Reader Under The Spotlight - Susannah

Susannah kindly contacted us before I got a  chance to contact her after seeing her pictures on her blog. 

Susannah Conway is a photographer, writer and the creator of the Unravelling e-courses. A Polaroid addict and very proud aunt, her first book, This I Know: Notes on Unraveling the Heart, will be published by Globe Pequot Press in spring 2012. You can read more about her shenanigans on her blog at SusannahConway.com

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

I used all sorts of Filofax-style organisers when I was a kid in the 80s. In 1995 I had a gorgeous brown leather organiser made for me while in Italy (still looks new), but it wasn’t until 2000 that I made my first actual Filofax purchase—a black pocket Kensington.

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

For a while I used some Franklin Covey diary inserts but we didn’t get along too well. Ditto the Dodo diary pages (too cluttered for me). Every so often I flirt with the idea of splashing out on a Mulberry organiser, but for now it remains just that—an idea.

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

My A5 Malden.

4. How many Filofax organisers do you own?

Six. An aqua A5 Finsbury and ochre A5 Malden. A raspberry personal Finsbury. A red pocket Amazona. A black pocket Kensington. A mustard mini Finchley. Plus the handmade Italian binder. Oh, and I did have a black A5 Finsbury but I gave it to my sister when I bought the aqua.

5. What do you use your Filofaxes for?
I use both A5s for work—the Malden holds my diary (week per page with notes) and current projects I’m working on, while the Finsbury is for biz admin. The Kensington is my standalone address book. The Amazona is for general notes and plans. The mini Finchley I keep in my bag for notes-on-the-go. The personal Finsbury and Italian are currently without purpose and feeling rather dejected.

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

I like being able to create sections for different projects and have them all together in one binder. I like that I can switch them around as I need to, and add more paper—it’s the never-ending notebook. I’ve been a stationery addict ever since I learned how to write and Filofaxes scratch a very particular stationery itch for me!

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

I’d like a size between the A5 and the personal with slightly wider pages. In terms of styling, the Malden is pretty close to perfect—I’ve put some stiff cardboard in the largest front pocket of my A5 to give the binder more structure, one of the few quibbles I have with the design. I wish Filofax would be more adventurous with their colour choices—I noticed on the French site they have a better selection (yellow! jade! orchid!), so no doubt my next purchase will be from there :)

8. How do you carry your Filofax?

My A5s stay at home on my desk (I work from home) and my mini is always in my bag. The pockets come with me if I have a need for them. The personals are sobbing quietly on a bookshelf.

9. Which Filofax in the current range do you like the most? Are you going to buy it?
Like everyone else, I love the Malden, but I have my eye on the A5 Osterley in brown. I’m also loving the yellow personal Piazza and the jade and mustard A5 Finchleys on the French site.

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

£100 on the A5 Malden

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

I visit Philofaxy to be among “my people”—the planner obsessives and stationery addicts. It helps me feel less alone ;-)

12. And what do you not like about Philofaxy?

How you guys enable my Filofax addiction. Damn you!

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

A gorgeous EP by local singer-songwrter Rebecca Cant.

Thank you Susannah