So once again we find ourselves here on Tuesday to ask and answer your Filofax questions.
Will it be another record FFAT like last weeks one with over a 100 comments!! Who knows... what I will say though is you are free to ask any Filofax question you like..
So fire away......
I got two good bargains this week on trademe (like the nz equivalent of ebay)- a red A5 finsbury, and a personal finsbury in either pink or raspberry, its hard to tell from the photo, I think most likely raspberry. And I bought my first Lamy fountain pen, I'm becoming a pen/stationery hoarder!
ReplyDeleteOh, Bridget, I am a Lamy user a well. Which Lamy did you get and which color and nib? I just got the 2012 Limited Edition Apple Green Safari with a broad black nib. I inked it up with Noodler's Cactus Eel but I am placing an order for Diamine's Apple Glory which is supposed to be an exact match to the color of the Apple Green Safari. I also want to order De Atramentis' Kiwi Fruit.
DeleteReally?! :D *will have to get that one as well*
DeleteI've given up on my Lamy :(, were just not compatible, back to a rollerball which makes my writing so neat!!
DeleteI was going to buy a Lamy but WHSmith didn't have packs of the cartridges and they are a funny shape in comparison to Parker cartridges and the smaller ones.
DeleteHannah, get you a converter and a bottle of ink!
DeleteHi! I know the 2013 Personal-sized Filo compatible organizers are out, and these are supposed to have the larger grids, but I can't find photos of them anywhere. The Dodopad site, I think, only shows the A5 grids, but I'm not so sure. Hope someone here can point me to the right direction. Thanks in advance!
ReplyDeleteHi Doris, there is one picture of the larger grid on the Dodo Pad site itself: 2013 Dodo Pad Personal size diary refill
DeleteIf you click on the images to enlarge them, it's image 3 that shows the new improved grid.
I did see that before but for some reason couldn't enlarge it then. Was able to do so now though. Thanks a lot!!!!
DeleteThe grids ARE slightly bigger than the previous one, although I was hoping for a more "drastic" revival, LOL.
Hi Doris - Anita is exactly right with her link above! :) Or you can search on the site using the product code DFXP13. The stock has arrived and we are shipping out orders now.
DeleteLord Dodo, do you accept Pay Pal?
DeleteLord Dodo, thanks! I have actually scheduled in to order my 2013 diary in October, written out on my Dodo-diary, of course.
DeleteHi Laurie - yes we do but only through our Ebay site..the 2012/13 Acad-Pads and 2013 Dodo Pads are going on there today... #catchingupaswespeak
DeleteDoris...it's as DRASTIC as we could possibly manage within the space (specifically width!) available. We've adjusted quite a lot of the design details on the right hand side of the page to make it work. Sorry it can't be any bigger!
DeleteGreat LD, thanks! :)
DeleteLord Dodo, I understand. I was hoping for a grid across the 2 pages, with space above and beneath the grids for notes, to-dos, etc., but it wouldn't be the 'signature' Dodopad, I know. I still love this Diary a lot, used it for the first time in April, so that says something about how I like it.
DeleteThanks for the design adjustment! I'm sure it was a lot of work.
Does anyone have the Luxe A5, if so how do you find it? Does the leather wrapped over the ring mechanism have any adverse affects?
ReplyDeleteI have the ebony A5 and I don't have any problems with the leather. It looks very classy and is very smooth, so no. The paper does not snag if you were worried about that. ^_^ The two things that I don't like are the placements of the pen loops and the fact that it's a notepad slot, not a notepad pocket. If not for those two things, I would happily live in that binder for a very long time. :)
DeleteYu, thanks, I was hoping you would reply. I vaguely remembered you had either the A5 or the compact. I thought all of the A5 binders had a slot instead of a pocket? Just had a quick look and I see what you mean. Hmmm....
DeleteNP. :) Just send me an email if you want to know more or get pictures or something.
DeleteZipped v Press stud.
ReplyDeleteI would adore a A5 Holborn, but I don't know whether to get the zipped version or the one with the press stud. I've never had a zipped Filofax as I was not so keen on them, but after seeing a lot of the A5 Zipped Holborn in blogs this week, I quite like the look of them....but do they look like an Organiser? Would love to here peoples views on this?
Hi Gail,
DeleteI've been using a zipped A5 Holborn as my teaching planner for about a month and a half now and I'm loving it! I had never used a zipped Filofax before either and I wasn't sure how I would get on with it but it's so handy. It's like my own portable office that I can just zip up and take with me. The leather is buttery soft and there are so many pockets to hold your bits and pieces.
