standby) in conjunction with the midori. the pockets Malden and Finsbury as well as the personals domino and graphic are storage. slimline has nothing. A5 is for the happiness project/art binder I have yet to move forward with. The A5 size as well as the 30mm rings are a bit overwhelming for me but I’ve been writing in there a bit and drawing some to get a feel for it. it should be good for my intentions but we'll see. Personal Malden is all set up on standby in case the A5 doesn't work out.

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

Probably the flexibility of change and the ease of adapting new ideas into your system and the ability to personalize the innards.

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

I think I would go a touch larger than 15 mm for personal size (like say, 19mm) so that I can put a zipper pocket with my cell phone. (it fits now it just isn't as slick as I’d like it : therefore I’m thinking about get personal chameleon in AQUA. just a thought tho. LOVE {seriously LOVE} the compact size) or maybe a sleek outer pocket (emphasis on SLEEK) that could hold a cellphone. Maybe have the whole front cover be a zip pocket sort of like the pocket binders with the back pocket but have the zipper be on the long side in the front - something like that where access in and out is practical and easy. Also 2 penholders (at least) that are large enough for thicker pen bodies or raise the penholders a bit - maybe about 1.5 inches down from the top so that you can comfortably (and safely) clip your pens onto it. I think every couple of years I’d design more of a variety of inserts - test the market a bit in that regard. They did have a USA design contest last year but i haven't heard anything more about it. have any of you?

8. How do you carry your Filofax?

Everywhere, all over the place, in my bag, in my hand, in my lap, at the dinner table, on the kitchen counter, next to my computer, on my computer, on the car seat next to me, in my right hand when I got to sleep. everyfreakin'where. I’m really a one book kind of a gal so i need to have the book i love (currently the compact chameleon) be able to address all of my needs. the hardest thing is for me is drawing but with the smaller ring size, it's not so bad

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

Right now I so love the chameleon, I want aqua, if they had an aqua compact I’d own it already. But I might get a personal aqua somewhere down the line. I thought maybe A5 until I got the snake, I don't think I can use the A5 on a regular basis. I also have my eye on the compact Osterley. When I ordered the compact chameleon I thought if I really like it I’ll get me the compact Osterley for my birthday, in plum even. Something about it reminds me of when I was little - it's kinda got a 70's vibe to it. Classy 70's, tho. heh heh

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

$80 on the personal Malden.

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

The people, the information that people share. the great community from all kinds of backgrounds all over the world not to mention the age-range

12. And what do you not like about Philofaxy?

The way it makes me check my Google reader all the time!

13. What was the last music album CD you bought or downloaded?

Oh man, maybe weezer- red album? fat wreck chords wrecktrospective? I don't buy much music anymore (sad I know) the local music sceene here in indy is actually pretty good and my husband's been involved in bands for like 20 years or so. Usually I’d just get a babysitter and go to punk rock night and get free cds. I also listen to pandora radio a lot. My current station is set to the stooges. Can’t believe Iggy did American idol. Thank god I missed that one.

Thank you very much for going under the Spot Light as always very interesting to read about your background and how you are using your Filofax Organisers.