31 August 2013

Free Filofax diary inserts to print on Letter paper

These diary sets have been available for some time now for people to download and print on A4 paper. Ray and I have posted them here and on My Life All In One Place and they've proved popular. Now we are making available versions that will print on Letter paper, the North American standard. You can download whichever of these you want to try - or all of them if you like.

Each prints out on Letter paper, double sided. Each Letter sheet will contain two double-sided Personal Filofax pages, with crop marks showing you where to cut using a craft knife and ruler to release the individual pages. The templates are set up with mirrored gutters to accommodate the holes.

You can download and print finished versions for this year from our diary inserts page.

These come as Word documents or PDFs. If using the PDF be sure to set it to print at full size as explained here.

But if you want to use these layouts as a starting point for your own personalised creation, then you'll need to download the base Word file and the Excel data source. When you've made all the changes you like to the template, you can perform a mail merge to create your own insert for any period you like. Check out our Free Diary Inserts link if you want more information on how to do this, including videos.

So, here are today's layouts.

1. Day per page


This is the classic layout, featuring appointment times and with space for notes and actions.

You can download and print finished versions for this year from our diary inserts page.

Download source files: Word file and Excel file (you'll need both)

2. Day per page minimalist



This version has a retro feel, harking back to desk calendars of old. There's no set structure; this is an insert you can use creatively.

You can download and print finished versions for this year from our diary inserts page.

Download source files: Word file and Excel file (you'll need both)

3. Day on two pages



For people whose days require a lot of organising, this layout spreads the day over a full view.

You can download and print finished versions for this year from our diary inserts page.

Download source files: Word file and Excel file (you'll need both)

4. Two days per page

When the standard week on two pages doesn't give you enough room each day, but you don't need a full page each day, this layout is a good compromise. This is available in three versions - plain, lined and lined with icons. The icons provide a quick way to record your mood and the prevailing weather.

Plain layout



You can download and print finished versions for this year from our diary inserts page.

Download source files: Word file and Excel file (you'll need both)

Lined layout



You can download and print finished versions for this year from our diary inserts page.

Download source files: Word file and Excel file (you'll need both)

Lined with icons



You can download and print finished versions for this year from our diary inserts page.

Download source files: Word file and Excel file (you'll need both)

Creative Commons License
This work by Philofaxy is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. Please download, adapt, use, share, but don't charge or use commercially.

Web Finds - 31 August 2013

Do not forget if you want to attend the meet up in Manchester, please apply  for a place.

Please take part in our fun survey in the side bar at the left, if you are looking on your mobile you will need to open the page in full web view to see the sidebar.

Here are the latest Filofax blog posts from around the Internet:
  1. Filofax Update: Malden Personal as a Housebound Organiser! - Cats Corner
  2. Choosing a dayplanner is like playing rock, paper, scissors. - Do Fast and Well
  3. Spendvelopes for you, coming soon.... - The Crazy Suburban Mom
  4. Preparing for university: creating a flexible time... - Paper Lovestory
  5. The Most Important Part of My Planner - Homemakers Daily
  6. My Filofax Pros & Cons - Life of Kitty
  7. Animal Address Refills for PERSONAL Size - Filofax Love
  8. Review of the red pocket Portland - Paper Pens Ink
  9. Sommerlich in Meeresblau: Malden Aqua - Filo-Mania 
  10. My Filofax Organization… - A Bowl Full of Lemons
  11. My New Filo-Makes My Heart Sing! - The Nest Not Exactly Empty
  12. Goodbye Gillio... - Seelen Zucker
  13. Exaclair’s New App - Quo Vadis Blog
  14. Winner announced: Cover Story 2014 - Filofax UK
  15. Filofax Friday: The Filofax Project - Planning with Printed Portal
  16. Even More Wallet Fixes - The Storage Studio
  17. Kate Spade organizer - the beautiful daughter of another mother - Filo-mania
  18. 11 Strategies for Getting More Done - Homemakers Daily
  19. My Work Planner - Compact Metropol - Filofaxion
  20. New Goodies and Yet Another Addition - According to Andrea
  21. Cleaning & Household Tasks - Roses in December
  22. Additional Participiants for The Filofax Project! - This Bugs Life
  23. 2014 Quo Vadis Journal 21 day per page planner WORLDWIDE GIVEAWAY!! - Plannerisms
  • 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... 
  • For some general tips on Filofax Blogging, please see this post
And here are a selection of the latest Filofax 'You Guys' videos for your enjoyment.
  1. Franklin Covey with Filofax inserts - Crystal Charles
  2. My New A5 Balmoral Filofax - Kent from Oz
  3. Gillio Firenze Medium Compagna in Cream and Brown. Planner overview - Debbie Hockedy
  4. Vintage A5 black leather Durham zip Filofax - Kym Brown
  5. How To Keep Life Organized with a Filofax - mypurpleylife
  6. A5 Cinnamon Siena Filofax - Kerry Duff
  7. Filofax 2013 Collection - Filofax
  8. Filofax - Setup of my Personal Raspberry Finsbury - Leslie Hickis
  9. Chronodex 2PPD - a redesign (a closer look) - maryannemoll
  10. How my Filofax pages were cut - maryannemoll
  11. My Filofax Setup - Becky Hodge
  • For tips on how to improve your videos, please see this post
Enjoy

30 August 2013

Reader Tip: Alternative A5 Paper

Thanks to Mike for sending this tip in by email. 

