30 September 2019

Highlights for September 2019

So here are the highlights for last month.

We published the following posts.

General Posts:
Web Finds Posts:

You can catch up on the Hitchhikers Guide to the Plannerverse Podcasts here:



If you are on Facebook don't forget to join the Filofax for Philofaxy Fans group.

If you have a guest post idea, please contact steve at philofaxy dot com  or if there is a topic you would like to see us cover or revisit also please contact Steve.

I hope you find this post useful, please let us know in the comments and we will do our best to do a highlights post each month.

Wishing you all the best for this October.








28 September 2019

Web Finds - Saturday 28 September 2019

So I hope you have had a good week

So now it is time to enjoy a few blog posts from around the internet,  so grab a drink and make yourself comfortable for our weekly round-up.

Here are some Philofaxy posts you might have missed this week:
  1. Free For All No 567 by Laurie
  2. Web Finds - Saturday 21 September 2019
  3. Experienced User - Andrew
  4. Filofax Est. 1921 Range
  5. Free For All Tuesday - No. 451
  6. Video Web Finds - Wednesday 25 September 2019
  7. Filofax Clipbook
So here are the latest Filofax and other brand blog posts from around the Internet. Don't forget to leave a comment on the posts you enjoyed reading, all bloggers enjoy getting comments.
  1. From Samples to Custom Made Planner - Blog Vdsshop
  2. Productivity Myth: In Order To Be Productive, You Must Wake Up Early. - Strange & Charmed
  3. Here’s what I learned about being on top of tasks - Lime Tree Fruits
  4. Simple design planner inserts - Filofax Love
  5. Setup of Louis Vuitton MM agenda - This Bug's Life
  6. Free Downloadable To Do List and Tech Backgrounds for October! - Strange & Charmed
  7. 2020 inserts now available - Blog | Gillio
  8. Time management Monday: When trying to have goals can actually be counterproductive - Quo Vadis Blog
  9. 2020 Planner Love Collections - FranklinPlanner Talk
  10. Why You Should Be Using a Habit Tracker - Wendaful Planning
  11. 7 Things the Most Successful People Do to Be More Productive - Day Designer
  12. Freebie Friday: Personal Size To Do Inserts - Planner Fun
  13. Inside my Personal Kate Spade Agenda - Strange & Charmed
  • We monitor over 400 blogs and sites, your Filofax/Organiser blog posts could appear in this list, just contact philofaxy at gmail dot com to be added to our monitoring list. 
  • 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... 
  • Your Filofax/Organiser posts could appear in this list, just contact philofaxy at gmail dot com to be added to our monitoring list. 
  • For some general tips on Filofax Blogging, please see this post
  • Consider joining our Facebook group - Filofax for Philofaxy fans
And have you tried reading one of my Flipboard magazines yet? It works great on a tablet or smart phone, but you can view them on a desktop machine as well. Be sure to Follow the ones you like and you will get notifications when I update them.

View my Flipboard Magazine. View my Flipboard Magazine. View my Flipboard Magazine. View my Flipboard Magazine.

View my Flipboard Magazine. View my Flipboard Magazine. View my Flipboard Magazine. View my Flipboard Magazine.

Enjoy






27 September 2019

Free for All Friday No. 568 by Nan

How do you handle daily routines—the things that you want to track everyday, like morning and evening routines, exercise, water drinking, and daily chores?

- You don't record them in your Filofax—these things are habits
- You print your own diary pages with the routines built in
- You use a custom rubber stamp to place your daily checklist on each day's page
- You create separate tracking pages by the day, week, or month

Of course, since it's Friday, all discussion of ring-bound organizers is welcome!

26 September 2019

Filofax Clipbook


The Filofax Clipbook is a bit of a 'Marmite' product, you either love it or you hate it! It is quite a novel design though and you can fold the cover back on itself to minimise the amount of desk space used when writing in it. It is now available in more sizes as well.

At first it looks quite a plain design with covers in a few plain colours, but that has its advantages as you will see.

If you are a bit of a creative person... and I'm not! Then the Clipbook is brilliant for doing lots of simple and effective creative things with. 

Take a look at the videos recently released by Filofax to see what I mean. 




Shop for Clipbook on the Filofax Website.

25 September 2019

Video Web Finds - Wednesday 25 September 2019

So I hope you have had a good weekend.

So now it is time to enjoy a great collection of videos from around the internet.