When zipped, the organiser actually looks a lot like an iPad case but I don't mind this as its so pretty to look at. The zip also stops any random bits of paper or post it's falling out. It also means you can carry your phone in the Filofax without having to worry about it falling out either.
It's such a great Filofax, that I haven't lusted after another A5 in the whole time I've owned it and I don't see myself doing so anytime soon. It's my perfect A5 :-).
I actually don't mind bits sticking out my filofax, but I've never thought to carry my phone in there, having the zip would allow that wouldn't it. Hmmm, you've given me something to think about now. lol
DeleteHi Gail, the Holbourn is the only zipped filo I have used and I was umming an ahhing over whether I should get the zip or standard clasped version, but am so glad that I got the zipped one. It is just so practical - nothing can fall out and it's perfect if you have stuff that you need to carry around temporarily (eg folded A4 sheets from work) and no hole punch with you. :o)
DeleteNot to mention it looks so laid-back and "slouchy" <3 (Like an item you could love forever as your best friend.) I might have to get one as well even though I don't really care for zipped binders... but I LOVE the Holborn design...
DeleteI tuck so many bits of paper in my diary that a zip would be good so that they don't escape but at the same time sometimes there is too much! I'm currently on a Personal Domino
DeleteHello Gail,
ReplyDeleteI have a zipped Personal Holborn, which is my favourite Filofax to date. It's my portable office with all my high-level personal and work related items I need to access daily. It has loads of compartments, even a nice slot on the outside, and the feel of it is lovely. I had a zipped Personal Metropol first, which was more stiff, but still a nice Filofax to use.
I do use other Filofaxes for various things, but I choose the zip as my daily carry around one purely for more security of my papers, cards, etc. However, with me specifically, I do have to discipline myself though a little when it comes to having things properly sorted in the Holborn - because it's more secure being a zip, there is a tedency at times just to dump loads of paper in there and zip it all up and leave it, so can get pretty 'busy' in there for me. Perhaps that's just me being a bad organiser :)
Barry
I also have a zipped Holborn (brown) that I use as a teaching Filo. I like the zipper for this purpose as i walk around school and into meetings etc and I can zip my cell (which fits into the largest card slot at the bottom) and walk around with only the filo in my hand when i am going around the building. I really like this for its functionality but I prefer the 'look' of the non-zipped filos. just my preference though. Many people mentioned faulty rings on the A5 holborn, mine has been fine with no issues. good luck.
DeleteI got the Holborn A5 Wine and love it so much I had to buy the Brown too, thinking of getting the wine in personal too :)
DeleteLong time reader, but first time commenting. I've used various organizers off and on since the mid 90's and always come to appreciate how they make me feel more centered and in control of things. I have a daughter who is 11 years old and would love to be able to instill the habit of planner usage. In the past I have tried check off lists and charts on the wall for her various responsibilities, but those attempts failed. She sees my Filofax out daily on the kitchen counter and I try to explain what I use it for (my external brain!), but she hasn't expressed much interest in it (other than to snoop for plans that might concern her).
ReplyDeleteI would love to be able to help her set up a planner with tabs for daily responsibilities as well as special events and assignments for school (she did have a planner the last 2 years of school, but it was strictly for school planning). Have any of you been able to instill the virtues of planner usage onto your children and have they stuck with it? I'm thinking that if she is not expressing an interest, it may be a little difficult to get her into using it -- I'm also hoping that if she sees how much it can help her (she has a tendency to "forget" things), she might feel differently.
Hi Laura! I have to say, it highly depends on the kid's preferences aswell. For example: my 11 year old does NOT want a filofax to use for school or/and other assignments. I bought her the planner of her choice (the TopModel spiral bound planner) and since she loves it so much, she is actually using it. If you want her to use a planner, let her pick on out herself!
DeleteNow my 9 year old is swiftly becoming a little Filofaxer. Ever since she got my personal Domino (in Lavender), she is rarely seen without it. She writes EVERYTHING in it. Definitely my genes that manifest here ...
My 7 (almost 8)year old girl has a Pocket Filofax and since she hasn't yet any school assignments she merely uses it as a diary and appointment planner. And a place to put stickers in, which is cute aswell.
My 5 year old son still thinks anything planner-related is highly poisonous, so he tries to stay as far away as possible ... (definitely my DH's genes here!) LOL
As for check-off charts: I have booked huge success in the past with the Children Reward Pad from Organised Mum. Kids get to put a sticker in a box when they have accomplished their task. Even my oldest liked this!