For many years I have been using a cheap lined book as a diary and planner, inside a hand-made felt-covered binder. With holes worn through the felt cover, it was time to either get my sewing machine out, and make another cover, or try a ringed A5 binder. When I found a cheap shop-soiled Filofax A5 Domino, I embraced the opportunity for change. It needed the elastic closure replaced, but coloured elastic is readily available, and replacement is a relatively simple task.

What to do for inserts however? Somewhere I read about “filo-frugality”, and with this philosophy in mind, I have a tip for everyone which appears to have been overlooked.

Since I was looking for A5 inserts, and did not yet have a punch, I began my search with spiral bound notebooks, looking for any that matched the Filofax A5 rings. I found that the yellow covered “Spirax” (Pelikan/Artline) A5 spiral spring bound notebooks are a perfect fit :

  • No 570 200 pages 7mm ruled with “2 Note Pockets” A5 Note Book
  • No 571 300 pages 7mm ruled A5 Note Book
  • No 585 30 sheets 5mm squares A4 Graph Pad (fold the sheets along the centre punched hole to fit)

Also, the Esselte 43470 Spiral System Cards 50 pages 127 x 203mm (3” x 5”) “almost fit”. They need to be put in the A5 binder 3 to 4 cards at a time with the slight bow in the centre to be trained (stretch the holes). These cards have lines running perpendicular to the ruled pages above.

All of these pages have perforated edges which should not be separated. Use a pair of needle-nosed pliers to open the spring at each end of the notebook, and a pair of diagonal cutters to cut off the ends.

Unwind the spring, and remove as many pages as desired to the binder. Rewind the spring back into the book for storage. When placing the pages in the binder, count down five holes, and place the next hole on the top ring. The lined pages sit 2 to 3mm high in the binder compared to a genuine Filofax pages. Don’t overlook the useful cardboard end piece, the front cover, and the “note pockets” as useful materials. Also, the pages can be inverted to use both sides of the paper.

http://spiraxnotebooks.com.au/

http://www.pelikanartline.com.au/product-56570,spirax-570-notebook-side-opening-a5-200-page.php

It is quite possible that you will find something similar on the UK/USA retail shelves.
Thanks Mike for the tip, I will try this out with a locally bought notebook here in France!

Free For All Friday No. 250

I don't often get asked this question.. but I do wonder sometimes what my what my response would be.

What would you recommend if you were asked the question. 'I want to buy my first Filofax, what size should I get?'

But as it is Friday please feel free to discuss anything Filofax related or any other ring bound planner related matters.

Have a great weekend.

29 August 2013

Too Precious To Use?

I came across this post for inclusion in the next webfinds this morning..   

http://www.seelen-zucker.de/2013/08/goodbye-gillio.html

Is any organiser so precious and perfect and expensive you couldn't bring yourself to use it on a daily basis?

Do you have any in your collection that you treat with kid gloves?

Discuss.....

Guest Post Thursday - Art Filofax Organisers Part 1 - Helen

Thank you to Helen Conway for sending in this excellent two part Guest Post to lead off our new 'Guest Post Thursday' feature. 

Art Filofax Organisers

By day I am a full-time lawyer. By early morning,evening and weekend I am learning to be a textile artist. As you can imagine, this takes some planning and time-management which is where my multi-Filofax system comes in.

In essence I make art quilts which you can see here and here. I have only been doing this a few years, initially as a hobby but now very seriously. The day job is good enough to have paid for two studios in my home, one, in the loft for dry work, the other in a converted garage for dyeing and printing fabric ('mess making'). My work travels to shows all over the world. I am also a member of SAQA an international art quilt organisation and maintain an internet based Visioning Project for them on closed blogs, and have three blogs including one with fellow quilter and Filofax user Diane Perin Hock at Tea and Talk for Two and I do freelance writing for textile based magazines as well as designing quilt kits for The African Fabric Shop.

I use a number of different filofaxes to
(A) manage all the exciting ideas I have and want to try and which pull me in all directions if I am not disciplined
(B) To set goals and plans as to how to achieve them
(C) To record information
(D) To record time and money spent and earned so that I can cost quilts and do tax returns
(E) To reflect and hopefully improve.
There are overlaps between the filos and the system may seem complex to outsiders but it works a treat for me!

In fact there are so many Filofaxes involved this blog post has been divided into two!