Here are a selection of the latest Filofax videos for your enjoyment.
  1. Franklin Covey for 2020 - Lala Planners & Things
  2. A6 Stalogy in a De-ringed Pocket VDS - Accio Bujo
  3. Foxyfix Cherry Blossom 30mm Pocket Rings Setup | LittleRachPlans - LittleRachPlans
  4. New Planner! || Unboxing Foxy Fix a6 Rings Spice Storm - Life with Nessa
  5. Clipbook - Make of me what you fill - Filofax
  6. Simple A5 Planner Setup | Plan With Me - HappilyAHousewife
  7. Helping My Mom Set Up Her New Planner - Ganchi_mH
  8. My List Section// What lists I keep in my planner - Lauren
  9. B6 Stalogy / A5 Filofax - How I Keep Our Big Family Organized! - Sam's Fam of Eight
  10. Planner Set Up! Send Help! Ft. Filofax Pocket & Personal Planners | Krystal's Couture - Krystal's Couture
  11. Clipbook - Smart Packaging - Filofax
  12. Weekly Decorative Plan With Me | Filofax and MySummerTouch - Ganchi_mH
  13. Pure Cosiness | Kw 36 Im Filofax - dekoRIAt
  14. Decorazione del mese di settembre della mia nuova agenda Filofax - Filofax Ideas
  15. KENTfromOZ Revamps a Black Pocket Malden - Deringed and Coloured - Kent from Oz
  16. Filofax Impressions Black & White (ITA) - Antonella Ribatti
  17. Clipbook - Apple Hack - Filofax
  18. Filofax pocket pocketrings setup domino soft flip - kti. plans
  19. Plan With Me in my A5 Filofax Original Patent Rose - desleyjane plans
  20. TN Passport to Filofax Pocket! - toxmot
  21. Оформляю неделю в filofax patterns a5 marble/ 23-20.09. - Karina Gley
  • For tips on how to improve your videos, please see this post.  Also this video too Webfinds 
  • Your Filofax/Organiser Videos could appear in this list, just contact philofaxy at gmail dot com to be added to our monitoring list. 
You might also be interested in Planner Spread Love on Facebook. 

Enjoy






24 September 2019

Free For All Tuesday - No. 451

So what questions or discussion points have you got for us today?

It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or a more experienced user of organisers, we want to hear your thoughts, questions, opinions etc.

We are here to answer your questions.

Make today the one day you post a comment or a question.

It is Tuesday after all so fire away.

23 September 2019

Filofax Est. 1921 Range

Filofax are approaching their centenary year in 2021, having been established in 1921. Naturally they aren't going to let this milestone pass without bringing out some new products to celebrate 100 years of the personal organiser.

We were given some hints of what we might expect to see at PlannerCon Europe in October 2017 and some more details at PlannerCon Europe in May 2019 and they have at long last appeared on their websites.


The 'fILOFAX EST 1921' range consists with two models at present, with a full range of products expected to launch in the coming weeks/months with organisers, as well as folios and a range of leather accessories.

All of the organisers exclude a dated diary insert, which is an interesting change, but at least you can choose the one you want from the Philofaxy range of free to download and print yourself inserts 😉

They all come in a luxury presentation box.

The Chester model has been on sale in Japan for nearly two years, as part of the upcoming centenary it is being introduced to other worldwide Filofax markets.

It will be available in A5 Compact, Personal and Personal Slim organisers sizes. It is made Italian Calf Leather, in Black, Brown and Red.

Filofax have been paying attention to what the competition is offering us and the Chester has two pen loops, in the personal and A5 compact sizes, so that gets my nod of approval!

The A5 compact comes with 15mm rings, personal with 23mm rings and the personal slim with 11mm rings.

The Chester model name has been used in the past (1996-97), but the two designs are very different from each other.

At first sight the prices might look expensive, but they are similar to what people pay for a Gillio Compagna or Van der Spek Custom organiser.

The other model to emerge in the 'fILOFAX EST 1921' range is the Classic Stitch Soft model range. Again in a variety of organisers and other products and leather accessories.

The organisers are in A5, Personal and Pocket sizes in 25mm, 23mm and 19mm ring sizes.

This model comes in Black, Grey and Peach with a chunky looking clasp too.

All sizes have the full width back pocket, useful for storing loose papers.

Again the internal designs are new and up to date in terms of what people want from an organiser these days.

Please see the Filofax website for full details and availability of these new products.

22 September 2019

Experienced User - Andrew

This week we will see how Andrew uses his organisers. 

My name is Andrew Coleman. I'm in my late 50s and live in Brighton, England. I work as a  Senior Lecturer at the University of Brighton and as a (town) planning and environmental consultant.

I'm also a Regional Rep for the environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage.

1. When did you start using an organiser?

I bought my first own-brand organiser from WH Smith in the late1980s when Filofax underwent a yuppie revival - and had the p*** taken out of me remorselessly by my colleagues in the public sector!