Here's the link:
http://www.organised-mum.co.uk/Reward-Chart-Pad.html
woah your younger son is like my bro- hates planners lol
DeleteMy Mum had a green filofax when I was growing up - I'm not sure which "model" it was but it was so loved and worn that I'm surprisede it was recognisable as a filfax. She now has a Lavender Domino that she can stick in her handbag.
DeleteShe (unwittingly) instilled it in me. I have tried to stray away to a digital diary like the calendar app on my phone but there is something about writing down an event that imprints it on my brain a bit better!
My husband is all about the technology so his calendar is on his phone/iPad. So I have to use the calendar to keep track of his calendar and then double entry mine (Diary and then phone) so that he can keep up with what I'm doing!
Hey as its free tuesday i have burning question to ask to Steve Morten, Sorry if this causes offence and you do not have to answer if you do not want to...
ReplyDeleteSteve are you Americam or British, cos once i think your american then next i think your a british- am confused sorry bout that
Or, is Mr. Philofaxy of the French persuasion?
DeleteHi, I'm 100% British, or that's what is states on my passport! But I now live in France, been here two years now.
DeleteSo if some of my writing seems a little confused at times that might be the reason why!!
As a youth I struggled with my English language, then my chosen career in Engineering didn't help... very little writing. Then at about the age of 25 I changed jobs and my writing started to improve a bit.
My main problem now is I sometimes spell words that are similar in French and English in French... because I've got it all around me I suppose, I'm seeing French all the time apart from on the web.
But my spelling has never been top notch... get the first four letters wrong of any word and a dictionary or spell checker fails miserably!
And the name is Morton... and the T is not silent!!! Yes it has happened once... Dear Mr Moron... but as you might have guessed I do have a good sense of humour!
If you want to know more... drop me an email.. nothing to hide really.
Steve
I was going to answer that you are a Brit, living in France, who had better get over to America pretty darn soon :)
DeleteBarry, could you please do a post on how you use your Filofax for personal Bible study?
ReplyDeleteHello Joseph, that is actually on my list of posts to add within the next week - I thought I'd put up the 'teaser' of all my Filofaxes first, which will then lead nicely into their individual usage :) Thanks for the interest. Barry
DeleteLooking forward to it, my friend! I have just added a spiritual section to my Cuban.
DeleteThat's a cool idea - I wondered about putting a bible in my filofax then decided that I really wouldn't have any space for anything else!
DeleteBarry! You use a Filofax for personal Bible study? Please, do this post! I would love to see it! I've thought of doing that, but so far am unconvinced, even though my now unused Personal Finchley would be perfect for it (and is the same size as my Bible).
DeleteJoseph, if you see this reply, check this post out: Bible Design Blog - Filofax Meets Bible.
DeleteAbsolutely stunning pictures and ideas in there, I'm sure you'll like it!
FilofaxUSA is having a fifty percent off sale on 27 binders!
ReplyDeleteOooh! Thanks Joseph! That compact Chameleon is very tempting! But it looks like Filofax US don't ship to the UK?
DeleteI was also tempted by the compact Chameleon but no they don't ship to the UK, I wonder why?
DeleteNo they don't, I've asked them before. But the Denmark site does and they have compact Chameleons with 50% off! I got mine from there and it was only about £7ish for shipping. Ordered Monday and received Friday . . .
DeleteOops, just bought it, don't know how that happened lol, and it's all your fault Lucy haha :)
DeleteWOW! You don't hang around do you?! Out of interest, how many Filofaxes do you own and how quickly have you accumulated them??? You're gonna have to remortgage your house soon hahaha LOL!
DeleteToo many, most bought from selling on eBay, or bought in the sale, had two given to me, so it's not that bad, one was with the vouchers I won at staples, given my £7 bargain Olympics one to my son and my daughters having my A5 apex, that leaves me with 2A5, 4 personal and 5 pocket I think, no 3 A5 and the compact on its way, since Feb/March :o haha that's bad!!! I'm on a Filofax diet now lol
DeleteI just want to say that my first Filofax has arrived - a personal Malden in Vintage Pink - and I am in LOVE!! I'm using it as my planner & wallet, & have busied myself getting accessories & things to dress it up. All I can think is that I could have saved myself so many previous Planner Fails if I had just discovered Filofax years ago! I feel like I finally have the planner of my dreams!! :)
ReplyDeleteSo happy to hear that! :D
DeleteCongratulations, Songbird! Welcome to he community!
