31 October 2013

Philofaxy is 8 years old....


On this day at this time... Philofaxy was born and shown to the world...

'In the beginning' was the very first post of the fledgling blog, and look what it became!.

For clarification, Philofaxer is not me... the original guy that started off Philofaxy moved on to other things... you can read more from him in our 5th birthday celebration.

8 years on and about 2200 posts later... together with nearly 29000 comments, isn't it amazing how we still find new things to discuss about Filofax!

Thank you to everyone for your continued help and support. 

Trick or Treat?

An offer from Filofax UK. Click on the graphic and use the promo code.


Welcome to Philofaxy.

Welcome to Philofaxy.

If you are new to the site or you have been here for a while, this post is a way to show you around so you get the most from the site.

As you might have seen there is a lot of information on here and you might have problems remembering where everything is, so we hope to be able to help you out with how to find things to get the most out of the site.

So looking at the Home page you are on now, below the banner you will see: Home, About, FAQ etc

Home: Takes you back to the start page from where ever you are on the site, clicking on the banner does the same.

About: How to contact us at Philofaxy and some background on the contributors.

FAQ: This is a good place to look for the simple often asked questions. We try to up date it from time to time to reflect the current topical questions.

Files: This the home for all our downloadable template files which you are welcome to customise to your own needs or just print them off as they are.

Links: Links to lots of blogs and other Filofax related sites. 

Suppliers: Looking for a Filofax or inserts or accessories, then this page is a good place to start.

Ad Spot: This is our readers advert page, you can place a wanted or for sale advert for your Filofax goods here free of charge. However, we do recommend donating to one of our favourite charities, but it's based on an honesty system, we don't check up on who has made donations and who hasn't.  This page is great because you are buying from people that do understand the Filofax range unlike some Ebay sellers...

All Stars: The Philofaxy All Stars... a group of readers who have done guest posts on each others blogs not all Filofax related, but a great read anyway.

Flickr: An overview to the Philofaxy Flickr group where you can share pictures of your Filofax and there is a small discussion group there too.

Searching Philofaxy - 
With in excess of 1000 posts on Philofaxy spread over six years, finding exactly the information you want could be quite a task... however we do have some tools to help you:
  • Search - Pop a key word in to the search box in the sidebar and the search tool will find all of the posts with that keyword in it.
  • Labels - Further down the sidebar you will find the label cloud again this will find all the posts with those labels on the posts. We try to label all posts, although some of the earlier ones are unlabelled... another job still to be done!
Subscribing to Philofaxy
  • RSS - You can add Philofaxy to your favourite RSS reader.
  • Email - If you want to receive each post by email, pop your email in to the subscribe by email box  and follow the instructions. This service is provided by Feedburner. They will send you a verification email which you have to click a link in to confirm your email address in the usual way.
Philofaxy on the Web
  • Facebook - You will find our Facebook page here and a list of other groups here
  • Twitter - We are very active on Twitter as @philofaxy and our experimental newsfeed @philofaxynews
  • Google Plus, there is a new Philofaxy Community on Google Plus.
  • Flickr - As mentioned above there is a Flickr group for sharing your Filofax photos and ideas
  • Linking back to Philofaxy - If you would like to link back to Philofaxy from your website or blog we have a 'badge' with the exact code which you will find at the bottom of the side bar. 
You will also find a lot more links to our various activities on the web in this previous post.
Regular Posts on Philofaxy
  • Free For All Tuesday - Questions and Answers on any Filofax related topic
  • Free For All Friday - General discussion, open house for anything Filofax related
  • Webfinds - Each weeks round up of other Filofax related posts on the web
Other Philofaxy Events
  • Skype Roundtable Voice and Text Chats - once a month we have a Skype voice conference, this is open to anybody to join in. It is an open agenda and we don't only get to talk about Filofax things. People taking part can be spread around the world, so it can be quite educational as well as good fun. Look out for announcements on the blog about when the next one will be. Generally they are the first Sunday of the month, but they can move slightly if this conflicts with public holidays or Steve's travel arrangements!
  • Meet Ups - We have held several very successful meet ups, they vary in size from as little as two or three people up to twelve people, these have been held in London, New York, France, Holland, with other ones planned for other countries around the world.
    Although meeting 'people off the internet' can sometimes seem a little odd, we all have at least one interest in common and everyone I've met at all the different meet ups have been great people to sit and chat with.  
Guest Posts on Philofaxy
We welcome people to do guest posts on Philofaxy, but they must be about ring bound planners of some type or be associated with planners, time management in some way. We do not respond to requests to post links along with guest posts about pensions, raising a family, investment opportunities in the Scilly Isles, etc. etc.... yes we get frequent offers like this in the Philofaxy in-box!  If you would like to do a genuine guest post this post will be a great help to you.  
That was a bit of a lightening tour around the site and some of our activities. Please do add a comment on to posts, we love to get feedback and we do read all the comments.

If there's something you haven't understood or there's a topic we haven't covered that is Filofax related please get in touch with us and we will do our best to respond to your email within a day or so.

