09 March 2012

Free For All Friday No 173

So we are advancing towards Spring, although I wish someone would tell the weather that!

This weekend the clocks go forward an hour in the USA and Canada, in a couple of weeks time it will be the turn of Europe to do the same. I will have to remember to only allow 5 hours instead of the usual 6 hours for blog post timing for those two weeks. Note in my Filofax of course in the blog post monthly pages.

Next week will see the opening of applications to attend the next London Meet Up, so I'm getting getting quite excited about that. Time to start planning what to bring with me etc.


What plans are you looking forward to?  But as it is Friday once again you are of course free to discuss anything Filofax related.



Please note: Due to an issue with the commenting system, I've swapped the blog back to 'Full Comments' instead of 'Embedded Comments' Sadly this means we don't have threaded comments, but it does mean people can leave comments... I'm waiting for a response from Google on this issue.  It's not just Philofaxy that has this issue at the moment.  

39 comments:

  1. I'm just curious what others do when changing plans in your Filofax,,,,,do you cross out the original plans and write in different plans or do you white out the area to change so it's a clean slate? I'm guessing it depends on what size Filo you use and how picky you are about keeping your Filo neat. Any ideas?

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    1. I only *ever* write my diary in pencil....no matter how 'certain' think arrangements are. I like to use a pencil with an eraaser on the top....if only they had clips or were the right size to fit in the pen loop of my Malden!

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    2. I usually write down stuff on sticky notes. I find that putting a line over a canceled appointment/date really bothers me.. so I don't mind having sticky notes all over my filo. Plus, I buy the Martha Stewart sticky notes which are great! I'm always certain I will find the notes right where I placed them. Once I'm sure I will follow through with a plan I will write it down with my pens (I hate writing in pencil). I only do this for my diary though..

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  2. @FiloJr, I had that same problem a few weeks ago. I started writing ideas and planning like crazy. Then when I changed routes I was just leaving all the notes together. It was good to leave them all side-by-side (old and new ideas) so i could compare and incorporate the good ones into the new planning. But, as you said, at some point everything started looking very messy. so I decided to use different sizes of post-it. Specially for the plans that are just starting. I put down the idea on the post-its then I place them all together in one page. Once my planning starts to shape better I write them down on the Filofax pages. It is working so far. Will see! :)

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  3. I am afraid that I always have to start with a clean slate if plans start to look messy, as that helps me to focus.A waste of paper sometimes, which I feel guilty about, but I gain clarity.I usually use mind maps to start with....very visual way of planning and being able to see the whole picture.... then I make smaller plans. Mind maps can be googled.... many types and formats, so you can choose what suits you.@Lime Tree... I have promised myself not to use post its in my newly set up Filofax, as they can be easily lost by becoming un-sticky.... but habits die hard and I've already got two stuck in this week's pages!!! Hey Ho!!

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  4. Frixion pens allow me to change my plans easily.. but any major change to say a To Do list and I just re-write it.

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  5. Another completely different topic. I love all kinds of stationery, pens etc. French stationery shops used to be the best in the world for finding the unusual stickers, papers etc for a Filofax and as a teenager, I just loved to holiday in France for the stationey shopping experience. Also I've been looking for wasabi(washabi?) tapes or similar. Is anyone able to enable me *cough, cough* with new ideas here??

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    1. Wow, and I thought flying from Wellington to Auckland (a one-hour flight each way) was extreme!

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  7. I want to buy a new personal -sized Filofax. I currently own a personal Finsbury Raspberry and want something:

    - More luxurious with softer leather
    - Has 2 pen holders
    - Lays completely flat

    I have a Sienna which I use for work and to me, it's the pefect Filofax fitting all my criteria above. I love the leather of the Sienna.I don't want to buy another Sienna however.

    Are there any other Filofaxes similar to the look, feel and function of the Sienna?

    Thanks in advance!

