Web Finds including Video Web Finds - 30 April 2013

Here are the latest Filofax Blog Posts from around the Internet:

1. Five Famous Filofaxes and a Filofax Funny - This Bugs Life
2. A Filofax For A £1 - Roses in December
3. Filofax "photo a day": 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 & 28... - Le Monde de Mzelle
4. 365/30: Favourite Filofax accessories - Filomaniac
5. Tutorial No.5 – How to Make a Magnetic Bookmark - DiY Fish
6. Turning over a new leaf - Cloudberry Musings
7. Journal spreads - Bits of Me
8. X is for…xanthic - Planning with Printed Portal
9. Well it's been a few weeks - Sweet Pea
10. How to Make Your Own Filofax Dividers - Snapguide
11. National Stationery Week! - Life of Kitty
12. Yeah. I know what it is now... The Crazy Suburban Mom
13. Y is for … Yearly Goals - Planning with Printed Portal
14. New Setup & Dividers - Jagged Little Thoughts
15. ❤Kokeshi Dolls Weekly Refills for PERSONAL Size❤ - Filofax Love
16. How To: Plan Your Free Time using the Daily Default Schedule  - Planning with Printed Portal
17. Filofax Numbers - Roses in December
18. Magical Monday Braindump: Things to do in May - Life is Crafted
19. National Stationery Week - Blog Posts for Competition - Imysworld
20. The Filofax Doodle - My Once Upon the Moon
21. My Week #17 and some Finsbury news! - Life of Kitty
22. My Filofax Week #17 - My PurpleyLife
23. The State of Well Planned - Life Well Planned Life
24. Excerpts from Tarzan’s Filofax - This Bug's Life
25. Weekly Recap | #17 - Friday, I'm in Love
26. Z is for… ZigZag - Planning with Printed Portal

Enjoy

Here are the latest Filofax videos from around the internet. I have made change in the format of the post today to improve the page loading speed. Please let me know what you think in the comments below.

1. Filofax setup - LadyElizabeth24
2. Filofax Personal ochre malden set up! - Katerina LeNoir
3. Cuban personal Filofax - leasuance1
4. Unboxing of my new Filofax yayyy;) thanks christa - Karina Lopez
5. filoFAX personal, plum, Osterly set up and accessories - 706smile
6. My First Filofax - BittenByBookLust
7. FIlofax Tip No 43 - Make Your Own Secret Ring Pen Loop - Kent from Oz
8. To Filofax Or Not - That Is The Question - Kent from Oz
9. How I Decorate My Filofax Pages w/ Washi Tape! - adamsfilo
10. Filofax Metropol update - M. Kaitaniemi
11. Filofax update - April 2013 - Kristy Sherrod
12. Filofax Accessories Haul - Ana Garza
13. Filofax / Planner Organization - Ana Garza
14. Filofax Apex perfect for the minimalist and pen lover! - sandrajohn27
15. My Filofax Update - DDrabma Ma
16. Filofax A5 Domino overview: - TheManicHousewife 
17. The Original By Filofax - Filofax UK
18. Filofax Spring Collection 2013 - Filofax UK
19. Decorating my Filofax - Week 18 - mypurpleylife

Enjoy

Free For All Tuesday No 117

Tuesdays are your chance to ask any Filofax related questions you might have.

So fire away and we will collectively try to answer your questions or offer opinions.

I would also like to announce that the winner of the Fusion Personal size Filofax is Tim who answered the two questions correctly and was entry number 14.


Q1. On what date did Nan introduce Steve to the readers of Philofaxy? - 23rd June 2009

Q2. What was Steve's first post on Philofaxy, title and date... a little clue it wasn't in 2005 – 25th June 2009 – Filofax on Ebay – it pays to be patient
There were 30 correct entries, thank you to everyone who entered. There will be another give away competition coming up soon. 

Video Webfinds - 30th April 2013

Here are the latest Filofax videos from around the internet. I have made change in the format of the post today to improve the page loading speed. Please let me know what you think in the comments below.

1. Filofax setup - LadyElizabeth24
2. Filofax Personal ochre malden set up! - Katerina LeNoir
3. Cuban personal Filofax - leasuance1
4. Unboxing of my new filofax yayyy;) thanks christa - Karina Lopez
5. filoFAX personal, plum, Osterly set up and accessories - 706smile
6. My First Filofax - BittenByBookLust
7. FIlofax Tip No 43 - Make Your Own Secret Ring Pen Loop - The Australian Way - Kent from Oz
8. To Filofax Or Not - That Is The Question - Kent from Oz
9. How I Decorate My Filofax Pages w/ Washi Tape! - adamsfilo
10. Filofax Metropol update - M. Kaitaniemi
11. Filofax update - April 2013 - Kristy Sherrod
12. Filofax Accessories Haul - Ana Garza
13. Filofax / Planner Organization - Ana Garza

Enjoy

Reader Under The Spotlight - Rebecca

Hi to all the Filofax enthusiasts out there!  My name is Rebecca (Bec) Cripps, otherwise known as the Crazy Tasmanian!!

I am on the younger side of 40 and that's all you will get out of me on THAT subject :)

I am married to my husband Neil (a cameraman and volunteer Fire Fighter) and the proud mother of Emily (13) and Matthew (6).

I currently work FullTime as an Accommodation Manger/Compliance Officer/Food Safety Supervisor.  I also own and run my own business called Queen of Admin (providing Virtual Administration Support).  In other words I am VERY busy and my Filfoaxes get ALOT of use!!