DeletePS would love to know any favorite "diary sticker" weblinks you guys know of - the kind that help you remember appointments, birthdays, etc. I'm not thrilled with the Filofax ones. I'd like something a little more visually attractive/cuter. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThese are the ones I use.
DeleteThey are shipped from Australia and usually take about 5 days to get to the UK. They are quite big but they're really cute and fun. I love them :)
I use these ones from Pam Socolow. If you're in the States and near a Barnes and Noble, you can get them for less than $9 a pack and there are over 2,300 stickers in there!
Delete@ Lostwithoutyou - OMG! I HAVE TO GET THOSE!!! Kawaii!!! <3 <3 <3
Delete(Ok, sorry about the fangirling...)
I've been buying the cutest stickers from a shop on etsy called rikyandnina. There are tons to chose from!! I've bought 6-7 packs in about two weeks! They ship from the UK.
DeleteLove the diary stickers from Organisedmum.co.uk!
DeleteThese are some of my favorites:
Deletehttp://www.etsy.com/listing/95879674/rainbow-diary-sticker-set
http://www.etsy.com/listing/96658534/deli-deli-bunny-deco-sticker
http://www.etsy.com/listing/78650444/japanese-masking-tape-deco-tape-sticker
http://www.etsy.com/listing/78650652/washi-tape-sticker-set-japanese-masking
Tracy
I search etsy with the words 'diary stickers'
Deletehttp://www.etsy.com/search/supplies?q=diary+stickers&view_type=gallery&ship_to=ZZ&min=0&max=0
Great plug, Tracy R....I love anything Etsy!
DeleteJust a little note to say that I finally received my gorgeous Smythson refills and am absolutely thrilled with them. The Dukes refills fit perfectly into my A5, they work beautifully with my Lamy, and now I'm thinking I'd like to finally make a little Filo video to share with y'all... so I'll be working on that over the next few days. If anyone has any questions about the Smythson refills, feel free to ask.
ReplyDeleteI use Smythson refills too - a must for a fountain pen lover! And just to add, I think there are still a couple of Organisers in their sale at the moment if anyone is keen to try at a more reasonable price. Both of mine are *heaven*, feel so lovely, have aged well (the one I've had for a couple of years has, other one is new) and lie flat straight away. I just wish the inserts weren't so expensive! I've taken to buying plain smythson paper and creating my own diary layout on it.
DeleteOof, @lydhold, you ENABLER, you! I can't believe it, especially given my strained budget right now, but I just went and bought the lone discounted organizer on the site. I'll let you know how it goes!
DeleteWhere do you find the plain Smythson paper?
Sorry, only just seen this! I bought the refill paper, which is lined I'm afraid, sorry, when I said plain, I meant not the pre-printed diary inserts, straight from the site. When I'm at an actual Smythson shop I'm going to have a look and see whether the notebooks, spiral bound, are actually A5, that could be punched, as this would be a MUCH cheaper way of having lined paper for notes. Glad you bought it - I'll look forward to hearing how you get on!
DeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteOne of my friends got an Apex and I know that style has gotten a lot of hate on here. However, I think the plastic will wear really well.
With that being said, is the green more of a sea foam green or a Kermit the frog green? I figure if the thing glows I can't lose it, right???
Jane
I got an Apex A5 in pink, I only use it at home (or I did, it was quickly replaced) and it's showing wear in the corner already, that's without being carried around and the diary only starts in July so that's what little use it's had so it's not as hardwearing as you may think!!
Delete@ PaperMeister - Kermit the Frog. At least the one I've seen is that "in your face" kind of green. And the plastic is kind of soft-ish as well.
DeleteSteve, you should step in! I thought the regulations on this blog clearly specify that no cursing and swearing is allowed?! Yet, I've just heard (or rather read) someone say the A-word!!! Totally unacceptable ...!
DeleteKudos, Jotje!
DeleteAlison and Yu--thank you both! Althought I love the fact it's Kermit green (did anyone else see Piggy Pink and Gonzo blue theme going? YEY!), I'm super bummed to hear it doesn't wear well (BOO!)
DeleteAppreciate the feedback!