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  8. I arrived home last around 10:00 after a long day of work, grocery shopping, and visiting my mom. There awaiting me was large brown box. My new A5 Sketch! I had just enough time to open it, take a few pix and pour through its contents before heading off to dreamland. I must say I was delightfully surprised at its beauty. I didn't expect much, as it isn't leather, and I bought it strictly for utilitarian purposes. The binding is a smooth leather-look, which can almost pass for the real McCoy, in a deep chocolate brown. The front and back covers have a cocoa brown satiny finish with a very fine ribbed texture, giving off a coppery sheen, with thin beige grosgrain piping, all stitched in a golden thread. There is an outside pocket on the back, and three pockets that run the length of the binder on the inside front cover. It is equipped with WO2P diary, a (little) bit of paper, a map, the Today ruler, a plastic sleeve, and a notepad on the inside back cover. The indexed dividers are so papery thin, one would think they were an after-thought if not for the hues: Rust Red! Sage Green! Pumpkin Orange! Cadet Blue! I must admit, I drew in a breath when I saw the spectrum.I will have a fun Filofax-filled Friday planning, writing, punching, labeling, indexing, mapping, projecting, journaling...

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  9. Regarding the pens I'm with Steve: I only use Frixion pens (in 4 different colours, as I colour-code entries), and they can be erased whenever there is a change. I love that my pages look so much neater and cleaner now!

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  10. @Butanben Do you mean Washi Tape? The japanese tape with designs and in all colors? I've gotten it online a few place - I'll put some links here if that's the kind of tape you mean

    Tracy

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  11. As to rewriting and using Frixion pens I don't. Since most of my planning is in the form of To-Do lists whenever is left over gets moved to the next day -- If I don't need to do it I don't rewrite it.
    The exception is my year on a page calendar - which I usually fill in in pencil or after the appt. in pen.

    I haven't used the frixon pens because I keep the sheets to refer back to. I plan to get one for highlighting books but for the filo, I want to keep the info.

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  12. @Butanben I want washi tape, too!

    Why is stationery from Japan so cool, and American stuff so uncool? I mean, really.

    And, we can put a man on the moon but no decent inserts (*cough* Filofax) can be had. I. Do. Not. Understand.

    Happy Friday, friends!

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  13. Re: Washi tape - I wrote a blog post not that long ago http://www.crazysuburbanmom.com/2012/02/filofax-as-art-and-magic.html

    Scroll down its almost to the bottom and I've added links.

    It has the four places I've gotten washi. Three are esty shops one is Baum-Kutchen (which has midori travelers notebooks too) The etsy shops are nice because on a lot of them you can buy smaller rolls of a few feet each so you can try a whole lot of them at one time.

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  14. I think you could probably make your own washi tape, with masking tape and felt tips! I'm going to try it later! (I need to buy some masking tape first!)

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  15. @butanben

    I also love washi tapes ( ;) ) and geeky stationary. Have a Look on modes4u.com
    It's the Shop from a German Girl in hong Kong And there are many many funny tapes, papers, pens etc. And also cute kawaii things. Shipping is able all over the World And lasts about 2 weeks

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  16. Nina, Thanks for the link - what a fab website.

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  17. Has anyone used the Kate Spade refill pages? If so, what do the Month on Two Pages look like? I have been trying to see the format but can't find an image of it anywhere (I can only see WOTP). I'm currently using the Filofax MOTP pocket size and the day squares are so small I can hardly write anything on them. I'm hoping the Kate Spade pages might utilize the space a little better. Thanks.

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    1. Hi Tonya, I have used the Kate Spade MOTP pocket inserts and they do have a little more room and the paper is heavier. I can email you a picture of it.

      I just received my new pocket Ochre Malden in the mail and will have the ceremonial opening of it this afternoon! I can't wait!!
      Peggy

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  18. @ Jotje.
    Re: Frixion pens.
    I use Frixion inserts in G2 pens. Much nicer to hold and the G2 clip works well on Filofax rings. Also, when I've done everything on a "to do" page, I save them and stick them in the microwave so I can use the paper all over again.

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  19. @Tracy, thank you so much for the links to washi tapes. I'll put those into my favourites page and they will be there for birthday present time in June. Yaaaay!! @ perpetual student, I never thought of making my own, now there's a creative thought for one evening. @Sandra, your comment made me giggle... man on the moon but Filofax not able to produce good quality insert. I couldn't agree more!!! Still with Ray and Steve onto the job.... no problems really.