I first got into Filofax by searching for planner templates.  I only ever looked at the templates on Philofaxy, but one day after reading blogs from My Purpley Life and Life is Crafted and watching videos from Organised Like Jen and Imy's World I became hooked.

I don't have my own blog, I am way too busy for that, but I am on Facebook alot on the three associated Philofaxy pages, as well as trying to set up an Australian Meet Up.

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

I bought a Personal Metropol in Brown from Australian Filofax.  Hideous price and the Metropol and I just did not click!

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

DayRunner, DayTimer and Planner Pad

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

My A5 Chameleon in Red!!  I often have to stop myself from stroking it!! (Disturbing, yeah I know!!)

4. How many Filofax organisers do you own?

I own one A5 Chameleon in Red and currently trying to swap or sell my Pocket Zipped Malden in Purple.  I am waiting on the arrival of an A5 Chameleon in Black and my dream Filofax the A5 Finchley in Imperial Purple **swoon** I also have an A4 FF and a Personal Baroque in Teal that is being stored, so........6

5. What is the oldest Filofax in your collection?

My A4 Filofax is approximately 3 years old

6. What do you use your Filofax for?

I use my Red Chameleon currently for both Personal and my own business.  When my Black Chameleon arrives it will be used for my Fulltime job and the A5 Finchley will be for my Home business.  The A4 and the Personal Baroque are not in use.

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

I love the prettiness and durability of some of the leathers and the pockets and versatility of the system.

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

It would be A5, in a variety of colours, but more importantly in Purple.  It would have the detailing of the Baroque, but on the inside and outside with gold rings.  Lots of Business card slots that can actually take the size of all business cards and a roomy zippered section  **swoon**

9. How do you carry your Filofax?

The A5 Red Chameleon is the only one in current use.  It sits by my side everywhere, but when we are mobile it has its own tote bag inside my bag.

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

In the current range I would adore the A5 Osterley in any of the colours.  That or possible the A5 Aqua Malden.  I am seriously considering getting the Osterley

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

I spent $150 on an A5 Holborn Zip in Wine that I ended up swapping for my A5 Red Chameleon.

12. What's your favourite Filofax tip or hack?

No real hacks, I have to personalise my pages and make my own dividers and have lots of cute things to use with my FF.  I splurge on the nice pens that I want otherwise I will loose the inspiration to use my FF.
    
13. Turning to Philofaxy, what do you like the most?
I love the community.  The shared wealth of knowledge.  I have discovered that you can learn something from the newest of people to the group.  The opportunities to expand your horizons are limitless!  Also the opportunity to meet new people is great.  I can't wait until the Australian Meetup at the end of this year.

14. And what do you not like about Philofaxy?

I find it hard to search for things on the blogspot, but besides that.....NOTHING!!

15. What was the last music track you downloaded or bought?

It was Led Zeppelin - Remasters I downloaded from CD onto my computer.  LOVE THEM!!  Before that, it was some Metallica.  I have a very eclectic taste is music.

16.  Mark Darcy or Daniel Cleaver?

I have never seen the movie **ducks** so I would have to say Mark Darcy as I love Colin Firth as an actor and I cannot stand Hugh Grant.

Thank you Rebecca for taking part in our Reader Under The Spotlight feature. And of course if any of our readers would like to take part then please contact us at philofaxy at gmail dot com

A Date For Your Filofax - Sunday 5th May 2013

New York	London	Paris	Sydney

We are going to run another conference round-table voice chat using Skype.

I'm sure we are gradually getting to know each other's voices, but I will make a point of going 'around the table' to get everyone to introduce themselves this time.

So...When, Where, What, Who and How?

When? - Sunday 5 May from 9am London time, 10am Paris time, 6pm Sydney time and 8pm Wellington time.

Additionally I will be on line at 8am Anchorage, 9am San Francisco 11am Chicago, 12noon New York, 5pm London time, 6pm Paris time etc.  See the clocks at the top of this post to see roughly what time you should be on line. Or the World Clock

The timing of these two sessions have been chosen to hopefully allow as many people to join in compared to previous round-tables. The timing of future ones will be varied to suit everyone if need be.


Where? - an on-line chat using Skype.

What do I need? - just a micro-phone and some head phones(in ear phones work fine) and a free Skype account. Using headphones reduces 'echo' on the call.

Who - All of you... connect up with Philofaxy and we will attempt to get as many of us linked in to the audio conference as possible. Come and listen if you don't want to chat.  What do we talk about? Filofax stuff... but anything else as well. It's like long lost friends meeting up for coffee and a catch up.. but don't worry if you have never joined in before... you are an old friend too!

How -

1. Connect to Philofaxy by firstly searching for Philofaxy in Skype, I will then add you as a contact.
2. Then  'Start Chat',  I will then add you in to the chat room. 
3. Then if you request it, I can add you to the audio conference as well. But if you just want to chat via keyboard that's fine. That way it's slightly less hectic for me! 

Come and join in the fun, even if you only pop in to say hello...

As with previous round-tables there will also be a parallel text chat room going at the same time as the voice conference, so you can listen to the voice chat and type if you wish.

If you need any assistance setting up Skype, please pop a comment in this post and I will try and help you get one line. Skype is free for computer to computer calls....

Here is my post on how to improve your Skype audio with headphones or a headset.

Hope to be chatting with you on Sunday 5 May 2013. 