30 October 2013

Manchester Meet Up

Well this last Saturday I travelled up to Manchester by train for a meet up with some Philofaxy fans. Sadly a few people couldn't make the meet up. But we still had a great time. Actually it proved you can have just as good a time with just three people as you can with a large group!

So it was all fairly relaxed and thank you to Emma and Tony for coming along. We met at the station and then had a quick tour of one of the shopping centres (malls) before going to lunch.

I had a gift card for Ryman, which I wanted to spend (it was burning a hole in my pocket!) so I bought a Cross fountain pen with it and I've been using it in my journal, it is quite light weight compared to my all metal Waterman, but it writes really nice.

We also had a look in TK Maxx and had a delve through their small number of Filofax organisers, they had A5 Luxes for less than £60, but no contents or boxes with them. So sold as seen really.

At lunch at Annies, which is a real hidden gem of a restaurant in Manchester we shared stories about our planners and organisers.

Tony produced his slimline classic which he wanted to know if it was possible to remove the ring mechanism.. So I took it a part whilst Tony watched with a slightly nervous look on his face... I then reassembled it back to fully functioning order!

I hadn't taken many organisers with me, but we shared them around the table and Emma produced not one but three Filofax Baroques!!


I promised not to reveal Emma's home address for fear of the baroque hunters descending on her at dawn!

For three of us we managed to build quite a reasonable size 'stack'


Yes as usual the other people in the restaurant looked on in amusement. But we caught the eye of one of the staff, who came up and asked us about what they were. She was given a very quick tour of a typical Filofax and was asking where she could buy one from. She left with a Philofaxy card as well!

After lunch we continued our tour of the shops. Paperchase was next on our list. And Emma spotted a real bargain in there, a pocket size ochre Malden complete with 2014 diary inserts etc for about £25. As well as the current range of models, I also spotted an A5 Finchley in Imperial Purple and a few other older ones.





On our way back to the station Tony showed us a great art and crafts supply shop Fred Aldous, it was full of things. A great selection of pens too.

Once again thank you to Emma and Tony for coming a long it was an enjoyable day.


29 October 2013

Web Finds - 29 October 2013


So here are the latest Filofax blog posts from around the Internet:
  1. Personal Holborn Zip! Zip, zip away! - Ramblin' Mom
  2. Total Planner Chaos - Pretty Little Pocket
  3. Malden Family komplett - Filo-Manie
  4. Cream, creamier and jaundiced... - The Crazy Suburban Mom 
  5. Your Expense Tracker - Lime Tree 
  6. My Birthday Giveaway 2013 - My Purpley Life
  7. Indian Festival Dussehra Inspired Week in my A5 Filofax Original Pink Fluoro - Coloursnme
  8. Changing how I use my monthly inserts for 2014 - Making Life Beautiful
  9. Using your Filofax for Progress Monitoring - The Contemplative Bell
  10. Doodle as recipe book for Tiny Creative Chefs - We really didn't need another Filofax blog
  11. Philofaxy and Goulet Pen Communities Inspire Hope That Writing is Not a Lost Art - The Contemplative Bell
  12. To-Do List- Autumn Themed, Part 2 - Incarnations of Organisation
  13. Post No. 3 for The University Project - This Bugs Life
  14. Inside my Mulberry Agenda size in Oak Croco - My Filo World
  15. Post No. 4 for The Survival Project - This Bugs Life
  16. Filofax Friday – The Brain Dump - Renew Your Space
  17. Video: Working The System That You Already Have: Christmas Planning In Your Planner - Giftie Etcetera
  18. I converted my husband to using a paper diary - Zoe At Home
  19. All Stars Guest Post: Cissy’s Interview Tips - Nine Grand Student
  20. The Proudest Mommy Ever: Making A Planner For A Kid - Giftie Etcetera
  21. Day-Timer Planner Flavia first look - The Velvet Filo
  22. Stamping and Filofaxing.... - The Filofaxtory
  23. My week round-up #43 - Paper Lovestory
  24. Planning can be easy (part II) – LM 3-Year Planner - DiY Fish
  • This edition of web finds was brought to you the old fashioned way in pure HTML, boy it's hard work, slow too... Hopefully I've not messed up any links!
  • 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. Decorating My Filofax Friday - Week #44 - My Purpley Life
  2. Filofax weekly update - week 43 - Leslie Hickis
  3. By Request: Expense Envelopes for my Filofax - Nadine
  4. My FiloFax / Planner Meltdown Part 2 Working on a solution - The Arc Planner - Joanne Delbalso
  5. Video response: Effect of Nivea Cream and coconut oil on my Maldens. - Liz S
  6. Show n tell: opening of my Christmas Filofax I won from Olga at Artmingle. - Kym Brown
  7. How to: use clear acrylic stamps. For you Filofax and other paper crafting projects. - Kym Brown
  8. New Findings - LadyElizabeth24
  9. Filofax Halloween Decoration - w.44 - adamsfilo
  10. Filofax and studiol2e stamp set called Plan it! There's a new set called List it!. - StampingSongBird
  11. NeoCritz Kokuyo Pencil Case Review - Totes Amazeballs - Sarah Pings
  12. Filofax Holborn Zip Unboxing - SamLuvely
  13. Decorating my Filofax Week 44 Personal Sized Domino - mits t
  • For tips on how to improve your videos, please see this post
Enjoy

Free For All Tuesday No. 143

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.