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  20. @FiloJr I use correction tape or whiteout on my pocket-sized white coloured pages.

    I went to Kinokuniya bookstore here in Malaysia (read in Plannerisms that Laurie visited the one in Singapore so I hoped the Malaysian one might stock Filofaxes too) They stock a limited selection of Filofaxes, with a price mark up of 50%! They also have some Filofax brand inserts which must be a few years old such as shopping lists and dividers on green marbled paper, as well as the standard 2012 diaries.

    Is there an affordable way to trim paper neatly? Such as small guillotines used to trim photos. I use a craft knife to cut and I end up shaving off little slivers of my metal ruler instead when cutting through card because I have to use so much pressure.

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  21. Has anyone ever changed between pocket and compact size? I am torn between a finsbury pocket which is by far my most used organiser and compact chameleon which I find a bit stiff and don't use as much as I would like. Are the other compact models softer?

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    1. Mary - I have never used a pocket, though I have one. Mostly I was a personal user until the compact came along. I had always found that the pocket was too small, and while I loved the size of the personal, I found I was carrying more than I needed due to the ring size. I love the compact because it allows me to use the size of the personal without having to carry around unnecessary items. I have the compact chameleon, which I didn't love just because it would not lay flat (otherwise, it's a great binder). I have since bought the regency, which does lay flat, and which I absolutely adore! The price leaves a lot to be desired, however (I got mine at a bit of a discount since I bought it from someone else). I don't know if the others lay flat. I have heard that more compact models are on their way, though I don't think a specific date has been mentioned.

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  22. @Neil
    I think i have to switch over to the frixions again O.O
    that´s just great! aren´t there staying any signs of usage on the paper?? how often can you "wash" your paper?
    @Lynne
    you´re welcome ;) I just love this page and could spend tons of hours and earnings on it.... but i just allow me one visit per month. (or when the newsletter hits me :D )

    @all
    i´m so sorry i got a huge problem with the new comment system and am unable to leave comments on your blogs :(
    it´s just working with the pop-up commentary function)

    (lime tree, ray, iris, and many others lost some great comments....)

    so has anyone an idea, how to solve this problem? or @steve: did you receive an answer from google yet?

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    1. Just a test comment using one of my other accounts...

      Steve

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  23. @Nina.
    Re: washing paper.
    Probably about fifty times so far. You can definitely tell that the paper has been written on many times, but it's fine to use for notes and to do lists.

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  24. @Neil
    I really can´t wait to buy my new frixions tomorrow :)
    also i can imagine, that it´s just a great feeling to write on "old and used" paper, and to know that there have been many many successfully done Todos on it.
    thank´s for sharing this!

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    1. No problem. About three minutes should do it, depending on your microwave. I know what you mean about writing on old and used paper - I use Frixion pens in an old Moleskine and put that one in the oven at 200 degrees for 4 mins, which wipes all of the 240 pages clean )just wrap the book in a towell to stop the covers touching any metal) - and the book becomes nicer to write in each time as the Moleskine becomes a little worn around the edges.

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  25. Wowser @Neil I had no idea you could microwave paper clean with Frixion pens I am so trying that tomorrow :)

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  26. @nicole
    That store you have there sounds juicy! Do they have older style Filofax binders as well?

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  27. Washi tape: http://ow.ly/9z0NM

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  28. @nina I discovered this entry tonight:

    http://knownissues.blogspot.com/2011/10/were-investigating-reports-of-users-not.html

    Still listed as a known bug since October last year! So it looks like we will use this form for a while.

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  29. Hi all,
    I am a believer in "one filo, one life" but I cant seem to overcome the need for note taking to be done via a separate pad. Has anyone else experienced this or even found a way to overcome this?

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  30. Thanks Scoot. I saw the fold out pad which did interest me. I also saw a post recently suggesting a thin Moleskine booklet which may also be the way forward. Finally, perhaps I can just accept that my life is in one place but current notes live somewhere else first :)

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  31. Iain,

    Keeping your notes in a larger notepad/notebook is not incompatible with using a Filofax. I don't think anything needs to be fixed. You could use an A5 or A4 that has a place for a large notepad that you can keep within your planner to keep it all together if you don't mind transporting this size.

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