Web Finds - 27 April 2013

I'm starting today's post with a video of an interview with the Filofax CEO Gordon Presly, which was conducted on the Filofax stand at this weeks National Stationery Week show in London. It certainly adds a lot more detail to the press stories of last weekend about the change of ownership to the company.



So once again here are the latest Filofax blog posts from around the internet....

1. My Third Filofax: Personal Malden in Grey - Reflections by Cruz
2. My Budget Planner: Filofax - Skinny Budget
3. In desperate search of a blue A5 - Not so boring
4. 2013 Plannerisms Planners still available! - Plannerisms
5. Filofax 'Supplies Envelopes' for sale! - Live, Love, Organize
6. A Filofax Mystery ... - Emma's Blog
7. What & How of Life Mapping - DiY Fish
8. What's in my Beloved Vintage Filofax: ADD style. - The Crazy Suburban Mom
9. Filomaniac asks ... Iris - Filomaniac
10. Day 3 - National Stationery Week - Artbox - Imysworld
11. What's a Filofax & Why I love Mine! - My Purpley Life
12. U is for… Updates - Planning with Printed Portal
13. Two pockets - Cloudberry Musings
14. This week's Filofax and setup - Filofaxing Again
15. My Filofax A5 Domino! - Crazy Clarity
16. Introduction - All you need is now
17. Decisions decisions.. - The Not So Boring
18. Filofax Essentials Review #1 - Pens. - Live, Love, Organize
19. Make an Index Page Marker for Life Mapping Organizer - DiY Fish
20. Decisions, Decisions - All you need is now
21. April Filofax photo-a-day challenge, day twenty-five - She's Eclectic
22. Filofax Mystery - Solved!! - Emma's Blog
23. Neuheiten 2013 (11): Flamingo - Filomaniac
24. Day 4 - National Stationery Week - Paperchase - Imysworld
25. The accidental benefits of carrying a Filofax - My Life All in One Place
26. Filofax keyrings - Cloudberry Musings
27. V is for… Vehicle Mileage Log - Planning with Printed Portal
28. For Sale... A Pocket Petal Filofax!! - AppleHead Threads
29. A new design for my Filofax - Jagged Little Thoughts
30. Plan Ahead with a Budget Allocation Worksheet - Homemakers Daily
31. Change in the Competitive Landscape - Quo Vadis Blog
32. My Filofax setup - A peek inside 
33. When your office supplies make fun of you -  The Crazy Suburban Mom
34. Filofax Update & Announcements - My Filo World
35. A5 Osterley - A Bit Of A Dispointment - Timmo's Blog
36. W is for… Weekend Break - Planning with Printed Portal
37. Malden A5 finally came home :o) - Chrissie's Universe
38. Internet Technology - How It Has Relaunched The Life of a Filofaxer - FiloFaxuations
39. Mini Baroque as my main filo - Emma's Blog 
40. Filofax: the upcoming neon collection, Doodle and more - Valerie's Web
41. My Filofax setup - Kilikina
42. Filofaxes Past and Present! - The Wonderful Life of Alice
43. Die beliebtesten Filofax-Modelle - Filomaniac
44. Day 5 - National Stationery Week - Staples - Imysworld
45. A Happy Filofax Friday, Indeed! - Friday, I'm in Love
46. Week on two pages change - Kilikina
47. National Stationery Week! - Katie Louise Halsall
48. Moleskine Arrival - New Setup - Jagged Little Thoughts
49. a girl and her filofax - Kikaychick
50. Mix Outlook with a Paper Planner for a Productive Day - Day Timer Blog

• Your blog post could appear here next week if we missed you this time around. Email us the details and we will include it if we can. 

• We can not guarantee people will read your posts, but we know there is a higher chance of people reading your posts and returning to read other posts if you make them interesting with pictures and good hints and tips. Do not forget to give your posts a title...  

Enjoy

Video Web Finds - 27 April 2013

Here are the latest Filofax videos from around the Internet:


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Enjoy

Paper Bytes Back

I received this in the mail yesterday so I thought I would share it with you...

Paper Bytes Back

Recent survey shows evidence that new technology boosts sales of stationery

Far from heralding the decline of traditional paper-based stationery, a recent survey commissioned by Filofax and Letts*  suggests that the advance of new technology has done just the opposite – with the use of personal organisers, diaries and notebooks rising by 21% over the last 12 months. 

People are finding that the most effective way for them to organise their lives is to use traditional paper-based stationery products as well as new technology – and any product that makes it easy to combine the two is likely to be a big success.

Consumers’ use of smartphones and tablets continues to grow but the survey also shows that when carrying out key organisational activities, significantly more people prefer paper-based products over digital devices.  The majority of cognitive psychologists believe that we remember things better when we write them down, rather than type them. Most people also apparently find it easier to plan or get their head around a complex issue using a hard copy of data instead of a digital one.

Men are more likely to use diaries at work than women*, but the main growth in paper-based stationery is being driven by the 79% of people (mainly women) who use a diary, notebook or organiser for social reasons.*

Sharon Golbey, Head of Marketing Services at Filofax says, ‘Recent product innovation at Filofax reflects the need to balance our reliance on the latest technology with the ease and flexibility of using paper. Organisers and diaries which are designed to complement technology are likely to become an increasingly important part of our range.’
   *YouGov research, March 2013, consulting more than 2,000 people and commissioned by Filofax and Letts

Free For All Friday No 232

It's nearly May!  I've heard from so many people that May is the busiest month in their year. Parents with kids in school are preparing for the end of the school year (in the US) and graduation parties abound. Some lucky folks are making plans for summer trips. And for others, work gets especially busy this time of year.