That one was replaced in the 1990s by a black Personal Buckingham. However, I was aware of them as we had some earlier ones at home - my grandfather had one during the First World War, according to my mother.

2. How has your use of an organiser changed over the years?

It has waxed and waned although increased over the last 10 years as my work and personal life has become more complicated with a 'portfolio' career, a spouse who works internationally and a daughter who has her own developing social life.

I struggle to maintain synced digital calendars on various work software packages and my Filofax is the place I sync them.

3. Which diary format works best for you and why?

I use 2 weeks to view as I find they get too heavy otherwise.

4. What other information do you keep and maintain in your organiser.

I have contact details and info I need to refer to frequently about work and my other interests (including a Fulham FC fixture list).

5. Do you use a 'system' of organisation, and how does it work in your Filofax?

I have a ruler/place-marker and a single sheet 'to do' list that I move forward through the diary and update every fortnight.

I aspire to using different coloured ink pens or highlighters to categorise the diary entries and to do items but haven't found a way of doing it easily (the multi-coloured Bic biros are too big for the pen loops). Other info is in the back.

6. What routines and structures do you use?

See above

7. Do you use one binder or several, and if several, how do you use them?

I'm now also using a slimline leather personal (which looked like it was supposed to be clipped into a bigger one) for holidays and a 'vintage' Microfile as a library for the diary I keep of holiday trips.

I'm toying with the idea of having a bespoke cover made by a local leather workshop which should last the rest of my life and be nice to hand on.

In the meantime, I've bought a secondhand Hamilton as I fancy a brown organiser.

Thank you Andrew. 

If you would like to take part in this series please email steve@philofaxy.com and mark your email 'Experienced Filofax User'

21 September 2019

Web Finds - Saturday 21 September 2019

So I hope you have had a good week

So now it is time to enjoy a few blog posts from around the internet,  so grab a drink and make yourself comfortable for our weekly round-up.

Here are some Philofaxy posts you might have missed this week:
  1. Free For All Friday No. 566 by Anita
  2. Web Finds - Saturday 14 September 2019
  3. Experienced User - Dot
  4. Diary Inserts 2020
  5. Free For All Tuesday - No. 450
  6. Video Web Finds - Wednesday 18 September 2019
  7. My custom Van der Spek order - by Anita
So here are the latest Filofax and other brand blog posts from around the Internet. Don't forget to leave a comment on the posts you enjoyed reading, all bloggers enjoy getting comments.
  1. Louis Vuitton agenda and refills - This Bug's Life
  2. Discover Clipbook with Julia Langhein - The Official Filofax Blog
  3. Time Management Ninja book now available! - Time Management Ninja
  4. 5 Counterintuitive Ways to Get More Done - Day Designer
  5. Friday Freebie: Dated Inserts!! - Planner Fun
  6. Louis Vuitton 2020 inserts for MM agenda - This Bug's Life
  7. I neglected you! - Lime Tree Fruits
  8. Time management Monday: The different values of 10 minutes now vs then - Quo Vadis Blog
  9. 5 Simple Ways for Self-Improvement - FranklinPlanner Talk
  10. My Planner System and Planner Peace - Planner Fun 
  11. Centuries-old mystery 'filofax' returned to New Forest church - BBC News
  12. Pastel Croco: 24 new planners - Blog | Gillio
  • We monitor over 400 blogs and sites, your Filofax/Organiser blog posts could appear in this list, just contact philofaxy at gmail dot com to be added to our monitoring list. 
  • 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... 
  • Your Filofax/Organiser posts could appear in this list, just contact philofaxy at gmail dot com to be added to our monitoring list. 
  • For some general tips on Filofax Blogging, please see this post
  • Consider joining our Facebook group - Filofax for Philofaxy fans
And have you tried reading one of my Flipboard magazines yet? It works great on a tablet or smart phone, but you can view them on a desktop machine as well. Be sure to Follow the ones you like and you will get notifications when I update them.

View my Flipboard Magazine. View my Flipboard Magazine. View my Flipboard Magazine. View my Flipboard Magazine.

View my Flipboard Magazine. View my Flipboard Magazine. View my Flipboard Magazine. View my Flipboard Magazine.

Enjoy






20 September 2019

Free For All No 567 by Laurie

Over the years I've gone back and forth with my journaling. For several years I used a page-per-day diary as my journal. Later I switched to regular notebooks, and did a type of bullet-journaling with day to day stuff and lists along with notes and journaling. I found that to be a good catch-all. But then it degenerated into just my to-do lists, so I decided to do normal journaling in a designated notebook. I liked that because I could write just what I wanted to remember and details I wanted to capture. Then after awhile that started to feel like homework so I quit.