My Brown A5 Osterley is my 'dry studio planner'. It lives on the glass desk in my loft studio and has african themed dividers which inspire my designs. Its sections are:
1. Diary. I found early on that to establish a 'studio habit' ( as opposed to a slumping on the sofa habit) it worked for me to have a target for the number of hours per month I would dedicate to the making and business of art. So here I record my time spent and what I did, coded, black for production, red for business and green for design/ learning.
2. Quilts. Here I use my own inserts, one for each piece of progress to record intentions, plan of stages, ideas that spring up from this piece to put in another one, time taken, evaluation of the result and a record of where and when it is shown. Photos: quilt insert 1 and quilt insert 2
3. Strategic planning. Notes on future plans, series I am working on etc. sometimes I get bogged down in detail and need to mindmap an overview of where I am going.
4. Series. List of the series I am currently working to ( maps, shacks, african women, transition/ immigration) and which pieces fall under which heading.
5. Articles. List of commissioned articles still to write, notes for them and payment records
6. Completed. When quilts are finished the sheets move from section 2 to here.
7. Calls. Details of opportunities to send quilts to shows or competitions
8. Reference. Odd bits of info like the file names of the photos I used to make thermofax screens for my Brick Lane Quilt
9. Finances. Logs of art related money in and out.
10. Shopping. I tend to buy equipment in bulk at shows or mail order so this is a running needs list.
11. Inserts. Holds what it says on the tin.
12. Archive. Anything past I want to keep for inspiration -like the SAQA Auction flyer that featured my quilt
13. A couple of plastic envelopes. Receipts and bits and bobs like baggage tags from flights which came in useful here.


My Aqua A5 Malden is my 'wet studio planner' and lives on the workbench. I particularly like its dividers, made from Basic Grey scrapbook paper on sale, the designs of which reflect the multi layered effect I am currently striving for in my own work.



The sections in this divider are:
1. Diary. As in the Osterley except just for sketchbook and surface design work. As I only tot up hours monthly I decided two diaries was far less inconvenient than one filo moving between studios.
2. Current project. I decided this year ('year' running from Festival of Quilts at the NEC in August one year to the next, like a school year) that I needed to focus on improving my surface design skills now I have the studio space to do it. I am breaking those skills down into distinct practices - at the moment its monoprinting- and doing a 'Project' over four to eight weeks. ( Time varies on how complicated the skill and what else is going on life. 'Project' means identifying a skill, what I need to learn, doing lots of play and samples and then doing a small tester quilt focusing on that skill. The idea is that by next August I will be producing bigger work in my series using the skills I learn.) This section has a statement of the goal and steps, information notes from books and websites and a journal recording what I did, what ideas it gives me and what I still need to work on.   


3. Design. This relates to the keeping of what I call a design sketchbook. I.e a boundbook in which I do rough multi media work purely to inspire more polished finished work. I find this necessary but hard. The section is for a statement of my SMART goals for my books and notes on how I see others doing it and art techniques I can try out.    


4. Overview. Like Strategic planning in the Osterley. Includes 2013 and 2014 year planners from Philofaxy to mark out the Project durations. (Saved me £7 those - thanks Steve and Ray!!)   


5. EDM. Relates to The Everyday Matters type of sketchbook keeping see here. I would love to do more of this but time limits to require me to prioritise design books. Still, I dabble for pleasure. Here I have inspiration notes and the EDM challenge list 
6. Resources. Addresses for websites, shops and book lists. Colour charts. Product technical information sheets.
7. Future Projects. Prep notes for surface design techniques which will come indue course. Knowing there is a place to park them helps me reserve my excitement and focus both. 
8. Archives. Completed projects will go here
9. Shopping. As above but wet studio equipment. Inventories of what dye and paint I have in stock. Price lists.
10. Jottings. A space for storing those random thoughts and ideas that spring u once you start to play
11. Inserts. As above
12. Recipes. Some of the work I do involves mixing chemicals inset proportions. The instructions are here in plastic wallets so I can take them out and use them without fear of splashing with water.

Part two of this article will show you how I use my Filofaxes to manage my learning and design processes.

28 August 2013

Bargain Hunters

We all like a good bargain, be it that long looked for organiser or a particular insert you want to try out that your local stockist did not have it in stock.

So where do you look for a Filofax bargain?

Well a good place to start is our own Ad-Spot page. Adverts on there are posted for a calendar month and there is normally quite a lot of turn over all the time with new adverts arriving to be posted most days of the week, things often sell quickly.

We also have Wanted adverts on Ad-Spot, so if you are looking to sell an organiser then take a look on Ad-spot first you might find someone looking for exactly what you want.

If you are selling on Ad Spot don't forget you are expected to give a donation to Chimwemwe, and also to pack the items well.

There is of course Ebay and other auction sites around the world. You can pick up some good bargains there too, but be careful about poor descriptions which we have highlighted in this previous post.

You might strike lucky in your local high street, take a wander in to your local charity shops occasionally I have heard from one or two of our readers who have picked up some great organisers for only a few pounds in their local Red Cross shops and similar charities.

What is the best Filofax bargain you have picked up recently?