I am thoroughly enjoying my very first Filofax, an aqua personal Chameleon. Right now I am using FC compact pages, which fit nicely and work relatively well. I've used FC (generally the classic A5 size but I've flirted with their compact and A4) for the past 13 years, and after reading Laurie's Plannerisms blog decided to shake it up and get a little crazy...I mean, I've changed FC planner sizes in the middle of the year, several times, but to change my entire planning system? Inconceivable! Until now...Throughout May I went through a A4 DayRunner which was too big and I hated the weekly format-no room for notes and lists. Then I made a mad but exciting attempt at the Woman's Success Journal. Smaller and easier to carry around and I LOVED the paper, but still with the weeks! No space to write! Aargh! So now we get to my questions! FC paper quality is lacking, and although it offers the space in a 2PPD format I'm not certain that any of their offerings appeal to me. FF is not offering the 2PPD option in the US. Do they occasionally make more options available the closer we get to planner "prime time" in October? If not, can anyone comment on the paper quality of the DoDo pad?
ReplyDeleteThe Dodo Pad paper is excellent, 100 gsm so it can take any pen well with no show-through on the other side.
DeleteJust wanted to give you a heads-up though that the Dodo Pad sizes are for the Personal Filofax, A5 Filofax and the Universal A4/ US Letter size. They don't make an insert that fits whichever Franklin Covey size uses 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 inch pages. The A5 pages are close in size, but the hole configuration is different and will have to be repunched.
And to answer your Filofax US question, yes they do have other diary inserts available later in the year, so keep a lookout.
Laurie-Thanks so MUCH! I am going to wait until the last possible minute and ponder my decision wisely for 2013 pages. Usually what I buy in October for the following year is NOT what I'm using by January 1.
DeleteThoughts on a launch date for Plannerism planners and diary refills?
The Plannerisms planners are still in the design stage with a production date as early as August but possibly as late as October, so I hope everyone can hang on until they become available! I'll have some design samples up on Plannerisms soon so everyone can preview the format. Very exciting!!!
DeleteFilofax should have the 2ppd refills available later on - I bought some from them in December or January. Dodo has a planner size which will fit your Personal. I'm currently using the FC Classic size, so I have to stick with non-Filofax inserts - but the American Classic size is much more available here in the US than anything A5.
DeleteLaurie, what type of paper will you be using?
DeleteJoey the paper I've requested is smooth, 90 gsm light ivory, but I haven't seen the paper samples yet so I can't say for sure. You can bet I'll get the best paper I can!
DeleteYou can get them on the UK and French sites, if I understand what you're looking for; both ship to the US. I've had good service from both. I haven't used the Dodo pads, although they're very popular.
ReplyDeleteThe personal sized 2PPD Filofax inserts are indeed available in Europe and e.g. France ships them to the US. Or ask one of the Philofaxy-readers to do so for you.
DeleteThe paper quality is not very high, but if you stay away from fountain pens it is sufficient.
Or you could invest in a decent punch and make your own inserts in any superb paper quality you'd like?!
Jotje- I was thinking about making my own inserts and having them printed up on quality paper at a office supply store locally. i DO need a hole punch terribly bad, but if I had pages professionally printed up, I would just ask the printers punch them.
DeleteEmmaNoey- I was looking at the French site yesterday afternoon and if I go that route it is definitely a possibility. As Laurie mentioned, if her Plannerism pages are released by late October-early November, I'm going to give them a try. So many exciting possibilities!
Pens
ReplyDeleteI really need a pen that does not bleed through to the other side and is a very fine writer....any ideas or reccomendations?
Frixion 0.4 write very thin and don't bleed through!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete... I wanted to edit. Ah well... more details on my blog.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: have any of you guys been sent many defect binders in a row? And has someone experienced that maybe even the replacement is defect when it is supposed to, well, replace the first binder?
Not in a row, but I bought a Finsbury online that was discounted to half-price from UK store WH Smith a few months ago, and it was... TERRIBLE! It wasn't "seconds" or anything, just regular stock.
DeleteThe cover looked like it had been made by a 3-year old, all uneven like the glue had warped the leather as it dired, the leather itself looked like '70s plastic fake leather, far too hard & textured, the rings did that sag in the middle that meant the paper caught, so I got a refund - I then looked in another WH Smiths and the only Finsbury on display had the exact same problems.
I have a Finsbury from '06 (found the receipt recently!) and it's perfect, including that until quite recently I didn't even know not to yank the rings to open it.
Same model, MAJOR drop in manufacturing quality, the one I got wasn't worth £2.50, let alone the full label price.
Based on that, I'm not buying new again unless I can see and check the binder in store, because that Finsbury just looked like a bad joke, or a fake of some kind.
I received a faulty binder from CO. They immediately sent me a replacement though, without waiting for me to return the original. Check out the details on my blog:
ReplyDeletehttp://allthingsstationery.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/my-new-gorgeous-filofax-but.html