What about you? Will May be a busier than usual month for you?  How are you using your Filofax to handle all your upcoming plans?

And as always on Fridays, feel free to discuss anything Filofax-related.

Happy Friday everyone!

Win a Filofax Fusion Personal

So you have read the press release, seen the review with all the pictures... now it's time for you to win the Filofax Fusion in Personal.

Please answer the following questions:

1. On what date did Nan introduce Steve to the readers of Philofaxy? 
2. What was Steve's first post on Philofaxy, title and date... a little clue it wasn't in 2005 
3. How many words has Steve written on Philofaxy.... no on second thoughts just answer the first two questions!

Please send your answers to: philofaxy at gmail dot com to arrive no later than Monday 29th April at 12 noon GMT

The winners will be announced on Tuesday.

This competition is open to all readers worldwide. The judges decision is final, no alternative prizes will be offered no liability for non-receipt of your prize etc etc. 

Fabulous Flamingo - Exclusive News from Filofax

Filofax reveals the winner of its graduate design competition

The Flamingo is the winning design from the Filofax ‘Cover Story’ graduate design competition.

Flamingo Pocket, £28 and Personal, £35 Organisers
(Available in Navy and Sage)

Flamingo Organiser (Navy)
Pocket, £28
Personal, £35

Flamingo Organiser (Sage)
Pocket, £28
Personal, £35

The eye-catching and elegant design, created by Rebecca Mountain, inspired by the poise, colour and grace of flamingos, beat off a tidal-wave of talent from other design graduates.  Rebecca has recently been enjoying a paid work-placement with Filofax so that she could see her print being brought to life on the popular cotton twill canvas personal organisers which will be sold around the world.

The Flamingo is available in two colourways – blue and sage – as well as in two sizes – Pocket (£28) and Personal (£35). A pen loop keeps your pen secure, while a practical elastic closure will keep your Flamingo organiser safely closed when you’re on the move.   

Filofax is supporting fresh design talent again this year with a new ‘Cover Story’ graduate design competition.  Details will be announced shortly on the Filofax website.

Flamingo range details:

§  Material: Printed on cotton twill canvas

§  Colours available: Blue, Sage

§  Features:

• Elegant and fashionable design inspired by the grace and beauty of the flamingo
• Printed twill canvas cover
• Matching popper and elastic closure
• Designed by the winner of the 2012 Filofax Cover Story Competition

Thank you to Filofax and Ideas Network for sharing this news exclusively with Philofaxy.

Filofax New Range 2013 - The Original

After more than 90 years of developing organisers in hundreds of new designs and colours, Filofax felt it was time to pay homage to its roots, and the result is The Original.

The Filofax design team looked back at the most popular Filofax designs and pared everything down to the essentials.  Beautiful in its simplicity, The Original is made from extra thick leather which provides all the structure the organiser needs, without the need for any complicated internal engineering.  All the instantly recognisable Filofax features such as the traditional popper and strap closure were also incorporated into the design. You can see, feel and even smell its quality.  Assembled by hand in Britain, using traditional skills, The Original will certainly stand the test of time.

The Original is available in a classic soft brown and a retro green but the design team also recognised the need for people to express themselves and be ‘original’ in every sense, so they added a range of strikingly contemporary colours and finishes.  There is an orange and a bang on trend yellow, as well as a rich patent purple, fuchsia and black. Finally, for the most fearless fashionistas there is also a full-on fluoro pink and orange.

The finishing touch was to give the signature look a stamp of authenticity. As well as a ‘made in the UK’ badge, a coloured ‘Original’ popper was also added on the strap – and The Original Filofax was reborn.

The Original organisers are available in personal and A5 size from 30th April 2013 and are priced from £60 to £80.

Filofax has also created a fabulous range of Original Key Rings in matching colours priced at just £10.

[Update] I've been sent a couple of photos to show how the pen loop works on the inside cover

Web Finds - 23 April 2013

Here are the latest Filofax Blog posts from around the Internet:

1. How a Project Journal is a Small Business Owner's Best Friend - Day Timer Blog
2. R is for… Recipes and Menu Planning - Planning with Printed Portal
3. Selfdiscovering with Filofax - My Summer Touch
4. Filofax Arrival; Personal Malden in Grey - My Filo World
5. To Washi or Not to Washi? - Circus Life with Disturbed Mamacita
6. Moodboard #12: Parisian - Jagged Little Thoughts
7. 2. Filofax Photo-A-Day Challenge (3) - Filomaniac
8. April Dreams - Cloudberry Musings
9. Book Review : 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Confessions of a Dublin Lassie
10. Filofax Letts Group verkauft - Filomaniac
11. Learning to Let Go - Friday, I'm in Love
12. Tea Time | Life Mapping Theme - DiY Fish
13. A Dream of Summer | April 2013 templates for A5 & Personal Filofax - DiY Fish
14. Observations about my Filofax blogging - Little Black Filofax
15. Shopping spree! - Planner Chicks
16. Dodopad and stickers :) - Nothing's Original Anymore
17. Weird leather...... - Chrissie's Universe
18. Moodboard #13: Hakuna Matata - Jagged Little Thoughts 
19. Let training commence! - Paper Pens Ink
20. Another perfect match :o) - Chrissie's Universe
21. Filofax Storage - Emma's Blog
22. Update: New Filofax, Dividers & Ideas - Jagged Little Thoughts 
23. Planner or Life Book? - Planner Chicks
24. Pocket Kendal! - The Wonderful World of Alice
25. Change of Planner Archive System - Well Planned Life
26. Texting about my underpants... - The Crazy Suburban Mom
27. Day 1 - National Stationery Week - Filofax - Imysworld
28. setting the tone: a daily and weekly routine - Paperlove Story
29. Peely Classic Exchange! - The Wonderful Life of Alice
30. S is for… Shopping Review - Planning with Printed Portal
31. Organizing - Filofax Lessons From The Heart - Filofaxuations
32. How To Get Your Act Together - Carolyn Shares
33. Filofax Competion Prize #1 Clue!!! - Organised Heaven
34. Hello, Camille! - Healing Hands of Light
35. My first Filofax inserts!!! - Nia Sian 
36. The Right Filofax - Roses in December
37. Diary publishing firm Letts changes hands again - Scotsman
38. T is for… Time Recording - Planning with Printed Portal
39. Unboxing my new filofax - Indigo Flea
40. Filofax Competion Prize #2 Clue!!! - Organised Heaven
41. Filofax: Back to School File - Confessions of a Dublin Lassie 
42. my week round-up #16 - Paper Lovestory