Meet Up Planning

'Four meet ups in nine weeks.... she can not take it Captain' !!!! and three of them within 35 days...

Yes my Filofax has been earning its keep these last few days with so many things going on. Fortunately the last of the four meet ups I will be attending before the end of November is being organised my Mella in Antwerp, but I have just the task of getting there and back again by train via Paris !

I've got quite a variety of travel methods too to cope with so it all needs to be carefully planned out. I'm also having to take in to account where I will be either side of the dates too, and what impact it will have on my normal weekly routines.

I have been using a combination of a year planner in my A5 Filofax and my planner pages in both my personal size Filofax and my A5 Filofax.

I've been finding using planner page and notes pages has helped me make sure I get all the notes brought together in one place so I can focus on each event in turn and making sure I don't forget when to book travel tickets or to check in for a flight etc. Details of phone numbers of the people I'm meeting etc.

Places are still available for the meet up in Manchester on 26th October, and I hope to be announcing the details and dates for the Edinburgh meet up in the next couple of weeks.  Keep a look out on the blog for details.


27 August 2013

Web Finds 27 August 2013

Do not forget if you want to attend the meet up in Manchester, please apply today for a place.

Please take part in our fun survey in the side bar at the left, if you are looking on your mobile you will need to open the page in full web view to see the sidebar.

Here are the latest Filofax blog posts from around the Internet:
  1. Viruses, Dead Batteries, No Wifi??? - Filo Fabulosity
  2. Why have I just bought a red pocket Portland? - Paper Pens Ink
  3. Cornell Notetaking - Confessions of a Dublin Lassie
  4. Nicht vergessen: The Enthusiasts Collection - die... - Filomaniac
  5. Gillio Compagna Medium Review - Confessions of a Dublin Lassie
  6. My planner journey so far - Planner Geek
  7. My First Post: How my Filo-Craze started? - Filofaxion
  8. Gillio Compagna Green Pocket - Ambient Diary
  9. My summer setup - Filo Fabulosity
  10. New Planner System - This Hobbits Life
  11. How I ended up with 5 Filofax in 2.5 mths - Filofaxion
  12. Filofax & Smash Products - Kel & Filofax
  13. The 2 Things Helping Me To Really Use My Filofax - Aimless Allee
  14. What kind of wallet is that?? - Filo Fabulosity
  15. Filofax Windsor - Ambient Diary
  16. Free Personal Filo Fax Printable - Honey Do List - The Velvet Filo
  17. Weekly Inserts - Filofaxion
  18. All Starts Guest Post: The Crazy Life Of J - Fennell Books
  19. BigShot Embossed - Decorated Dividers Tutorial - Indigo Blue
  20. Filofax Custom Today Markers - Kel & Filofax
  21. Pink & Green in My kikki.K Time Planner! - Filocuteness
  22. How I organise my Filofax {mini Finsbury} - Pink Apple Peony
  23. Filofax: Update – August 2013 - Mia Lourdes
  24. How To Set-Up Your First Filofax - Life of Bubbi
  25. my week round-up #34 - 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... 
  • For some general tips on Filofax Blogging, please see this post
And here are a selection of the latest Filofax 'You Guys' videos for your enjoyment.
  1. My Pocket Filofax Layout - Kerry Duff
  2. Gillio Compagna Green in Pocket - Ambient Diary
  3. Mia Cara by Gillio Firenze :o) - Miauuu71
  4. Personal size pink Domino Filofax. Week 35 decorations. - Kym Brown
  5. My Gillio / Filofax Set Up - Sophfreyful
  6. My Filofax Calipso Compact as a Wallet - Sophfreyful
  7. Filofax Weekly Update - week 35 - Leslie Hickis
  8. Unboxing Filofax Malden A5 in Purple - My Summer Touch
  9. Decorating My Filofax Personal Organiser - Week #35 - My Purpley Life
  10. Planner Art Decoration (Filofax) -week 35 (no washi tape and stickers!) - My Summer Touch
  11. Mia Cara by Gillio .... first update :o) - Miauuu71
  12. Pink & Green! This Week in My Medium kikki.K Time Planner! - Amy Weimann
  13. Sunday Chit Chat No.17 - Thankful, Malden & Living in a Post Office! - adamsfilo
  14. A5 fluoro pink Original Filofax, week 35 decoration and set up. - Kym Brown
  15. Filofax Decoation W.35 - Blue Stars - adamsfilo
  16. Compact Calypso Filofax - My Journal Set Up - AKCaraboo
  • For tips on how to improve your videos, please see this post
Enjoy

Free For All Tuesday No. 134

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.

We still have plenty of places available for the Manchester Meet Up, please get in touch if you would like to come along. Full details here

26 August 2013

Filofax Press Release - Charleston


Great Gatsby Glamour

The NEW Charleston range from Filofax – inspired by the 1920’s


Charleston – available in Pocket, Compact and A5
£60 - £99

The new Charleston range from Filofax is inspired by the glamour of the Great Gatsby era and features luxurious leather with a rich varied grain as well as a classic 1920’s gold coloured stud. The range oozes a simple, seductive style that sums up the spirit of the Jazz Age.  The look and feel of the Roaring Twenties is further reinforced by the classic choice of colours - a soft brown, a rich purple or a vibrant red.