28 October 2013

Found my A5 nirvana at last

I don't know what it is about the A5 size as I've never properly settled down into using one. Here's my journey to where I am now:
  1. Vintage pink Malden - returned as it was faulty, and I'd also realised that A5 is too large a size to have as my sole binder
  2. Bronze Domino snake - stunning binder, but I sold it as I just wasn't using it and it wasn't a Malden
  3. Wine zipped Holborn - swapped as I just didn't bond with it and I'm not really sure why (not a Malden and maybe too dark a colour for me at the time?)
  4. Another vintage pink Malden - I thought maybe if it was a Malden I'd be 'cured', but I found it a bit too floppy in the larger size and the pink really wasn't me. Swapped for a ...
  5. Red Amazona - oh yeah :)
I'm much more into red than pink colours, and this is a lovely bright and glossy shade. 





The secretarial pocket on the left is very handy for storing folded A4 sheets of paper and holds quite a bit. I haven't used the zip pocket or other full length one yet, but they're quite tight to get into. The A5 Amazona has 25mm rings, compared with the 30mm in the Malden, which I like as I never filled my vintage pink to its full capacity. It will happily have a notepad in the pocket on the right, even with the smaller rings. As you might be able to see here, it doesn't lie flat when empty but will do with the weight of my inserts.


Quite slim for an A5, and when I opened the package it immediately felt smaller than the Malden.


The Amazona's leather is more puffy and the pattern is more raised than on the Ascot. I wasn't initially sure about them, but I think this works well on the larger size binder.



The Ascot is probably closer in pattern to the Osterley in comparison.


And some more shots, just because I think they're stunning binders.



From my previous posts, you might have picked up that I'm a real Malden fan, but to my great surprise I no longer own any! I still adore them, but I'm just really enjoying the print on the Ascot and Amazona and can't imagine going back right now. I don't know about you, but I doubt I would have bought these Filofaxes as my first ones and it's taken me time (with the help of this community) to work out what I like.

27 October 2013

Reader Under The Spotlight - Natasha

Hi All! I'm Natasha. When I'm not wrangling my two energetic children, organising my household, or sipping on a (much needed) coffee, I can always be found with my Filofaxes. Since having my daughter 4.5 years ago, my love of organising then became more of a necessity and not just an interest.

I discovered Filofax and the passionate community that comes with it around February this year, and I am so happy to be able to share my passion for organisation and planners with others. If you're ever in the mood for a sit down and a read of my blog Skinny Budget, head on over to  and be sure to say hello :)

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

My First Filofax at the start of this yea, it was a Personal Domino from Ebay for $22 including shipping which I was very happy about!

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

Prior to Filofax I have just purchase the $6 dollar, very basic planners from Kmart. I have considered trialling the Kikki K planners, but I think this is largely due to the hype around them right now.

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

My favourite would have to be my A5 Filofax Finsbury in Antique Rose, the colour and the style just makes me smile.

4. How many Filofax organisers do you own?

I currently own 5.. and counting

5. What is the oldest Filofax in your collection?

That would be my FF Finsbury in Personal size (pink) I got second hand, I can't tell you exactly how old 'she' is, but she is the oldest to date.

6. What do you use your Filofax for?

I use 2 currently and have covered in great detail what I use each on for on my blog, but to put it simply. Personal= on the go, short hand notes. A5= more detailed notes, more structure with organising my life (but stays on my desk at home.) When I first bought my Domino personal and saw people using multiple Filofaxes at once I thought.. is that EVEN possible/ necessary but you soon realise that you will want and use your Filofax for different purposes, and those purposes will possibly change. I don't know if I would ever opt to use 3 again (I once used another to organise my finances) but for now, I am organised and happy with my current setup.

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

I was definitely more drawn to the 'community' the FF has around it, the people and the passion at first. After that I was very drawn to the variety and colours available.

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

More variety with the inserts and possibly better quality . I use the free WO2P via the Philofaxy website,  as I just wasn't really in love with the 'Appointment style' layout that came with my A5, the quality of the paper compared to the price you are paying for FF inserts.. I can't really justify it at the moment.

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

I have been on the hunt for a Personal size Finsbury in Antique Rose in great condition for a VERY long time, I contacted numerous FF sites and was informed they are discontinuing the Antique Rose and won't be shipping anymore to Australia. So I was very disappointed, however just this week I found one! It has never used and cost $66 (inc. shipping) from the Philofaxy website! As quick as you could say THAT'S MINE! I had purchased it :)

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

That would definitely be my A5 FF Finsbury, it was a joint present from myself and my Fiancé and it cost $189.95 but that still counts .. right? It is by far the most amount of money I have ever spent on a FF or planner to date.

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

My favourite would have to be my DIY card holder hack. I blogged about this a while back, and the response was pretty positive. I like that you can own and decorate a FF even when on a tight budget, there are plenty of helpful people out there willing to share their knowledge.

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

I absolutely love the community within Philofaxy, you always feel welcome.  Then would be the Diary Inserts. The range is fantastic, you can appreciate the time and effort that was put in to make them available to use.