• Your blog post could appear here next week if we missed you this time around. Email us the details and we will include it if we can. 

• We can not guarantee people will read your posts, but we know there is a higher chance of people reading your posts and returning to read other posts if you make them interesting with pictures and good hints and tips. Do not forget to give your posts a title...  

Enjoy

Video Web Finds - 23 April 2013

Here are the latest Filofax Videos from around the Internet:


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Inclusion of your video in this list is not guaranteed, so please don't complain if I miss out the odd one or two now and again...

Enjoy

Free For All Tuesday No. 116

Tuesdays are your chance to ask any Filofax related questions you might have.

So fire away and we will collectively try to answer your questions or offer opinions.

Maps In Your Filofax?

I published this picture a few days ago on Flickr and one of my followers said that I had a lot of maps in my Filofax!

In fact, I normally wouldn't have this many maps in my personal Filofax organiser, but this is after a trip to UK, when I tend to add in my UK maps.

The UK road map set is 4 sheets that fold in two. I also carry a set of London street maps which are 3 sheets folded in to four, world map/time zone map, my own French road maps. So quite a few, why so many? I do have a semi-smart phone, which does have a GPS built in, but I've not found it to be that good in city centres between tall buildings, so I prefer to read and look at a paper map to work out which direction to head in.

Now I could have left a few sheets out, I was unlikely to end up in Scotland or Ireland on this trip I suppose... but you never know.

I like maps in what ever form they come in. From a young age I have always sat and gazed at them for hours on end. So I like having maps in my Filofax, they are like reading a good novel to me!

So apart from the maps sold by Filofax you can in fact quite easily create a lot of your own maps fairly easily including those for your local area without too much trouble.

If you like large maps say up to A3 size paper, well you can fold these down so that they fit in to an A5 Filofax, and here's how:


It is possible to print off maps from Google maps fairly easily for your own use. Or do a search for a particular map for your local town, or look for maps in your local tourist information office.

What maps do you carry on a regular basis? 

Reader Under the Spotlight - Zoe

Today I would like to introduce you to Zoe from 'Zoe at Home' blog

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

Well actually, I made my own planner! I got an A5 folder and some page protectors, dividers and note paper in that size and put it all together myself. I made a custom cover for it with some pretty patterned paper and some photos of my family. Then I bought some A5 weekly and monthly refills and it became a sort of ‘home management binder’. It was great to be able to keep my bills and paperwork in the same place. And it was easy to make my own custom pages on the computer and just set my printer to print A5 size. It was cute and very much me, in a DIY kind of a way.

In some ways it was better than a Filofax because I could fit all my pens, sticky notes and even a pair of scissors in a ziplock pocket in the front and it stayed open flat from the very beginning (am I allowed to say that on Philofaxy?!).

I discovered Philofaxy because I was looking for a way to make my own diary inserts after failing miserably at making my own on the computer! I carried this rather bulky DIY planner around with me for a long time until one day I was in a department store and I saw the pink Domino A5. It looked so elegant and neat compared to my homemade version, so I took the plunge! I turned the DIY folder into a place to keep all my blogging notes, as A5 is a handy portable size.

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

Previous to ‘going Filo’ I’d always carried a Collins Debden slimline diary in my handbag. It was the perfect size to carry and I really liked its ‘landscape’ format. But after learning about GTD, I really wanted to have a bigger planner where I could make more notes. I still use their A5 calendar refills as they are compatible with Filofax.

In fact, as soon as I bought my Domino I ripped out the inserts and dividers and sourced different ones (from kikki.K and Collins Debden). I’ve never liked the Filofax diary format! The multiple languages are such a waste of space. But the binder itself is great quality and a lovely shade of pink.

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

I love using my Domino, and I’m going to stick with it. I’m very much in the ‘one life- one Filofax’ camp. However, I did get very tempted by a style called Hearts, which came in pink and also in purple and yellow. But it was available in Personal size only, and I dreaded the idea of changing to another size, even though that would be easier to carry around.

4. How many Filofax organisers do you own?

Only two. I also bought a Metropol Slim that I tried to use as a wallet. I went through an ‘Envelope System’ phase, and I had 5 clear pockets for different categories of cash. I also put my Collins Debden slimline planner in there. Unfortunately, it was too difficult to get the money out of the ziplock pockets so I abandoned it. I really like the idea of using a Filofax as a wallet, but I’ve never seen anything that would work for me.

