Filofax List

List to date:  Seems to be about Filofax this week!  (Read Day14 lol)

Day 7: I don't snack at midnight now, but while pregnant with my boys I often had Custard Creams or Lemon curd butties.

Day 8:  Filofaxes I crave -  Ostrich, Vintage Pink Malden and the Regency.

Day 9: I m at my best.....When FILOFAX shopping!

Day 10: I have met NO Filofaxers.  Was hoping to bump into someone while in Newcastle's Pen Shop yesterday but alas no.

Day 11:  I'd love to live facing the ocean or in the Country and would love to spend winter in Greenland so I could watch the Northern Lights every night!

Day 12:  I am proud of my hubby, he caught a women as she was about to commit suicide and jump off a bridge.

Day 13: It was day in the house so comfy clothes it was!

Day 14:  If I win the lotto, I would treat all the people who subscribe to my blog, to a Filofax of their choice!  Now if that isn't a reason to subscribe then what is...but truthfully, I really would do that!

Day 15:  I have never left the UK...not getting me on a plane unless I win the lotto and can be tranquilised like Mr T.  Alnwick Castle (home to Harry Potter movies) Newcastle, my favourite UK City, York Minster, Durham (my home city) Whitby (my favourite place in the world).

Day 16:  Should be an interesting Dinner.... Legolas and Gandalf, Sam & Dean Winchester, Abe Lincoln and Jodi Picoult.

Day 17:  Fav Names.... had to be the men in my life.

Day 18:  Fav scents, Daffodil, Lavender, Fressia, Jasmine, Honeysuckle, Ylang Ylang, Poison, Kenzo and Chanel.

Finding The Right Journal

Today I want to show you my new Journal.... well I should say Journals because I have spent the last few weeks trying to find the right one and anyone who has kept a journal will know, one of the most important things is finding the right one.  After all, you are going to be using it for a while and you need to get comfortable with it.  Only wish I had read Ray Blake's Blog post first, before trying to search for one.

I wanted a journal that was smaller than A4 but maybe larger than A5 and it needed to have a lot of pages, 250 plus would be perfect.  I didn't want spiral bound but would settle with it if I had to.  I searched high and low and here is what I came up with!  Can you guess which one I have ended up using?

First notebook I tried was the A5 Notebook by Filofax. at £10 it doesn't come cheap, plus you need a cover for it, but I already had a Flex cover so it wasn't too bad.   A bit of Washi tape on the front to bling it up, these covers are so plain, surely Filofax could come up with something a little nicer!

I started to fill it in, but after a couple of days though, I knew it wasn't right.  I was out shopping and I came across this.  It's very similar to a Moleskin type of notebook, it's got a little pocket at the back, but was far cheaper than  Moleskin, just can't recall what the name of it is now.  But anyhow, it was way to thin, am sure I would have had it filled up in no time.

So then I was in another shop and found this one.  Its a  Cross A5 Purple Gingham Journal.  It comes with a Cross pen and it is beautiful.  The paper is of great quality and it has a little envelope at the back, it also has a pen tab built into the cover.

Unfortunately as soon as I opened it, I knew this wasn't going to be the one either.... so if anyone would like to buy or swap this, then let me know!  I will consider any reasonable offer!  I've never used it, it's still in all it's original plastics.  It has 248 perforated pages and is 100 gsm acid free paper and a silver Cross pen.

I begin thinking that maybe I needed something bigger, so while looking in WHSmiths, I came across one of their own brand Pukka type project books.  With 200 sheets (400 pages) I thought, YES this is going to be a hit. I got home, made a cover for it and started writing in it.  After 2 days I gave up! It was too big!  (Bearing in mind, every journal I started, I was copying my previous entries into the new one!)