14. And what do you not like about Philofaxy?

I don't get paid to write this I swear! Haha, but I haven't come across a single negative thing with Philofaxy.

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

Oh Gosh..I don't really download music any more, but I believe it was Adele- set fire to the rain

16.  Mark Darcy or Daniel Cleaver?

Mark Darcy all the way!

Thank you Natasha for stepping forward and wanting to take part in Reader Under the Spotlight. 

26 October 2013

Web Finds - 26 October 2013


So here are the latest Filofax blog posts from around the Internet:
  1. My Pen Test with Filofax Paper - My Purpley Life
  2. The Filofax Project: The Career Project - Finding Time 
  3. Travel planner per la mia filofax - Lucy Wonderland
  4. Qimmis Dayfiller inserts review - She's Ecletic
  5. My week round-up #42 - Paper Lovestory
  6. Getting started with GTD - GTD Times
  7. Making It Work - Plannerisms 
  8. Stockholm Filofax Mini Meet 23 October 2013 - This Bugs Life
  9. Post No. 3 for The Spiritual Project - This Bugs Life
  10. An Updated Look Inside My Filofax: Changes Galore - The Crazy Life of J
  11. How Fat is Your Planner? - Homemakers Daily
  12. The Elusive Filofax Charleston Part 2  - This Bugs Life
  13. Interview with Raine Boyd: Tiny Creative Chefs - My Life All in One Place
  14. Fantastic "27 Dresses/Filofax" Give-Away!! - We Didn't Really Need Another Filofax Blog
  15. Download a free NaNoWriMo tracker printable - My Life All in One Place
  16. Pick Me Up, Please! - Lime Tree Fruits
  17. Having monthly goals - Life of Kitty
  18. Tasks And Today Markers: How I Label And Bookmark My Planner - Giftie Etcetera
  19. How To Bond With Your Planner - Giftie Etcetera
  20. Post No. 3 for The Lifestyle Project - This Bugs Life
  21. Free For All Friday No. 7: Planner Love - Plannerisms
  22. Your Fall Planner: The Essential Fall Cleaning Checklist - Day Timer 
  • 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. Personal Malden Filofax Setup Update - Jordan Powers
  2. Update on pocket and personal Filofax - Crystal Charles
  3. Help! I'm in Filofax / Planner Meltdown - What to do? Arc planner ? making a switch... - Joanne DelBalso
  4. Filofax Halloween Decoration - W.43 - adamsfilo
  5. Filofax / Planner Meltdown update - Tracy Reinhardt
  6. An updated whats in my Filofax - Mits T
  • For tips on how to improve your videos, please see this post
Enjoy

25 October 2013

Free For All Friday No. 258

'What would you do if you didn't have your Filofax?' was a question a friend of mine asked me the other day when we were out at lunch together.

Well I would struggle to remember anything, appointments, usernames for websites and hints to the passwords (not the full passwords obviously), how to change my watch from one time zone to another. Lots of silly bits of information that I'm sure you carry with you just like I do.

I answered the question by showing my friend the contents of my Filofax. They seemed a mix of bemused and impressed. We might have a new convert!

Have you ever introduced someone to using a Filofax?

However, it is a Friday, so please feel free to discuss anything Filofax related.

24 October 2013

Filofaxes spotted in the wild

My husband and I went out to lunch the other day to a local cafe, where I'd previously spotted a Filofax peeking out from under their counter. This time it was sat on top, looking well loved, fat and full of paper work. I had a sneaky look (as you do) whilst paying and it was a black A5 Metropol.

It got me to thinking that I've actually had quite a few sightings of Filofaxes 'in the wild' that I'd forgotten about:
  • Whilst away in Iceland last year, I saw a man at the hospital pharmacy clutching his black personal binder under his arm. I wasn't sure what the model was, but it looked like he was using it as a wallet and for storing his prescription form and other papers 
  • At a networking event, I met a lady that had the fattest purple A5 Domino I've ever seen. It was full of lots of loose papers and looked like it was about to burst! I did talk to her a little about it, and she said it was very useful in helping her to run her business
  • At the same event above, there was another man with a black personal binder, which he was keeping his leaflets and business cards in. Again, I wasn't too sure what is was, but it definitely looked vintage
  • I also had a Mulberry sighting at a calligraphy workshop I was attending. It was sat on the side in the kitchen, and I couldn't help asking the owner as she is such a lovely lady. She'd bought it a long time ago (possibly in the 80's) and had used it every day for many years. Sadly it wasn't really being used now, but she couldn't imagine getting rid of it. We had quite a long chat, and she thanked me for inspiring her to put it back into service again.  
I have spoken to other people in the past (trying to come across as sane and not too excited), and generally had a nice chat. I always put in a plug for this site and its community, and I sometimes wonder if they visit afterwards or if they're just humouring me!

Have you had any recent 'in the wild' sightings? And do you talk to the owners?

23 October 2013

Filofax Flex - Slim in Leather - Review

It is some two and half years since Filofax launched their Filofax Flex range. I did the first review on a trip to UK. Back then I had only been sent the A5 and Pocket models to review. I was recently sent a Leather Slim model as a gift. But I thought it was worthy of reviewing as well.

