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.

18 comments:

  1. The absolute best picture EVER (I mean besides one of a Filofax of course...) is you sitting by your mailbox ! I never thought of bringing a chair...what I do: I pace the lobby, I wave at any and all mail trucks that go by and alas do not stop with my Filofax(s) ! Awful! All delivery trucks should carry emergency FFs, just in case ya know! Anyway I sit on a window seat in the lobby and I bring a cushion, my big giant purse that contains iphone/ipod, bottled water and a snack...just in case. Then I lay in wait. I mean I wait patiently. Luckily they deliver packages early, so the FFs do tend to arrive before the regular mail. My neighbors give me looks....knowing looks..."yeah, she's getting another Filofax, whatever that is..". Hmph !
    I salute you and your patience ! Excellent post, awesome Holborn(s)...

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    1. You are so funny! I'm quite relieved to hear that I'm not alone in my impatience. I do this stalking even though I have a post office tracking number and know which day it should be delivered. I've been known to do the Fedex overnite delivery (expensive) for a $10 item.

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    2. I think the picture by the mailbox says it all...for all of us filo addicts... what a great post!

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  2. Oh I adore this post! It's so unabashedly in love with Holborns, just as I am with my own binders and system. I have read somewhere that the Holborn leather is superb!

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  3. What a great post & thanks for sharing your love of the Holborns.
    Love the photo of you sitting by your mailbox too :)

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  4. Love the post. I know the feeling regarding the Holborn. I just love the leather and there is so much room in it. I doe have a purple Malden and I love it, but I prefer the Holborn.

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  5. Thanks very much for the comments--this is my first post ever as a Filofaxer.

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  6. First, I'm in total awe of the Grey Holborn and have FILO envy! If I weren't so inept at ordering on European Filofax sites (I'm in the US) I would surely have one...or more. The compact for sure and maybe the zip if they had one or a pocket. I've been posting ISO's on the Facebook groups and need to submit one to Philofaxy. I'm sure one will materialize one day. I don't think they were ever offered in the US. Secondly, the photo of you by the mailbox made me LOL. Freakin' hilarious!

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  7. Duh I forgot to mention that I do have a luscious chocolate compact Holborn. The official color is brown but that sounds so boring and the actual color is so yummy it does remind me of chocolate. It is much deeper and richer that it shows online. I don't think my neighbors know about my Filofax obsession but they know something is fishy. I'm sure they think I'm having an affair with someone from the future and am waiting for a love letter! Think Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves in The Lake House. I have to walk down the road a bit to our mailboxes and so in an anticipatory manner with a bounce in my step and a smile. I open the box with a key. If the box is empty I look dismayed, stick my hand inside and move it around, then stoop to survey the inside of the box. I might actually do this several times until I'm certain it's empty then walk back home slower, dejected, shoulders down. I'm pretty sure I've seen at least one elderly neighbor who is on her porch every time, no fail, shake her head in pity. Ahhhh, the shame!

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    1. All of the Holborn colors are yumptious. I love my brown one too and you're right, it is a rich chocolate.

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    2. I've just bid on a wine Holborn on ebay. Crossing fingers. I'm currently in a Pillarbox red Original, and even though I know the rings are too small for all my goodies, I just can't seem to switch. Maybe the legendary pockets of the Holborn will push me over the edge. I'll deal with the ring size IF I can have pockets.
      My neighbors surely think there's an affair going on with the UPS guy. If only they knew.

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  8. I actually very recently ordered my very first Filofax, a Holborn, and I am doing that very same at-the-mailbox wait. I am obsessive about checking the mail! So happy to read such a great review. :)

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  9. Steve, I am enamored with my #ChameleonLove, but my second love is, and always will be, the buttery soft, and pocket-blessed Holborn!!!

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  10. Great post. From what I have read, the leather is supposed to be superb. Good to know I'm not the only indulgent person out there. :)

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  11. I just went out on Filofax USA and they have Personal Zipped Holborns on sale for $50. They say it's a special sale, so I can't tell how long it may last...

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  12. I ordered a wine colored personal zip Holborn last night while they were on sale and they only have brown and black left. $50 is such a good deal and I got free shipping when I ordered a calendar insert. I think the free shipping with the calendar insert ends today. Can't wait to get it!

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