By now I was going mad, I thought about going back to the Flex notebook, but I still wasn't happy with it.  I was wracking my brains trying to come up with something.  I was looking through a pile of notebooks I already own when I came across this.  Its a journal from a company called Tallon.  (My mum got me these from some place like Boyes or B&M or some discount store).  They have about 120 sheets in them and are a little larger than A5, I had two of them (different covers) so I pulled the rings out of them both and put all the sheets together, I had the perfect chunky notebook with lovely paper...but then the problems started.

I had no idea how to bind the paper and cover back together. I went to Staples to see if they could bind it, they could only do 100 sheets, I had 240.  I asked them to use a wire binder, but again, because holes were already in the paper they couldn't do it.... unless I went home, cut the hole area off, then go back to have it wire bound.....at a 60 mile round trip (which I already just done) and at the loss of losing more paper, I declined!  Hubby and I walked around staples looking for something that would hold this journal together....hubby was desperate for me to find something, he was fed up of taking me journal hunting!  So this is what we came up with.

Just threaded them through some of the holes, then put some duct tape down the spine then covered it all in washi tape to keep it all neat looking.  I came out with a pretty decent sized DIY Journal and I was really happy with it..... until.....

I was in Paperchase earlier this week and came across this little beauty:

It's hard to see from the pic, but it's an A5 size notebook with graph paper and 300 pages.  It's quite floppy so I needed a cover for it and guess what fitted it perfect .....

..... my Magenta Filofax Flex Cover.  

I love this and know this is the one.  I managed to fill in my previous journal entries, I only write when I feel like it and not everyday, so I guess this one is will be with me for some time to come.

Lots of room for small writing and the paper isn't too bad, if you look towards the middle of the page below, I actually used a rollerball pen here, not a lot of bleed through so I'm really pleased with it.

See how thick this one is.....

And it all fits snugly inside the Flex cover.

So did you guess the right one?  It took some finding but I eventually got there and it was worth it.....to be honest, I am secretly pleased to be back with the Filofax range!

From Filofax to Franklin Covey & Back Again

Just a heads up, I have edited this post towards the bottom of the page.

As a Filofax user, I guess it was only inevitable that one day I would want to try something else.  After browsing online I came across the Franklin Covey Day Planners, oh my, are they beautiful!  Filofax really needs to take a leaf out of FC's book and get some less boring diaries going on. So anyhow, I had a look on e-bay to see what kind of prices they sold for and this what I found!

And better still, it cost me £4.99.  What a bargain eh!  A5ring binder, a Paper punch and the A5 Organiser all with inserts, dividers and 2 years worth of Diaries and calendars.

Why so cheap you may ask.....you'll see!

First is the Binder, this is A5 size.  Notice it is Franklin Quest and not Franklin Covey, I believe this is before Mr. Covey bought into the Organisation.

And lordy be, it can hold some paper.

And still has plenty of room for more:

But it keeps everything neat and tidy.

Next is the A5 Organiser, I don't think this is actual leather but it feels really nice.

Unlike Filofax's standard 30mm rings, these Organisers can be ordered in various sizes.  The rings on this one measures 40mm and it holds lots.

Inside the front cover, no credit card slots, just the one big slot.  But bright and cheery divider tabs.

First page:

Side View of the tabs included, there are also monthly tabs behind these ones.

Some of the inserts:

More inserts:

Month to a page Diary:

Month to view Diary:

Two Page per view layout:

More notes and index pages and a page marker with cellophane still on it:

Plastic pockets - Credit card holder and zipped pocket:

An odd little book which can be used to carry in your pocket then transfer notes to your main organiser.  It has graph and lined paper inside.

This is the booklet from the front cover, explaining how to use and get the best from your organiser.  When this was brought new, it came with some cassette tapes giving more information, but there was none with the one I bought.....which is well, because I don't own a cassette player!!!

So did you guess why it was only £4.99?   Go back and look at the Diary dates....it's from 1997 - 2000, there's  full 1998 and 1999  diaries included.  But lots of the other inserts are very useful so it was still a good little bargain.  Especially as this Organiser and Binder have never been used!