The Flex range has been expanded since it's initial launch with a greater range of models they now include leather models like the one reviewed here. The basic design is the same. You can swap the inserts around as in the first versions, with inside and outside pockets.


So the leather has a slight 'pebbled' finish but it is very soft and supple. There are no stiffening in the covers, these get their form from the inserts or the pen loops which are mounted on a thin plastic card.


On the inside front cover has three card slots plus a larger gusseted lower pocket.


The Flex comes with a slim lined note book and a jot pad and a single pen loop.



The gusseted pocket will easily take a smart phone such as my iPhone shown in the picture.


I've added a Filofax iPad Stylus Duo pen which neatly fits in the pen loop and I can use it to jot notes down if I get a call, and the soft tip works perfectly as a stylus on the touch screen, especially someone like my self who doesn't have particularly elegant thin fingers!


By adding a second pen loop, one in the front the other in the back, you can put your pen through both loops and this holds the Flex closed, a simple solution if you want a form of closure.


Naturally the phone increases the bulk of the folder, but it is still slim enough to slip in your jacket pocket


The Flex Leather Slim model is currently in the sale at £24 a very good price I think. They do a similar model to the Slim in A5 size too. They would make great partners. Or use the Slim with your normal Filofax even.

Again thank you to Filofax for sending me this Filofax Leather Slim Flex for review.

22 October 2013

Web Finds - 22 October 2013

So here are the latest Filofax blog posts from around the Internet:
  1. Post No. 3 for The Medical Project - This Bugs Life
  2. Baking Binder - Thinking Versus Doing
  3. Another FREE Printable!! - Filo Fabulosity
  4. Prepping for Japan... - MacPsych
  5. Planning A Project: NaNoWriMo 2013 - Giftie Etcetera
  6. The Week-on-Four-Pages Diary Format - Joakim Hertze
  7. Philofaxy All Star Tour Guest Author from This Bug's Life- Janet - The Contemplative Belle
  8. Books, Books and more Books. - Incarnations of Organization
  9. Eeenie, meanie, miney, malden, the thunk of longing, and one night stands... - The Crazy Suburban Mom 
  10. Philofaxy All Stars Guest Post – Palindromes by Cissy - This Bugs Life
  11. Breast Cancer Campaign - Filofax Blog
  12. Post No. 4 for The Family Project - This Bugs Life
  13. Ein Filo für den "modernen Mann" - und für mich - Filomaniac
  14. Filofax spotted in the wild - This Bugs Life
  15. My Filofax Planner Storage Case - The Velvet Filo
  16. Series: Nail Those Goals: Step One: The Big List - Carie Harling
  17. Travel Pouch for Filofax Extras. - Indigo Blue
  18. The Bombshell Filofax - Kel and Filofax
  19. What NineGrandStudent Takes to “School” - Nine Grand Student
  20. Exam Organisation with Day Runner - Reflections
  21. Master Task Lists: Working The Plan - Giftie Etcetera
  22. Whacky Wednesdays: 16/10/2013 - Day to Day Concepts
  23. Personal Goal Sheet for my Filofax - Contemplative Belle
  24. Video - Lefties: Using A Planner When You Are Left... - Giftie Etcetera
  25. In Search of the Ultimate Inserts - One Fantastic Find
  26. ❤New! Monthly Refills for 2014 (Pocket & Personal)!❤ - Filofax Love
  27. Day in the life of a "NineGrandStudent" - Contemplative Belle
  28. Post No. 3 for The Comparison Project - This Bugs Life
  29. My Review Monday: The Original Filofax - My Purpley Life
  30. Why bother with a Routine Task List? - Finding Time
  31. Filofax Starter Kit - Lime Tree
  32. Post No. 2 for The Budgeting Project - This Bugs Life
  • 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 first Filofax Set up video - Patricia Davis
  2. My New Filofax!!! - Cape May
  3. Decorating My Filofax Friday - Week #43 - My Purpley Life
  4. My Review Monday: Piazza Filofax - My Purpley Life
  5. Bullet Journaling - Nadine 
  6. Decorating my Filofax Week 43 Personal Sized Domino - Mits T
  7. Indie boxes for my daily pages - an experiment - maryannemoll
  8. Sunday(..almost) Chit Chat! - adamsfilo
  9. First Setup Video: Roxy Planner and Wallet - Liz S
  10. Filofax Size Comparison - AKCaraboo
  11. decorating week 43 in my filofax - tofufuls
  12. Decorating my Filofax - Week 43 - Donna Ridgeway
  13. My Filofax planner storage case - The Velvet Filo
  14. A5 Malden Filofax Unboxing: My first YouTube video... EVER - Crystal Sweeney
  • For tips on how to improve your videos, please see this post
Enjoy

Free For All Tuesday No. 142

Only a few hours left to run with our Charity Auction.... have you bid yet?

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.

21 October 2013

Filofax Original with DodoPad Inserts

Would you like a Filofax Original, but with a Free DodoPad diary insert? Released this afternoon in Personal and A5 sizes.
Use the links above to find out full details..

Which Paper?

We all use a variety of paper in our planners and notebooks, no matter if they are bound or ring bound organisers.