The Charleston is available in three sizes; Pocket, Compact and A5. Inside you'll find the finest cotton cream stationery – perfect for making notes on everything from who to invite to a cocktail party to a romantic rendezvous.

The A5 Charleston has a secure, padded internal zipped compartment. The folders and folios in the range are designed to hold an iPad or other tablets, and there is also a large matching handbag and briefcase. 
Charleston Compact (Blue)
£65

Charleston Pocket (Purple, Red, Brown)
£60


Charleston range details:
  • Material: Genuine full aniline buffalo leather 
  • Colours available in the organisers: Brown, Red, Purple 
  • Features: Gold Coloured stud on closure and Gold Coloured ring mechanism
  • Available soon on Filofax UK

Date For Your Diary - 1 September 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 1 September  from 10am London time, 11am Paris time, 7pm Sydney time and 9pm Wellington time. This session will last 2-3 hours

Additionally I will be on line at 8am San Francisco 10am Chicago, 11am New York, 4pm London time, 5pm Paris time etc.  This session will also last 2-3 hours

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 or earphone 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 1 September 2013. We had a couple of great sessions last month.

25 August 2013

Reader Under the Spotlight - Christine

My name is Christine and I live with my husband and our two children in Switzerland. I am a teacher and one of my passions is stationary of all sorts, especially planners. I used no-name bound planners throughout school before turning to Filofax for good.


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

While I am originally from Switzerland, my husband and I lived for 5 years in England. We lived near London and on one shopping trip to the British capital, I discovered the Filofax flagship store in Conduit Street and was hooked. I then returned home with a catalogue to save for my first purchase and to take a final decision.

When I had to go back to London, I was excited to buy my first Filofax product. It was the model Ranger in Personal size. Unfortunately, I can't remember how much I paid for it, but I think it was quite expensive. The Ranger is a rather male looking binder that only came in brown and only in Personal and Pocket size. It had sort of a gusseted pocket with two compartments which was covered by a flap. This pocket was on the outside of the binder and I used it as a wallet.

That was really handy as one didn't have to open the snap closure to access your money or cards. The Ranger was made of faux-leather, but was very nice to touch. It had a strap closure which not only was used to close the binder securely, but also held documents in the outer pocket on the back of the binder in place. The inside of the binder looked like this: On the left hand side, there were 6 card slots and a small mesh pocket. On the right side, there was a big mesh pocket that could carry a notepad. It also fitted my passport perfectly. Also on the right was a non-elasticised pen loop which was quite big as it could hold my 4 colour BIC pen. The Ranger also had the wallet pocket at the back that I used for storing paper money. It had six silver rings.

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

During the years I have used a lot of different no-name brands, but I didn't buy any expensive planners. I mainly bought bound planners before discovering Filofax. Nowadays, I sometimes look at loose-leaf binders of other brands such as Success or Gillio, but I have never bought any planner from another brand as Filofax. Yes, I am a loyal Filofax user and a happy customer as I never have had any problems with any purchase.

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

I recently sold a Pocket Malden in purple and a purple Malden Zip in Pocket size as I really am a one planner girl. My main and only planner is the red Finsbury in Pocket size which I liked for several years. When my old red Finsbury in Pocket size broke, I went out to buy exactly the same model in the same size as I absolutely love everything about that planner.

To be on the safe side, I even bought a second piece of the exact same model that sits now on my book shelf just in case my current binder breaks again (which I hope will not happen for a couple of years!).

4. How many Filofax organisers do you own?

As for today, I try to control my purchases and own only my two Finsburys.

5. What is the oldest Filofax in your collection?

The Ranger was bought in 2004 and loved and used until it literally fell apart. I then purchased the same model, but in Pocket size. But I soon realised that it was too small for my purpose (wallet and planner) and sold it. Since approximately 2009 I am hooked with the Finsbury.

From time to time, I did some experimentation with other Filofax models, for example a purple Finchley in Pocket size or a Pocket Holborn in Wine, but I always come back to the ONE, my trusty and beloved Pocket Finsbury in red. Soon it was very clear for me that the Personal size was too heavy for me to carry everywhere. As I also wanted to use the binder as a wallet it had to have the wallet pocket at the back and a zipped pocket for the coins.

6. What do you use your Filofax for?

I use my Filofax for everything, expect for addresses which I store in a little Moleskin address book that I take sometimes with me. On other occasions it stays at home as I really don't have to have all addresses with me. I use my Finsbury as a wallet, and as a planner. I don't have any dividers, as I tend to think that they only take valuable space for nothing.

In the credit card slots on the left hand side I store a credit card and two shop fidelity cards. In the mesh pocket below there are my ID card, my driving licence and my health insurance card. In the pocket behind the credit cards I store train tickets. The zippered pocket at the back is for coins and the wallet pocket over the back of the binder for paper money.

