31 March 2013

A Date For Your Filofax - 7 April 2013

New York

London

Paris

Sydney



We are going to run another conference round-table voice chat using Skype.

I'm sure we are gradually getting to know each other's voices, but I will make a point of going 'around the table' to get everyone to introduce themselves this time.

So...When, Where, What, Who and How?

When? - Sunday 7 April from 9am London time, 10am Paris time and 6pm Sydney time.  Additionally I will be on line at 10am (US East Coast time), 3pm London time, 4 pm Paris time etc.  See the clocks at the top of this post to see roughly what time you should be on line.

Where? - an on-line chat using Skype.

What do I need? - just a micro-phone and some head phones(in ear phones work fine) and a free Skype account. Using headphones reduces 'echo' on the call.

Who - All of you... connect up with Philofaxy and we will attempt to get as many of us linked in to the audio conference as possible. Come and listen if you don't want to chat.  What do we talk about? Filofax stuff... but anything else as well. It's like long lost friends meeting up for coffee and a catch up.. but don't worry if you have never joined in before... you are an old friend too!

How -
  1. Connect to Philofaxy by firstly searching for Philofaxy in Skype, I will then add you as a contact.
  2. Then  'Start Chat',  I will then add you in to the chat room. 
  3. Then if you request it, I can add you to the audio conference as well. But if you just want to chat via keyboard that's fine. That way it's slightly less hectic for me! 
Come and join in the fun, even if you only pop in to say hello...

As with previous round-tables there will also be a parallel text chat room going at the same time as the voice conference, so you can listen to the voice chat and type if you wish.

If you need any assistance setting up Skype, please pop a comment in this post and I will try and help you get one line. Skype is free for computer to computer calls....

Here is my post on how to improve your Skype audio with headphones or a headset.

Hope to be chatting with you on Sunday 7 April 2013

30 March 2013

Web Finds - 30 March 2013

The Charity Auction over on the Charity Auction page has had something extra added to it. All the details (I think) are on the page. Go for it and get bidding


Here are the latest Filofax blog posts from around the Internet:
  1. Franklin Covey weekly pages in my Success Choice binder - Plannerisms
  2. The Staples ARC notebook system - Unclutterer
  3. Quick Update.. - Stereosoldier
  4. New Pocket Card Holder! - The Wonderful World of Alice
  5. Penpal Filofax! - The Wonderful World of Alice
  6. [POLL] What Shape Are Your Dot Points? - Life Is Crafted
  7. Filofax; Spring Cleaning my set up - Angel Jem's City Cottage 
  8. Zen To Done - Cloudberry Musings
  9. Personal Balmoral - Chrissie's Universe
  10. How to Avoid Drawing Cutting Lines for Custom Planner Pages - Homemakers Daily
  11. Filomaniac asks ... Simone - Filomaniac
  12. Filofax Doodle - Cloudberry Musings
  13. Pocket Domino - Pastel Colours Theme - Jagged Little Thoughts
  14. Filofax reviews coming soon - Rapunzel's World
  15. I must say, today was a good day! :) - Katerina's Cupcakes & Paper
  16. Cult Pens/Filofax/Artbox Haul - Stationery - Imysworld
  17. Filofax Doodle review - Rapunzel's World
  18. Bill Gates times two... - The Crazy Suburban Mom
  19. UPDATE: My Food Journal Filo - I'm a Filo Freak
  20. Malden: Leather comparison... - Chrissie's Universe
  21. i spy Kendal - Susan Sharpe Ceramics 
  22. Brush Dance pages in my Success Choice binder - Plannerisms
  23. 6 Easy Steps for Buying Yourself More Time - Day Timer Blog
  24. Filofax Friday - Healing Hands of Light
  25. What’s on my Wishlist - This Little Life of Mine
  26. My obsession - All my musings
  27. Adspot - Philofaxy! 
  • 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...  
Enjoy

Video Webfinds - 30 March 2013

I am trying a new You Tube search routine this week in an effort to try and weed out the non-Filofax videos that are appearing on You Tube when you just search for 'Filofax'

Of course there is a risk that my new search might also lose real Filofax videos... so apologies if yours isn't in the list today.....


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29 March 2013

Free For All Friday No 228

As the new Filofax binders are coming online and we've had a sneak peek at the upcoming range thanks to Steve, there has been a lot of discussion about the new range. Some positive opinions and some not so positive, depending on personal preference. I know there are many readers who are waiting to see the higher-end and leather binders in the new range before giving their final verdict on the range as a whole.

But it makes me think of Filofax as a brand, and what it represents. I know there are many of us who would like to see the return of binders like the Winchester, but even in those days Filofax must have made lower-end fabric or vinyl binders.