The quality of the paper is important to us, this might be because you want to archive your notes, or if you are fountain pen user you want to ensure that what you write in your preferred brand and colour of ink looks sharp and not blurred, that the paper isn't like blotting paper and the ink soaks through the pages to the other side.

The choice of paper and ink is sometimes a difficult one, if the paper doesn't absorb the ink another problem can occur, the ink can be smudged if it doesn't dry quickly enough and it just sits on the surface of the paper rather than adhering to the paper.

However, let us think for a moment that you have found the perfect paper, the perfect ink in a colour of your choice, a pen that is a delight to use, it is. The perfect weight in your fingers and it is a delight to use. It allows you to transfer those thoughts and ideas to paper and after a writing session you can sit back and relax as you review you page of writing.

Going back to your choice of paper, one thing I want to discuss is do you choose plain paper, lined paper, quadrille (squared), or dot grid paper?

Each one has its merits, it's good and bad points. Some types seem to be more popular than others. For instance here in France or at least in my local stores most notepads are nearly always quadrille format, it is quite difficult to buy lined or plain paper pads or notebooks, they do exist, but not available in the same sort of quantities as the quadrille ones! I will be adding lined and plain paper varieties to my 'Bring back from UK' list!!

I was quite pleased when Helen Fennel one of our readers sent me the Writing Guide page to try out. I printed it out and put it behind my Filofax plain page and instantly I have visible lines to guide me across the page. I remember these sort of lined sheets from old letter writing pads, I am not sure if they still sell these or not, but they are very useful.



So me being me, I have adapted the idea and produced some similar writing guide pages in A4, A5 as well as the Personal size.
Filofax of course sell plain paper and lined paper in all sizes. But if you want some dot grid pages you can print your own fairly easily.

Dot-grid format is very useful for doing drawings and sketches, but. You can easily use the dots to help you keep your writing from deviating from a straight line. Another advantage I have found, if you need to scan or copy your pages the dots are often ignored by the scanner, so the copy appears with just your writing and drawing and no dots.

Ray has come to our assistance with some dot-grid formatted files which we can use. Look here for Personal size and here for A4/A5 size

So what is your preferred format?

20 October 2013

Reader Under the Spotlight - Luciana

Hi !! My name is Luciana, I'm a student of engineering-architecture. I spend my free time with papercraft, scrapbooking, photography and bento. But every time I felt that I had no time for all my passions and my studies, I thought that the problem was that I hadn't organised my time so well. So…I started to use a planner. I love use planner to organize my life. Some time ago I discover the Filofax….it was love at first at first sight!! But I’ve to confess that since when I was young, I always envied the planner of my father, that was a "6 rings planner" without brand but that looks like a Filofax, but I never found it on any local shop. So I can say that I always love Filofax, but I never knew it!




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

I bought my first filofax last summer. It's a Filofax domino Italia pocket size.

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

Since 1999, every year my father gives me a small square planner without a brand: it was made to raise awareness of the problems of women in the workplace. I'd like to try the kikki.k planners or the Midori travelnote.

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

I love the pocket size: it works so good and I carry it with me so easily.  I like the apex style, because of their colours combo.

4. How many Filofax organisers do you own?

Actually,  I only have one filofax, and other 3 planners that look like Filofax. 

5. What is the oldest Filofax in your collection?

The oldest original Filofax is the last one: I discovered this brand recently 

6. What do you use your Filofax for?

I use my Filofax for everything, my life, my  studies, travels, blog posts and much more: to collect ideas, small notes, important info...and so on

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

I love the rings, because they allow you to personalised the planner completely. You can add all things you like and  need, there are no limits to your imagination

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

I'd like rings to be bigger, more fantasy, colours and graphics design.  I'd like also  more kind of inserts, but I solve this problem designing them by myself ;)

9. How do you carry your Filofax?

I carry it with my small bag, but  I’m going to buy one more large. because there isn't space for any other thing!

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

I like the red purse organaiser. if it had a strap bag, so I can use it as a clutch, I'd have already bought it.

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

I spent only 5€ for my domino.

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

Every morning keep time to plan your day, make your filofax a part of your daily routine, and carry it always with you!

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

I see Philofaxy as a great box of creativity and information, you can find here almost everything you need. 

14. And what do you not like about Philofaxy?

Probably the only thing that I'd change is the graphics,  I'd make one more actually. 

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

WOODS OF YPRES - "Shards of Love" 

16.  Mark Darcy or Daniel Cleaver?

Mark Darcy

Thank you Luciana for taking part in our Reader Under the Spotlight. 

19 October 2013

Web Finds - 19 October 2013

Welcome to the Saturday edition of Webfinds....

Don't forget the Charity Auction we are running, a great package of an exclusive Faber Castell Pocket Organiser and two signed copies of Alison Morton's books including the latest one only just released this week.

Go over to the Charity Auction page to find out how to bid on this great prize.