Now for the content of the rings: In the front there are two plastic envelops that open at the top and that contain some photos of my family. Then there are two pages with personal data and important information in an emergency (who to call and medical conditions, but also phone numbers of insurances for car and household). Then follow again two top opening plastic envelopes that contain some inspirational quotes that I've written on special paper from Japan showing a cherry blossom. On the next pages are my goals, my current weight (as I try to lose some) and my to dos. Then there's the calendar. I use the French day per page as it features lines wide enough to actually write on them. The black ruler indicates today's page. The old pages are taken out and thrown away as I am not a nostalgic person and don't keep them.

Afterwards, there are again two plastic envelopes that hold more cards (for example for entrance to an indoor swimming pool) and shopping vouchers. Then there are blank papers in white and different colours (some made by myself as I own a Filofax hole punch for Pocket, I have to say it is not very efficient and kind of hard to use, but it does the job) for notes. Everything that doesn't fit on the daily pages does get written down here. Sometimes I scribble down something I see on the go, to copy later on the page of the specific date. At the end, there is a plastic envelope with a zip for storing anything tiny or precious. It's empty at the moment. This envelope is quite old as its zipper isn't made of plastic as the new ones are. In the pen loop I keep a red biro from Caran d'Ache which matches the colour of the Finsbury.

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

I like its portability. Although I have quite a lot of stuff in my Pocket Finsbury, it is still light and compact in size. As I mentioned before, I take out the used pages and throw them away, so I make sure the Filofax only contains what I really want in it. You can't do that with a bound planner, can you?

And of course, I like that you can customise your Filofax. Although I own some washi tape, stickers and nice colourful pens (as one has to as a real stationary addict), I rarely decorate my pages. I like them to be clean and functional, not necessarily nice. They will be thrown away anyway. But I like to have the possibility to have exactly the planner format that suits me best and be able to change it mid-year if I fancy to do so. My Filofax has to please me, otherwise it will not get used much.

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

Definitely two elasticised pen loops and the free choice of calendar style when buying a new Filofax. And of course a Filofax in a deep turquoise colour, my favourite colour at the moment.

9. How do you carry your Filofax?

I am never too far from my Filofax, as I tend to feel lost without it. It lays open on my desk beside me when I am writing or using the computer. Outside the house, it always is securely stored in my backpack. At night, I don't put it on my bedside table, but I always know where my Filofax is.

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

To be honest, I don't like any of the new models. I see why the Original appeals to many people, but I am not tempted at all. But if Filofax would reintroduce the Ranger, I would certainly find a reason to purchase one...or two...

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

I certainly spent the biggest amount of money on the Ranger in Personal size which I bought full price at the Conduit Street Store in London in 2004. However, I can't remember how much I paid. Maybe that's for the best...

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

When, after a couple of years of extensive use, the pen loop on my first red Finsbury broke, I was very sad as the binder was still in rather good condition. I contacted a local shoe maker/leather manufacturer and they stitched the pen loop in no time for little money. The planner was as before and I was so happy. So my tip is: Instead of throwing away damaged Filofaxes, search for craftsmen who might repair them for low cost.

My second tip would be to use plastic envelopes with a top opening as dividers as they provide extra storage space.

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

I like that there are other people like me obsessed with planners as my family doesn't understand. I simply relax by reading the texts on Philofaxy and by watching the many photos and videos.

14. And what do you not like about Philofaxy?

Not much, but I am not too happy about the recent development that there are more and more discussions taking place on Facebook or Twitter as I don't use them and don't intend to use them.

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

It must be "Titanium" by David Guetta. The next download will probably be music by Amy MacDonald.

16.  Mark Darcy or Daniel Cleaver? 

I didn't like neither of them...

Thank you Christine for an excellent interview. And if you would like to be part of this feature then please contact philofaxy at gmail dot com

24 August 2013

Web Finds - 24 August 2013

Do not forget if you want to attend the meet up in Manchester, please apply today for a place.

Please take part in our fun survey in the side bar at the left, if you are looking on your mobile you will need to open the page in full web view to see the sidebar.