The only problem I am having is getting some up to date Diaries for it.  I spent a long time ordering from FC online and on the telephone, eventually got my order sorted (or so I thought) and waited for it to arrive.  When it didn't, I called them, only to be told it hadn't been put through and they couldn't tell me a delivery date.  So I gave up! I've made a complaint to the company (3 actually) but they can't be bothered to answer that either!  Shame really as I really need some updated stuff for this little guy.  HELP!

Edited: 20th September 2012

Just want to add, I did find another contact address to make the complaint and I was told that that FC is now with a Scottish agent and FC can't do anything, only the agent can and sorry they couldn't be more helpful.

The title of this post is "From Filofax to Franklin Covey....well I just want to say, it should say " From Franklin Covey back to Filofax"

I have had to deal with Filofax Customer services in the past, I found them polite and friendly and only too willing to help in whatever way they can, nothing was too much trouble.  Packages were received within a couple of working days and freepost every time.   Thank you Filofax for making me as a customer, feeling wanted!

Just remember everyone, it's not always better going for the prettier inserts, sometimes the service your receive is just as important!

My Filofax Uses Part 3

Hi everyone and welcome back.  Okay final part and I just want to thank you all for following me. x  By the way, I spilt this blog into three parts in case it took too long to upload all the photos.

Recap:

Top - bottom left to right:
A5 Ochre Malden               
A5 Purple Malden
A5 Raspberry Chameleon   
A5 Red Chameleon
A5 Black Holborn               
A5 Imperial Purple Finchley
A5 Pink Finsbury                 
A5 Magenta Flex
Personal Holborn

A5 Imperial Purple Finchley.  A lovely Filofax, my favourite.

This is my 365 Journal. I've managed to write up all the questions and answers and I'm now up to date with it all.

I also use this Filofax journal to take part in the 30 days of lists, which you can read more about here and here.

This is my latest project.....if I find time to fit it in!  I am using my A5 Magenta Flex, the notebook in here is perfect for the job at hand.  

As you can see, I have blinged it with some Washi tape, I bought this stuff but now I have it, not sure what to use it for. lol

So this is what I am using the Flex for, I am about to start working through a book called The Artists Way by Julia Cameron.  There is an article in there that I was very drawn to, called The Morning Pages.  Each morning you write 3 pages of whatever is in your head, there's no right or wrong way to do this, just get down on paper your morning thoughts.....Should be interesting, though I can imagine mine will say...."Wish I was back in bed," or "Why did I not go to sleep earlier last night!"  If anyone is or has read this book, please let me know what you think of it, would love to hear! (By the way, I believe it is more about journalling than art, so don't let the title fool you!)

And finally, my Personal Holborn.  This is my day to day Filofax, I keep it in my handbag, so it pretty much goes everywhere with me.  Whatever appointments I receive, this is the Filofax that gets it first.  It looks a little battered due to been in my bag, but I think it looks all the better for it.

Lots of pockets in the Holborn, I just love this little Filofax, it is just so chunky! 

My diary, just a simple 2 week to view from WHSmiths with a folded to do list.  I will get a blog done on this Filofax if anyone is interested!

And that's it!
So all in all, I am using 9 Filofaxs right now, I am sure I could stretch it out a bit more, but I think I will leave it at that for now.  

I do have an A5 zipped Wine Holborn all set up for next year's Daily Journal, but because I am not using that right now, (even though I keep adding bits and pieces to it), I haven't added it to this list.  

I also write a Daily Journal, but it's a horrible thing from Collins, I did like the layout when I got it, but I hate every minute of using it (which is everyday) but because it's ringbound I can't transfer any of it. It's smaller than A4 but bigger than A5....cumbersome! Never mind, only a few months to go and I can use something nicer!

Thanks again for following, please leave me comments, I love comments! xxx




Edited:
Part 1
Part 2