So here are the latest Filofax blog posts from around the Internet:
  1. Das 4. Meet up in München - Filomaniac
  2. Filofax Changes in the Kel Kamp - Kel & Filofax
  3. Mulling Over My 2014 Setup Options - Pretty Little Pocket
  4. Meet up in Wiesbaden? - Filomaniac
  5. Your Expense Tracker - Lime Tree
  6. Arrival of the Mulberry; Pocket Book, Agenda Oak Croco & Agenda Natural in dark brown - My Filo World
  7. Why Use a Paper Planner? (If you already use your smart phone calendar) - Quo Vadis Blog
  8. Random Problems Solved: Coupons, Page Markers, And Meeting Notes - Giftie Etcetra
  9. Post No. 2 for The University Project - This Bugs Life
  10. 8 Ways to Cope With an Out-of-Control Schedule - Homemakers Daily
  11. Post No. 2 for The Diet Project - This Bugs Life
  12. Filomaniac asks ... Christel  - Filomaniac
  13. 3 Steps to Knock-Off Those Pesky Lingering Tasks - Day Timer Blog
  14. Muji erasables and pilot frixions: over a year on - Paper Lovestory 
  15. Wrote a Guest Post About My Dividers For Ryman! - Filofax Love
  16. Thrifty Filofaxing- To-Do with Scrapbook Paper - Incarnations of Organization
  17. Snappy Sundays: 13/10/2013 - Day to Day Concepts
  18. Filofax Finsbury Personal in Pink - Kel and Filofax
  19. Sizes: Tracking For Shopping In Your Notes Section... - Giftie Etcetra
  20. The Life is Crafted Inserts, after a few months - Zuri means beautiful
  21. Using Pocket Gillio Mia Cara as a wallet – Part 2 - This Bugs Life
  22. Video: Daily Review Of Your Planner - Giftie Etcetra
  23. The Filofax Project [Part 4] - Planning with Printed Portal
  24. Filofax Malden Sighting - Goldspot Pens
  25. Post No. 2 for The Travel Project - This Bugs Life
  26. 2014 Diary Pages and Set Up - LJ's Blog of Stuff
  27. Notebooks and letting go - Thinking versus doing
  28. Life Mapping with DIYfish - Carie Harling
  29. Plan to Planner: Simplify Your Life & Mind Part 12 - The Contemplative Belle
  30. Section by Section - Tackling the To Do List - Pretty Little Pocket
  31. Brainstorming: Bullet Journal + Life Mapping - According to Andrea
  32. Meal Planning Printable for your Planner - Renew Your Space
  33. My Filofax: Colour Code System - Skinny Budget
  34. Gillio - die Zweite: "Brownie" - Filo-Manie
  35. Post No. 3 for The Crafty Project - This Bugs Life
  • 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. Filofax Week 42 Decoration - SamLuvely
  2. Flipping through my September 2013 2pp - maryannemoll
  3. DIY Side Loading Pocket for your Filofax or Planner - mits t
  4. My new setup in the FC with giant rings - maryannemoll
  5. Thanks Sarah Pings for your Filofax / Microsoft word help :) - Tracy Reinhardt
  6. DIYfish Planners - Carie Harling
  7. Life is Crafted Review - zurimeansbeautiful
  8. Filofax Pocket Holborn - keenenid
  9. How I Organise My Life (Part One: Personal & Home) - Anna Brim
  10. Christmas Planner for Midori Passport or Filofax Pocket - Alyluvsminialbums
  11. Shabby Chic Holborn Filofax set up and peek at Fairy dividers - shabbybeautiful
  • For tips on how to improve your videos, please see this post
Enjoy

18 October 2013

Free for All Friday No. 257

Filofaxes are known for their rings, but almost every model has one or more pockets inside the covers. Most of the time, I like an organizer with a zippered pocket in the back and credit card slots in the front. Some pockets can hold a slim pad or notebook, giving you more notetaking options, which can be a wonderful thing.

What do you keep in your pockets? What kind of pockets make or break an organizer for you?

Of course, since it's Friday, feel free to talk about coat pockets, hip pockets, jacket pockets...Hot Pockets...whatever you like!

17 October 2013

Guest Post - Digital Vs Paper Planning - Carie

We live in a time of amazing technological advances. It is feasible that I could go through an entire day of consuming information without ever touching a piece of paper.

Feasible, yes. Likely? No.

I love my devices, I really do. So much, in fact, that I switched to digital planning after using paper planners for more than 20 years.


And then I switched back.

After a year of trying everything I could to get my digital planner to do what I could do with my paper planner with little to no effort, I acquiesced.



My perspective on the whole Digital Vs. Paper Thing is partially formed by the time I spent working in a bookstore. When we started selling e-readers, I was given the dubious task of 'Being In Charge'. I spent a lot of my time listening to people tell me that e-readers would be the downfall of Western Civilization.

Seriously.

The advent of e-readers and PDAs meant that there would be no more books or planners. Anywhere. Ever again.

My response to this was simple: I reached into my drawer and pulled out my paper planner. These customers knew that I was very well-informed regarding the uses of digital products; most were shocked to discover what a lover of paper I am.

I tell you all of that to tell you this...

You should plan in a way that works for you. There is no Right or Wrong Way. I personally, honestly, don't believe that technology will be the death of The Written Word. However, if you're looking for some insight into why some of us love our paper while others love their devices, here's a little (ok, let's be honest... it's long-winded because I'm fascinated with this topic) list I compiled of the benefits and drawbacks of both.