Here are the latest Filofax blog posts from around the Internet:
  1. The Filofax Classic Mash Up - Rapunzel's World
  2. Flexible Planning - Giftie Etcetera
  3. The LBD of Filofaxes? - This Bugs Life
  4. Info Sheets & Book Plates - Lime Tree
  5. Oh Gillio... you are lovely. - Brain Unfettered
  6. Paper Bistro - Quo Vadis Blog
  7. My Filofax & Midori Planner System - Rhomany's Realm
  8. Free Download Filofax - personal Weekly Menu - The Velvet Filo
  9. Filofax Personal - General Set Up - Rhomany's Realm
  10. New photos by Gillio; Medium Compagna Croco in Black - My Filo
  11. First Filofax of the Filofax Project is winging its way to its new owner - This Bugs Life
  12. Der Katalog 2013/14 - Filomanaic
  13. Arrival of the Gillio Firenze Medium Compagna in Black Croco! - My Filo
  14. Using the Aqua Mini Finsbury as my wallet - Onigiri Sama and her 21 kittens
  15. How I Use My Franklin Covey Planner - Homemakers Daily
  16. Filofax Personal Malden V’s Filofax Personal Osterley - Kel and Filofax
  17. Filofax Personal - Diary Set Up - Rhomany's Realm
  18. May I present my collection - Crafty Thingambobs
  19. Filofax Set Up Part 2 - Diary Section - Organising Chaos
  20. Inside My Filofax Personal Osterley (Ozzie) - Kel and Filofax
  21. Trying out the Chronodex: please, no planner-pressure! - Mellamania
  22. One Direction - Roses in December 
  23. Tags- Book Club - Incarnations of Organization
  24. My First Filofax Unboxing! - Fi-Lily, Fi-Lo
  25. All Stars Washi Wednesday #4 - Guest Post by Amanda - My Purpley Life
  26. Make Your Own Filofax Calendar Stickers! - Kel and Filofax
  27. Kindle Insert - Roses in December
  28. Calipso "Teal" vs Essie "Trophy Wife" - Crafty Thingamabobs
  29. Three more binders donated for The Filofax Project - This Bugs Life
  30. Filofax II - Sweets and Dreams
  31. iPad vs. Filofax - Strange & Charmed
  32. This is the Filofax that I am currently using. It'... - Blinged and Brilliant
  33. The Filofax Project is now on Facebook! - This Bugs Life
  34. The Songbird - Continued - Roses in December
  • 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... 
  • For some general tips on Filofax Blogging, please see this post
And here are a selection of the latest Filofax videos for your enjoyment.
  1. My Pocket Filofax Layout - Kerry Duff
  2. What I use my A5 Raspberry Finsbury Filofax for. - Kerry Duff
  3. Pocket Aston Filofax - Crystal Charles
  4. My A5 Sienna Filofax Layout so far!! - Kerry Duff
  5. Personal Malden Filofax - Crystal Charles
  6. My Filofax Weeks and Dashboards - sugarpandax3
  7. Setting up my Gillio Mia Cara - Ambient Diary
  8. My filofax update - lyn5fairchild
  9. Inventory filofax - artmingle
  10. My Detailed Filofax Set Up - smscrapper
  11. Malden Filofax- What to do?? - lifeconsidered11
  12. Filofax Wallet Set-Up: Pocket Size Chameleon in Brown - CraftyMe83
  13. Filofax Tip - Stamping - adamsfilo
  • For tips on how to improve your videos, please see this post
Enjoy

23 August 2013

Free For All Friday No. 249

A Free For All Friday with a little bit of a difference.... we would like to introduce Guest Post Thursday, this will be the chance for any of our readers to send in a short (or a long) guest post to add to the variety of the posts on Philofaxy.

The post can be about anything as long as it is Filofax or other ring bound organiser related, no sales pitches for travel companies please!

If you are interested in taking part in Guest Post Thursday please contact us here at philofaxy at gmail  dot com

But as always as it is a Friday you are of course free to discuss anything Filofax or ring bound planner related.  Have a great weekend.


22 August 2013

Philofaxy Meet Up - Manchester - 26 October 2013

I will be back in UK for a couple of weeks in late October/early November for the launch of second book in the series from my wife Alison. So a chance to meet up with friends new and old.  I'm planning two meet ups during my visit  These will be taking place in Manchester and Edinburgh, starting with Manchester on 26th October.

So this is a 'calling notice' for people who would like to attend the Philofaxy Meet Up in Manchester at the end of October. I'm still planning the other meet up in Edinburgh more news on this in the next few days.

Please read all of the post before you apply for a place on the meet ups. Places are limited in numbers.

When and Where

Manchester - 26 October 2013

The date of the meet up is Saturday 26 October 2013 and we will meet initially at 12 noon at Annies Restaurant in Old Bank Street, off of Cross Street in the map below.

We will eating at 'Annies' once again, we found the food there very good and reasonably priced too.

How to book a place on the meet up

To get a place on the meet up you need to email: steve[at]philofaxy[dot]com and mark your email October 2013 Manchester Meetup but not before 8am (UK time) Saturday 24 August 2013

As places are allocated you will receive an email back again confirming your place on the meet up.

Please do not book travel tickets etc until you have a confirmed place. I will attempt to confirm places within 2-3 hours of receiving your email.


View Larger Map

Thank you

21 August 2013

What would you choose?


Thank you to Janet for this post idea...

If you had a choice of a free Filofax, which one would you choose - the one you wanted or the most expensive one?

Or if you were choosing a Filofax for a friend who you had introduced to Filofax which model and size would you pick for them? 


