Reader Under The Spotlight - Cathy

Welcome to Cathy today.....

About me:
Born and raised in New York, I spent much of my childhood hoarding all kinds of paper – magazine clips, journal tags, and Hello Kitty & Friends stationery.

My absolute favorite store as a child was a local store called Hi-John’s Stationery located in South Bronx on Fordham Road. This is my earliest memory as a child and one of my fondest. The moment I went in that store, my love affair with paper began … and I was hooked.

The husband and wife who owned the store used to give me a notebook or sticker every now and then because when I would walk home from school, I made it a point to see Hi John Stationery everyday! It brought me so much joy just to feel and touch the products in there. Sadly, the store is no longer in business.

I recall in the 3rd grade when I taught myself how to fold origami. One of my teachers gave me a calligraphy set when I was in Middle School because I was OBSESSED with how she used it to write on classmates’ diplomas. I recall my uncle seeing that I was a “lister” at such a young age, he handed down a black non-leather Filofax to me for my 13th birthday. Back then, I used the good old fashion 1 hole-puncher to punch holes in my class schedules and friend pictures to put in my Filofax!

My love for paper crafting (scrapbooking) began to form when I purchased my 1st home. The builders asked me, “What’s a tiny girl like you going to do with 3 bedrooms?” I said “to sleep, an office, and a scrapbook room – what else?” I am also the creator and owner of Paper Addicts and a casino marketing executive in the grand Las Vegas, Nevada for the Aria Casino & Hotel.

I love paper crafting, antique shopping and relaxing in my home in Southeast Henderson – a city bordering Las Vegas, which I share with my 3 lb. chihuahua ‘Cedes.

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

I am actually a newbie, my first PURCHASED filofax was a yellow personal apex. My uncle gave me a black non-leather black Filofax in 1995 (my 7th grade year), but I don’t remember which one it was.

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

I have used them all – Louis Vuitton, DayTimer, DayPlanner, I was really huge into Franklin Covey for a few years. I would consider using Kate Spade.

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

My favorite and will always be is my Louis Vuitton Damier in MM (similar to the personal). Its only because it was my first MAJOR luxury purchase and it has withstand over 8 years of brutality! Its classy and every single high end client of mine is always impressed by the craftsmanship of it. If I had to choose a favorite filofax, it is non existent – it would be the Calipso in Teal Personal size – but we obviously know that doesn’t exist.

4. How many Filofax organisers do you own? 

I own 1 original, 2 metropols (compact & personal), a calypso, 2 finsburys (compact & personal), apex (personal) – so 7?

5. What is the oldest Filofax in your collection? 

It would have to be one I purchased from a fellow Philofaxer member – my mustard yellow compact Finsbury

6. What do you use your Filofax for? 

Everything! Planning my life primarily, balancing my check book, keeping my thousands of list in order, notating life basically.

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

I really appreciate and admire the embossing in the inside cover – I think it is something very original about it and unique that I have yet seen in other planners.

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

Personal size, with gold 1 ½ inch rings (and they must be perfect), 8 slots in the front flap, NO CLASP, lightweight, unlined THICK and HEAVY cotton cream paper with black and burgundy print, week on 1 page with notes (Sunday – Saturday), 2 pen loops that do not interfere with your tabs.

9. How do you carry your Filofax? 

Mostly unclosed – I know horrible! It usually sits in my arm when I am walking through the casino or in my purse when I am on the go.

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

There are a few: Teal Baroque in Personal, Tangerine Finsbury in personal size, and the cream Panama in personal size. Sadly, they are not available to me.

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

My Original set me back about $91. But I have no budget when it comes to Filofaxes, if I had to pay $500 for a panama in cream, I would!

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

I love to color code – especially with washi.

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

I love that you guys offer printable inserts – for FREE! That’s a MAJOR deal being as though we filofaxers spend so much already on our expensive hobby, its nice to have a few freebies every now and then. Also, the information is very useful, I live in the US so I rely heavily on the reviews and press releases on the blog daily.

14. And what do you not like about Philofaxy? 

NOTHING! Maybe that most readers are not in the US so we wouldn’t get to do a local meet-up in the States anytime soon L

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

I downloaded Jay-Z: Magna Carta Holy Grail

16.  Mark Darcy or Daniel Cleaver? 

I’ll be honest, no idea since I don’t read Bridget Jones Diary nor seen the movie. So Daniel Cleaver because Hugh Grant played him!

Thank you Cathy, also check out her blog  And if you would like to be featured under our spotlight then please contact us at philofaxy at gmail dot com