Readers Favourite Organiser ~ Amanda-Jane

Once again thank you to Amanda-Jane for her contribution to this series. 

1. What is your favourite organiser (Make/model/size)?

I have used a diary/organiser since I was about five years old (and that was very very...very... long ago) and have experimented with different layouts and binders, coils and bound journals over the years. I also have different organisers and notebooks for different things, separate work and home organisers as well as bullet journals for volunteer work, study and hobbies, art journals, creative writing journals and, I use a Filofax Topaz mini as a wallet.

My favourite of all the organisers I use, however, is my trusty personal sized Filofax Malden which is a gorgeous smooth purple shiny leather, has large strong rings, and useful pockets. I call it Little Purple and it is the shiniest gem in my Filofax collection.

2. How long have you owned it?

I have owned this gorgeous organiser since 2012, I bought it second hand for a teeny $50 (AUD) - for some obscure reason its previous owner did not want it! Their loss is my gain and Little Purple has been given a very loving home with me.

Prior to buying Little Purple I was using a purple Filofax Domino, in personal size, which was very basic and has now been relegated to being an address book and also holds postage stamps.

3. What is it that you like about it so much?

Where do I start! I feel like I should be writing a sonnet about how much I like this Filofax! Little Purple why do I like thee? Let me count the ways. It is aesthetically pleasing, compact and sturdy.

There are pockets to stash business cards and notes as well as a handy zipped pocket where I put some emergency fivers when I really need a coffee and have left my wallet at home! It is small enough to carry with me everywhere and yet large enough to carry all the information I need.

It feels really solid and as I tend to throw it on desks and carry it around in laptop bags where it has to share space with USB sticks, cables, RAM, screwdrivers, keys, portable hard drives and a writeblocker, it has proven to be very well made. The waxed leather finish gets better with age, and I do not have to worry that it will get scratched or have accidental coffee spillage on it, and this happens more than I would like to admit, as all the rough and tumble makes the finish even better. Little Purple has character.

4. Do you use it all the time?

I use this organiser all the time, but not always as a planner/diary. I print my own inserts using diary printables from Philofaxy as well as other page types that I have created myself. I print the inserts on Tomoe River paper so I can fit lots of page of information in.

When Little Purple is not being used as my primary organiser, it holds my lists, information, quotes and historical references, sketches and, brain dumps.  I have wish-lists, blog lists, information about the volunteer work I do, a list of N64 console games we own or want, lists of reference books I would like to read, snippets of information from books or magazines, vet and pet information, and lots of notes.

It has a large section in it as a ‘Commonplace’ book as well. I also have paper in it that I test different pens on and some Arches watercolour paper where I sketch or paint with a travel tin of watercolours. I have some music manuscript for when I want to write down some music, and I have crossword puzzles torn out of newspapers stashed in the pocket at the back for when my train is delayed and I need something to do.

Little Purple is my trusty sidekick and is carted with me every day.

5. Do you think the design could be improved in any way? How?

The only improvement I would make on the Filofax Malden is make the rings even bigger! Let me stash even more things in it! Little Purple is a fat file of facts!

Thank you Amanda-Jane. You can find out more detail about Amanda-Jane's favourite organiser in a recent blog post over on her blog. 

As you know we are always looking for new people to appear in our 'Readers Favourite Organiser' feature, you don't have to be 'well known' or a long term user to be considered to appear in this 'spot'. 

So please contact Steve philofaxy at gmail dot com today.