5. What is the oldest Filofax in your collection?

That Metropol. Maybe one day I might start using it again as a budget planner. But I don’t think I could use the Personal size: I like having lots of space to write.

6. What do you use your Filofax for?

I keep all my budget records in there and I also use it as an editorial calendar for my blog. I’m trying to use it for more things these days, as a study planner, menu planner, and as a record of my children’s milestones.

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

I really like the way you can customise it completely and make it your own. I like all the white space in the A5 format: I find that helps my visual memory. And I also like that there is a great online community of users that have taken the product and made it their own. There are actually lots of people out there with the same obsessions as me!

Most of all, I like that I can open my Filofax and instantly feel more in control of my life. Being at home with children, each day begins to feel quite nebulous. But using a planner gives my life more structure and order.

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

I wish my Domino had a bigger window in which I could put pictures of my family. And all the card slots seem redundant to me: I never use them. Those little calendars on each page and the small sections for Saturday and Sunday irritate me! And I’m left-handed, so it would be great if you could buy a ‘leftie’ version.

9. How do you carry your Filofax?

This is a bit of an issue for me! I love carrying a small handbag, and when I first bought the A5 I had to buy a bigger bag too. But once I put the Filo in, nothing else would fit. Then I started leaving my Filofax at home and that was no good either! So now I carry my little handbag and a bigger tote bag with all my things in it. I can put the smaller bag inside if I need to consolidate everything.

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

Actually, I try not to look at the Filofax online shop as I don’t want to be tempted!

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

Well I thought AU$100 was a lot the Domino, compared to the $5 my little slimline diary cost me.

12. What’s your favourite Filofax tip or hack?

I bought a punch from the Japanese site Rakuten, for half the price of the Filofax brand A5 punch. It’s great quality, and it’s adjustable so it can punch most paper sizes. They still send me emails in Japanese, which I can’t understand!

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

Through Web Finds I have discovered some great blogs. And the discussions on the site about punches helped me to decide not to waste money on the Filofax punch and look for an alternative.

14. And what do you not like about Philofaxy?

Not much really, it’s a great site and a great community. I like the fact that you raise money for charity. My husband says my Filofax dramas are ‘first world problems’ and that’s very true.

15. What was the last music track you downloaded or bought?

The last thing I downloaded was some dialogues in French because I’m studying the language at the moment.

16.  Mark Darcy or Daniel Cleaver?

It’s got to be Mr. Darcy! I went through a Jane Austen bookish phase when I was at university. But if I ever met a Mr. Darcy, I’d probably think: ‘grumpy,’ rather than ‘dark and brooding’!


Thank you Zoe for your great contribution, it is nice to get to know you better. And as always if you would like to take part in this feature then please contact philofaxy at gmail dot com

Filofax sold in a new venture

News came out on Saturday night that Filofax has been sold in a new joint venture, Harolde Savoy, whose family owns the Blueline/Rediform stationery supplier group in North America, has agreed to purchase the Letts Filofax Group with its chief Gordon Presly, under the joint venture HSGP Investments.

The story in full was published in the UK newspaper the Daily Telegraph read it in full here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/10007947/Filofax-sold-in-new-venture.html

Rediform are Canadian based stationery company employing over 300 people, they have been around since about 1917, so a similar age to Filofax (1921). They have an existing range of planners and diaries but in a quick scan of their site I didn't see any organiser products.

What they do have is a product they call MiracleBind where you can remove and reposition pages, sound familiar?

I've not as yet seen any announcements other than the news article above, but it looks to me like the companies future has been secured. My main hope/wish is that the established and experienced staff I've had the pleasure to deal with in the last few months have secure jobs for the future.

The story also appears in the Scotsman:

http://www.scotsman.com/business/management/stationery-veterans-buy-letts-filofax-1-2903933

And in STV (Scotland TV)

http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/222276-new-leaf-turned-as-filofax-boss-buys-out-edinburgh-based-group/ 

The timing of this announcement is very interesting... National Stationery Week starts on Monday...


Naturally if I hear more on the new joint venture I will share it with you all.

Web Finds - 20 April 2013

Here are the latest Filofax blog posts from around the Internet:

1. Filofax close to being sold - The Independent
2. Welcome!! - My Little Vintage Life
3. How To Back Up Your Paper Planner - Homemakers Daily
4. So Sorry!!!! My Filo World Update - My Filoworld
5. Filofaxes for Sale - Jagged Little Thoughts
6. O is for… Online Shopping - Planning with Printed Portal
7. In which I feel overwhelmed - Eat, Drink, Sort and Organise
8. Can't Leave Well Enough Alone! - Thoughts & Exploration
9. P is for… Pages - Planning with Printed Portal
10. How I styled my Filofax - Pretty Violet
11. I'm a winner and my FiloFax story. - Purple is My Happy
12. How I made my Personal Filofax dividers - Pretty Violet
13. Personal Domino Filofax in ultra violet  - Purple is My Happy
14. A look at Filofaxes with 4 rings (Pocket Windsor) - The Crazy Suburban Mom
15. Q is for… Quotes - Planning with Printed Portal
16. Where to buy a Filofax (when you’re in the southern hemisphere!) - Life is Crafted
17. From To-Do to To-Done to The Mall!  - The Crazy Suburban Mom
18. New Inserts, A Filofax Set-Up Video, and a Freebie! - The Crazy Life of J
19. “Life Mapping”, the way I setup my Filofax - DiY Fish
20. National Stationery Week Competition Entry Information - Imysworld
21. Paperchase and Filofax - Roses in December 
22. Download a free Project Setup Planner for the A4 or A5 Filofax - My Life All in One Place
23. A few new Filofax tweaks - Red Lips and Pearls
24. Arrival of a Classic Pocket Filofax - Paper Pens Ink
25. “I can only tell it to my Filofax” is Printable! - Lime Tree Fruits
26. Mini madness  - Heather Holistics
27. Filofax Friday: a mini schedule - Planning with Printed Portal 
28. A girl can change her mind... - Circus Life with Disturbed Mamacita  
29. What works for me... So far! - Not so boring 
30. Plans for my New Filofax - Jagged Little Thoughts