Last year I used my Filofax as my daily planner, and incorporated journaling into it. I really liked that at the time; if I had an eventful day, or went on a trip or vacation, I wrote about it on blank pages then hole-punched them to go into my Filofax within the weekly planner pages, so I had everything all together. Then when I archived my pages, I had everything from that year in the archive binder: plans, records, and journaling. I also liked that I was able to put in other things too. For example we visited the Tower of London and I put the map in a zip pouch on the rings among the journal pages for that trip.

I enjoyed journaling this way while I was using my Filofax as my planner. But this year I'm using a different planner because I needed a page size larger than A5. As a result, journaling in my Filofax doesn't feel the same. And now I have a new notebook I really want to use, so I think I will go back to journaling in a bound notebook.

Do you do journaling in your Filofax?

19 September 2019

My custom Van der Spek order - by Anita

After writing my previous post, my custom standard Van der Spek arrived more quickly than expected and I am SO delighted with it! Petra kindly sent me some photos to include in this post.






The outside has a wonderfully pebbly texture in the red Janet Leather and I love the contrast with the smoother burgundy inside. It's funny how much I like the burgundy as I really wasn't sure at first when I received my leather samples.


Janet Leather red (108) with light grey ostrich stitching


Janet Leather burgundy, light grey ostrich stitching, 25mm silver rings, extra pen loop, big back pocket, no stiffener
Once I'd completed my order, I did consider asking if I could instead have matching stitching inside and out, instead of the contrasting light grey. I wasn't sure if it would work, but I am so glad that I didn't change as I am a little obsessed with it! Maybe that's a little strange, but the stitching is beautiful and the contrast works well with both colours in my opinion.



Before I got to the checkout, I had a good think about buying a zipper compartment, but I only really need a zipped pocket when I use my binder as my wallet, which isn't very often. Aha, I then remembered that I still have my trusty plastic pencil case that I hole punched (7 years old and still going strong).


The only thing that I didn't think about was that the thicker Janet Leather with the big back pocket means that it didn't initially lie flat, which was a surprise. However, in the short amount of time that I've been using it (since 15th August), it has already started to improve and squashing it down a little helps too.



I just removed the contents from my Ascot and plonked them straight in.


I haven't started to properly use the pockets yet, but this one at the back is perfect for holding my Hobonichi stencil.


I've never owned a personal sized binder with a big back pocket, but I really think that they should all have one as it's so handy for storing A4 paperwork.


Another consideration for when I was ordering was whether or not I wanted to move up to 30mm rings. In the end, I decided against it as I wasn't sure how heavy it would make the binder, and if I really need all that extra capacity. I'm glad that I went for 25mm as my binder holds a surprising amount more than my Ascot.

You can see here the difference in ring sizes:
25mm in standard size VdS
23mm in the Ascot


To check the difference in capacity between the two, I filled the Ascot up with paper and then moved this into the VdS. You can definitely see that there is room for quite a bit more in the VdS.


Another comparison that I did was to completely fill both, remove the contents and measure how high the inserts were: - the Ascot had 14mm vs. 27mm in the VdS!

The VdS is slightly larger and wider than the Ascot, but I'm very happy as between the larger ring size and big back pocket, it consequently holds so much more.


View from the top of VdS

View from bottom of the VdS (profile quite slim without the big back pocket)

As my overall plan was to get back again to owning one binder, I have now sold the Ascot and it's currently on its way to a wonderful new home in the US. Ironically, my work colleague then gave me back a mini Kensington that I gifted to her many years ago, so for a short while I was then back up to three binders. Whilst the mini Kensington is lovely, it is also on its way to a new home in the US.

I've never named any of my Filofaxes before, but as this binder is such a special one, I started to think about what I would call her. How to choose? Some of the names that I considered were Binky (Death's horse from Terry Pratchett's Discworld books), Valentina (Tereshkova, first woman in space) or Yuri (Gagarin, first person in space). However, none of them really stuck. And then a perfect name came to me whilst writing this post... My VdS is a real TARDIS as for its size, it's much bigger on the inside, like Doctor Who's time machine. I'm a bit of a Doctor Who fan, so I then remembered an episode that I loved called the Doctor's Wife (written by Neil Gaiman), where the TARDIS is placed in a human body and the woman's name is Idris. I also like the actor, Idris Elba, so we have a winner!


Finally, I'd like to say a huge thank you again to my friend that helped me raise the funds to buy Idris, and to everyone at Van der Spek for making me such a wonderful organiser.
Further Information.

Web Site: http://www.vdsshop.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/VDSleathergoods
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vanderspekorganiserfans/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vdsshop/