20 August 2013

Web Finds - 20 August 2013

Here are the latest Filofax blog posts from around the Internet:
  1. Pocket size Gillio Mia Cara in Gold - Mellamania
  2. Gillio unboxed - Ambient Diary
  3. Write. Stuff. Down. - Carie Harling
  4. Using The Month On Two Pages - Life of Bubbi
  5. Gillio inserts - Ambient Diary
  6. Made a sheet for sticky notes :) - Filofax Love
  7. Compact Calipso in Bright Blue - Innocent + Twisted
  8. what's in my traveling stationery pouch? - Cafe et papier
  9. It’s here! The Malibu has landed! - Disorganised Me
  10. Filofax - Sweets and Dreams
  11. moving in (& adjusting to) my A5 Kikki.K planner - Cafe et Papier
  12. Exotic Filofaxes in Elephant, Frog and Shark - This Bugs Life
  13. Thrifty Filofaxing- Already Owned Items - Incarnations of Organization
  14. Say hello to Joie! - Ambient Diary
  15. Getting Organised For College the Filofax Way - Confessions of A Dublin Lassie
  16. This Bug’s Life Filofax Project - This Bugs Life
  17. a look at my brand new personal finchley filofax - Cafe et Papier
  18. Filofax Project Update - This Bugs Life
  19. how I use: to-do sheets - Coffee & Stationery
  20. my week round-up #33 - Paper Lovestory
  21. The “G”is for Gillio… - My Filo World
  22. A5 Aqua Malden Part 2 - This Bugs Life
  23. What's my pink pocket rio up to these days? - The Crazy Suburban Mom
  24. Filofax Wallet Setup Fail . . . and Fix - The Storage Studio
  25. A Filofax Project with Janet from This Bug's Life - The Crazy Life of J
  26. Current page by page and stuff I learned along the way - The Crazy Suburban Mom
  27. 10 Tips for Keeping a Food Journal - Homemakers Daily
  28. Filofax Peeps… My Apologies - Kel & Filofax
  29. The Songbird - Roses in December
  30. Are you Surprised???? I am!! - The Filofaxtory
  31. Time for a change - Pretty Little Pocket
  32. On this day - August 20th - Write at Home
  33. The Fashion Ache & FILOFAX - The Fashion Ache
  34. Gillio organiser inserts - Ambient Diary
  35. Filofax Rose Classic - This Bugs Life
  36. Poll results: Do you carry your planner with you everywhere? - Plannerisms
  • 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... 
And here are a selection of the latest Filofax videos for your enjoyment.
  1. Filofax Review - Purple Maldens - adamsfilo
  2. Filofax Punches - adamsfilo
  3. Spiraldex - what and how - Nadine's mixed plate
  4. 029 - mkroberts77
  5. My Review: Cover Story Flamingo Filofax Personal Organiser - mypurpleylife
  6. Personal Portland Filofax Setup - One Fantastic Find!
  7. Punctuate Planner Tour - mkroberts77
  8. Decorating my Filofax - Week 34 - Donna Ridgeway
  9. Blue & Green Owls and Frogs in My Personal Blue Finsbury Fi - FiloCuteness
  10. How to Use the Pingadex in your Filofax for Time Management - Sarah Pings
  11. Filofax Tips Part 3 - WellThatsNat
Enjoy

Free For All Tuesday No. 133

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.

19 August 2013

Filofax News Update


The UK retail environment has been getting tougher and tougher in the last few years. The landscape in the typical UK High Street has had almost unthinkable changes in the last few years, no longer will you find FW Woolworths, Jessops (apart from a few profitable locations), HMV have downsized, Comet, Past Times, Habitat, the list continues to grow.

Some of the reasons for these changes come down to competition from on-line retailers, and higher and higher rents on shops, also competition from out of town retail parks where often shoppers don't pay for parking.

Bosses in this new retail environment have to make sometimes quick decisions if they are going to save their companies from impending doom and not allow their high street retail arm to drain their companies of capital reserves as they strive to have a presence on the high street.

So it was not a total surprise to hear this last week that Filofax are sadly going to close their Conduit Street store. The store has been part of the landscape for 20 - 30 years, may be longer. But all around it now are shops selling items of far higher selling prices than your humble Filofax organiser, this has driven up rents in the area to a level that Filofax are no longer able to sustain. In the case of Filofax they  faced a 30% rent increase last year.

It's too early to say, but Filofax might have another shop in the future, but in a less costly location.  In the mean time Filofax will be holding a closing down sale and shutting up shop within the next two weeks. You will of course continue to see Filofax organisers and inserts at other retail outlets such as WH Smiths, Rymans and Staples to name just a few.

The Philofaxy event at the shop in late September has gone through a very quick rearrangement and I'm very pleased with Filofax for responding so quickly and co-operating with us to still have an event on the same day... details of which are still being finalised.

On another positive note the Filofax website rebuild is getting closer to being finished with testing of the full site commencing this week. Details of the launch date for the new site will be announced on Philofaxy when the project is signed off and ready to go live.

And here are some recent photos of the Conduit Street store, thank you to Dee for sending these in.