• Your blog post could appear here next week if we missed you this time around. Email us the details and we will include it if we can. 

• We can not guarantee people will read your posts, but we know there is a higher chance of people reading your posts and returning to read other posts if you make them interesting with pictures and good hints and tips. Do not forget to give your posts a title...  

Enjoy

Video Webfinds - 20 April 2013

Here are the latest Filofax Videos from around the Internet:


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Free For All Friday No 231

According to a quick Google search, Spring in the northern hemisphere started on the 20th March. The daffodils have been out for ages and it's finally beginning to feel a bit warmer. I love having a good Spring clean and have just started on my Filofax. The empty Malden is sat to one side and I'm going through each sheet, making sure I still need it and finding that I'm recycling more than I'm keeping. Are you having a binder clear out currently, or are you good at keeping everything up to date during the year?
And it's Friday again, so please feel free to discuss anything Filofax or ringbound planner related. Have a a great weekend.

Snippets of News from Filofax

No big announcements, but just some snippets of information I've been sent.

Following the favourable comments you have made about the Doodle pen loop insert, Filofax are considering but not promising to make this type of insert more generally available.

So if you have an organiser with only one pen loop, you could add one or two of these inserts to add some more.It has the advantage of course of being moveable between organisers. It's not a permanent fixture and will not damage the leather or the covering of the organiser like the stick on ones might do.

I wasn't aware of this but apparently early Osterley Compacts came with 2 pen loops this went down to just a single pen loop on more recently made versions of this particular model. Other sizes though now all have elasticated pen loops.

The elasticated pen loop is becoming more common across the range, this of course allows for 'fatter' pens.

Work continues on the development of the new website, I've been contributing some historical information that I have to go in to the 'History' section.  I have also been asked to help test the beta site when it is ready. The new site is due to go live this summer, which ever week that happens to be!

Filofax is very aware of the limitations with the current site and they are very keen to get the replacement site up and running as soon as possible. They are investing all their efforts in to the new site, while trying to ensure the current site still does it's job for the remainder of its life.

More news on the 2013 range coming next week hopefully......

Filofax 4 Ring Pocket Organisers

The Filofax Pocket organisers we see today are all 6 ring organisers, but at one time they used to be only 4 rings. The change over happened sometime in the 1990's, there was a bit of a consumer outcry at the time, which included the Filofax MD at the time being asked to appear a consumer programme to be interviewed by Anne Robinson, pity the thought... But a compromise was reached and Filofax produce inserts that fit both 4 and 6 ring pockets still to this day.

So how are they different? Read on..

So first here is the current 6 ring page with the rings shown in red.

Note that the holes in the paper are slotted for holes 1, 2, 5 and 6. Each ring is spaced 19mm or three quarters of an inch from the adjacent one.

Now look at the same sheet of paper when used in a 4 hole Pocket.

Notice how the rings have shifted to the bottom of the slots. The rings are still 19 mm from their immediate adjacent neighbours, but rings 2 and 3 are 51 mm or 2 inches apart...

Now the clever ones amongst you will say ah... that sounds familiar. Yes it is, because it is the same as Personal ring spacing.

So the slotted Pocket paper will slot directly in to Personal 6 ring binders in the middle.

If it's not slotted a modern 6 hole pocket page will not fit in 4 ring Pocket without punching new holes or 6 ring Personal or A5 without folding or adding another hole. Where as the 4 hole paper or slotted 6 holes will fit in to personal or A5 organisers.

So if you buy a 4 ring Pocket, you also need a Personal size punch because the hole spacing will be correct when the paper is put in the centre of the punch and just the middle punches are used to make the holes.

NOTE: As from January 2015 Filofax no longer sell slotted inserts that will fit the 4 ring organisers. Although you might still find stocks of slotted inserts in local shops.

Web Finds - 16 April 2013

Here are the latest Filofax blog posts from around the Internet:

1. L is for … Lists - Planning with Printed Portal
2. Compact Insert Switch (Again) - Well Planned Life
3. My Brand New Filofax, spoken from a newly obsessed... - Pretty Violet
4. Must have read for the newly obsessed filofanatic ...  - Pretty Violet
5. Filofax - Old friends - Indigo Blue 
6. Time for a new filofax... Tiara Helen
7. Purple Malden - Mini Size - Creating Dividers - Indigo Blue
8. Okay... - The Crazy Suburban Mom
9. 2. Filofax Photo-A-Day Challenge (2) - Filomaniac
10. Household Binder in Ochre Malden A5 - Confessions of A Dublin Lassie
11. Custom Designed & Printed Pocket Pages - Jagged Little Thoughts
12. Finchleys and Deskfaxes - LJ's Blog of Stuff
13. Moodboard #9: Pastel Kitty - Jagged Little Thoughts
14. ❤Kokeshi Dolls Weekly Refills for POCKET Size❤ - Filofax Love
15. Moodboard #10: Shabby Chic - Jagged Little Thoughts
16. Moodboard #11: Beekeeper - Jagged Little Thoughts
17. Setting up my Fiilofax - Life of a would be Artist
18. New Filofax - Life of a would be Artist 
19. Return to paper, week one - MacPsych 
20. Up and coming posts - Anita Lim
21. M is for… Monthly Refresh, Review & Renew - Planning with Printed Portal
22. Staples FF Discounts? Ooh, Don't Mind If I Do... - LJ's Blog of Stuff
23. National Stationery Week Competition Entry Information - Imysworld
24. Free Download - Organise:Me pages - Jagged Little Thoughts
25. City Organiser - Last Time Buy... - LJ's Blog of Stuff
26. Neue Umfrage: Wieviel Geld gebt Ihr pro Jahr für Filofax - Filomaniac
27. Handmade Filofax Notepaper - Roses in December
28. Filofax Organization #2 - Setting up your Filofax - Live, Love, Organise
29. Filofax vs Smartphone and a Radley Organiser! - Cat's Corner
30. Student Organisation Tips - Practical and Pretty
31. N is for… Networking - Planning with Printed Portal
32. What's in my Filofax - Pocket Red Chameleon - Lily Actually
33. The $1 Filofax dupe - Skinny Budget
34. My first Filofax inserts!!! - Nia Sian
35. Filofax Domino Personal Organiser in Black - Review - Bows and Pearls
36. The Chronodex Planning System - Mind Mapping and Filofax - Filofaxuations
37. my week round-up #15 - Paper Lovestory

• Your blog post could appear here next week if we missed you this time around. Email us the details and we will include it if we can. 

• We can not guarantee people will read your posts, but we know there is a higher chance of people reading your posts and returning to read other posts if you make them interesting with pictures and good hints and tips. Do not forget to give your posts a title...  

Enjoy

Video WebFinds - 16 April 2013

Here are the latest Filofax videos from around the Internet:


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Enjoy

Free for All Tuesday No. 115

Tuesdays are your chance to ask any Filofax related questions you might have.

So fire away and we will collectively try to answer your questions or offer opinions.

Keeping It In The Family

Source: Anita Lim

If you are in your mid twenties, you have most probably left home to go and study at a university or a college. You end your courses and then get a job returning home every once in a while to visit your family.

During your time at college or Uni you have become a dedicated Filofax user, a regular reader of Philiofaxy, and you chip in with the odd comment or question on the blog or one of the Facebook groups. Trawling Flickr and Facebook you envy the older Filofax models people share the pictures of.

It is during one of your visits home that your mother or father tells you they are planning their silver wedding anniversary and they want to see if you are free on the date they have in mind.

Instead of pulling out your iPhone you reach in to your bag and you pull out your Filofax organiser, with a well practiced flick of the finger you undo the popper, your index finger goes for the 'Today' tab, and then you flick the pages forward to the date in mind, the pages gliding over the rings.

Your mother has watched you do this, it took just seconds, her mind is full of memories from 25 years ago, she remembers those same set of actions you have just performed when choosing her wedding date.

You look up and you see her smile and then those immortal words, "I had one of those planners you know....it is upstairs somewhere"

Thoughts about the party date are pushed to one side.

'Where is it' you ask.... 'Can I see it, please'

"Yes, of course I will get it in a minute..... So are you free on the 26th?" Your mother asks.

'Yes, I will write it in now' you respond quickly making a note on the page using your favourite pen.

'Can we go and find your planner now, Mum?' You say in an insistent, pleading tone.

Your mum looks a little baffled by your sudden interest in a planner she used back in the 1980's. You follow her upstairs leaving your father with his head in his Daily Telegraph reading the sports section, muttering about England losing by 20 runs.

You enter your parents room, you wonder when your mother will grow out of the Laura Ashley decor. She reaches for the handle of the bottom drawer and pulls it, it sticks, but it eventually opens, you are there keen and looking.

She reaches in to the bottom of the drawer and pulls out a burgundy Winchester, you fight your urge to snatch it from her hand. It looks perfect, you want it, what a find, already ideas for a blog post, the You Tube video are speeding through your mind.

Your mother flicks open the popper and opens the organiser, the pages have yellowed with time, the brio ink has faded a little, but it is all perfectly readable. She turns the pages, she chuckles to her self as the memories of when she was your age come flooding back as she remembers what she was doing back then, the new job, the parties, the shopping list for her wedding.

She continues turning the pages, the old inserts full of information from a bygone era, the slightly hardened plastic of a 1980's plastic envelope with a photograph of your mother, big hair, shoulder pads, lots of make up. You laugh together at that.

Then she passes it to you, you feel the soft leather in your hands and as you are engrossed looking at it, she says those words you have been longing to hear.... "Would you like it.....I don't use it any more"

You look up closing the organiser, clutching it to your chest, your eyes are wide, you are almost lost for words.

'Oh yes please' trying to contain your excitement.

Your mother smiles, then surprises you again.

"I have your grandfather's her somewhere....."

Can this day get any better???

I will let you finish off the rest of this story in your own imagination, but next time you do visit home, ask your mum and dad if they ever used a Filofax....they might still have them.......

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.