Portability.

Tablet Pro: A tablet makes it terrifically easy to take all sorts of things with you anywhere on just one device. Making room in a messenger bag or purse for a tablet can be far easier than finding room for a stuffed planner. That's just a fact.


Paper Pro: If you prefer planning on paper, you probably just adjust what you carry in your bag or change bags entirely to accommodate your planner because it works for you.

Aesthetics.

Tablet Pro: If you juggle a lot of calendar appointments, multiple calendars, or put your tasks right on your calendar, the right app can truly make your calendar end up looking quite organized and pretty, what with the color-coding and all.



Paper Pro: One of my biggest issues with digital planning was that I simply didn't like how my calendar & tasks looked digitally. I missed tabs. I missed post-its. I could never make my digital calendar pages look like this:




Recurring appointments & tasks.

Tablet Pro: Again, the right app can make or break a digital calendar. The ability to drag & drop or copy & paste your appointments or tasks is an incredible timesaver. Additionally, setting a recurring appointment or task and having the app automatically repeat it for you saves a lot of writing. This is, however, where my troubles with digital planning began. Those recurring tasks and appointments were suddenly multiplying like bunnies. Of course, I assumed that the tribble-like characteristics of my multitude of repeating tasks was simply due to an "ID10T" error; yes, I thought I was somehow screwing it up. After tons of research and using many different apps, I found that this is simply a ghost in the machine, so to speak. A bug. And a very annoying one at that.



Paper Pro: First of all, if I'm writing things down by hand my tasks won't multiply all by themselves. Enough said. I can also cut down on repeatedly writing repeating tasks by using sticky notes and just moving them when and where it is appropriate.

While we're talking about writing things down, let's look a little closer at the issue here. We write these things down because we want to remember to do them. Simple enough. But the physical act of writing down all of the Important Things does something to your brain that typing just doesn't do. The act of writing stimulates an area of your brain called the Reticular Activating System (RAS). This lovely little bunch of cells nestled at the base of your brain is a kind of filter for everything your brain needs to focus on at any given moment. As Henriette Anne Klauser puts it in her book Write It Down, Make It Happen, triggering the RAS "sends a signal to the cerebral cortex: 'Wake up! Pay attention! Don't miss this detail!'"

And that is where my digital dreams fell apart. I was typing all of these tasks and goals and appointments into my iPad, and that was unfortunately where they tended to stay.

Especially the Goals.

Writing my goals on paper made them more tangible, more attainable, than typing them onto any screen ever could. The whole point in making the effort to set goals and then pursue them is to complete them. Typing my goals into even the most sophisticated project planning app still left me with a hazy perspective on what I was striving for.

That, right there, is why I don't think Digital will ever kill Paper. Our brains harbor an innate yearning for the physical act of writing. Putting pen to paper and letting your ideas and goals spring forth brings focus to what would otherwise seem blurry or unattainable.

Thank you Carie for an excellent guest post and insight in to your thoughts on the differences in planners

16 October 2013

Guest Post - Loving My Holborns

Planners have been part of my life for many years, as I have a pea-size memory and a disorganized brain.  But they were never fun and I got bored and abandoned one after another. And none of my friends used them.

Then a happy accidental discovery: Flickr, with all the scrumptious pictures of Maldens, Cubans, Astons, Holborns and other planners .  Decorated—great idea!  People who loved to photo their Filos!  I worshipped at the feet of  PopcornFeet  (CrazySuburbanMom), Jotje (NotAnotherFilofaxBlog) and TrueRedhead and others.  Philofaxy--a whole community of people who shared their ideas and pictures and systems happily.  The light dawned.  

So I jumped joyfully onto the Filofax wagon; first with a personal mushroom Aston — such soft leather, so nice to touch; I adored it, but it just didn’t have enough pockets to be a wallet. Then came a gray Malden and I loved the inside layout, but didn’t like the color or the shininess at all and couldn’t love it.  Much research for nearly a month and the more I looked, the more attractive the Holborn seemed.  A black personal popped up on Adspot and that was it.  


It came with some fabulous bright colored paper
The smell and feel were just bliss; the pockets—oh, the pockets; the softness and flatability.  This binder has dignity and subtlety.  I spent an entire weekend moving in: dividers—washi—a little tweaking to accommodate its’ quiet elegance.

My system is pretty basic (but decorated!):  four main sections (Lists, which migrate to the Calendar or Reference sections; Calendar- wo2p and monthly; Money; Reference — the A-Z index dividers are used extensively).  And totally perfect for a wallet with all the pockets and card slots.




The gray Malden got swapped for a brown Holborn; then I discovered that there  was a lovely gray color and bought it immediately;


Last but definitely not least came the wine.  I haven’t moved into it yet because I’m still waffling with the color scheme.

I don’t wait very well;  my postman is not fond of me.


So I have them all.  The Holborn is everything I thought it would be and I don’t have the least desire for any others.  It is my wallet and a large part of my brain.  It is part of my life-it keeps me organized, tells me where to go, reminds me about what I need to do and keeps important things handy. I love my Holborns.