Back in the day, a Filofax was a status object. If you had one, you were busy and important enough to need such a level of organization.

Now, what does a Filofax mean, and what does it stand for? What is it, and what SHOULD it be?

To some, it's "retro" and an alternative to digital.

To others, it is luxury and/ or style.

For many, it's our lifeline and contains information we don't want to be without.

What makes Filofax as a brand stand out from other brands of binders? Its style? Its history? That it has something for everyone?

And as always on Fridays, feel free to discuss or ask anything Filofax-related!

28 March 2013

Filofax Pocket Eton

I recently acquired this Filofax Eton Pocket Organiser, as soon as I picked the Eton out of its box and removed the packing, I realised why this particular model has a certain 'wow' factor to it.

The leather is so soft and supple, the stitching is so beautifully done and the layout and design shows some great detail and consideration, I was quite won over by it as soon as I saw it.

To me it isn't a 'fashion icon' more of a design classic in a way, simple, understated but so well executed that it will be a timeless classic in future years... may be.






It only has the smaller Pocket ring size of 15 mm, but this is the same as my Chameleon. But as you can see there's no shortage of pockets or card slots. There isn't a full width wallet pocket on the rear side. However, it does lay flat right out of the box.


My Malden Pocket looks quite big in comparison! The Malden is 19mm ring size hence the slightly bigger overall size.


A close up of the press stud closure, which is in gun metal.



Two pen loops in a Pocket organiser is fairly unusual, but the Eton has one on each side so I put in my Filofax Mini Pen and Pencil.


For such a luxury organiser a cotton cream diary insert seemed appropriate. I also raided my stash of inserts for other cotton cream inserts to populate it.

I would love to get hold of a personal size Eton... if you have one you are willing to part with.. please contact me philofaxy at gmail dot com

27 March 2013

Five quick tips for better Filofax photography



Zoe is a Filofax lover from Australia (pink Domino A5). Her blog, Zoe at Home, is about simplifying, downsizing and small-space living. And of course, organising your life with the help of a great planner!






We all know a picture is worth a thousand words, right? Well, there’s no need to learn Photoshop or buy an expensive camera to make great pictures of your Filofax for your blog. In fact, even with just a smart phone, some free software and a few simple tricks, you can develop a style of photography that really tells the story of how using your Filofax enhances your life and bring new visitors to your blog at the same time.

1. Get the best light. The easiest thing you can do to improve your pictures is to shoot in great lighting conditions. Natural light is the best, so try to shoot in the middle of the day, near a window or outside. Shooting against a white backdrop will amplify the available light. If you’re shooting inside, you might still need to supplement the natural light with a lamp or overhead light. I think fluorescent light is fine- you don’t need to buy special photographic lights.


I set up a makeshift ‘studio’ near my front door, because there are lots of windows there and I can turn on my hallway light if I need to. The walls are white, and I put my Filofax on this white table so there’s little ‘background noise’ in my pictures. I’ve worked out that the best time to take photos here is early in the afternoon on a clear day, when there is no direct sun shining which tends to ‘wash out’ my pictures.

2. Consider the background. People will see not only your Filofax, but what is around it too, so pay attention to the background. I just use the white table for my backdrop, but depending on your style, you could use a roll of gift wrap or a sheet of washi paper. If you have a pretty piece of fabric, you could lay it on the ground near a window and take your pictures there, as long as the pattern isn’t too busy as it will compete with your planner. If you want a white background but don't have a white table, just use a roll of white paper and reflect some light onto it with a table lamp.

One thing you could try is to take your Filofax for a walk─ seriously! Take it with you to your local café, market or park and photograph it in the context of your life. I love seeing Filo photos that give a little insight into how people in other countries live.

3. Tidy up your pages. You might need to remove some pages, or at least line them up at the edges. In real life, our planners are stuffed to capacity, with lots of memos and sticky notes crammed in, but this makes for busy-looking photos. I often use a blank page if I just want to show how I’ve set up my planner. I think white space makes Filofax pictures ‘read’ better on small screens.


4. Stylise your shots. Try to develop a unique style for your shots that reflects the look and feel of your blog in general. A great way to develop your branding is through your photos. On my blog, I always use a square format and the same filters for all my photos. Also, I try to always be aware of how the feature photo of each post will look on my homepage. You could also add a pretty watermark or colourful border so some cute overlays. Just be consistent, to make your pictures easy to recognise.

5. Optimise your pictures for social media sharing. Philofaxy has a ‘no-Pin’ policy, and I can understand the very good reasons for this, but on you own blog, don’t overlook Pinterest as a great way to attract new visitors. Whenever I check my stats, there are always referrals from people who have pinned my pictures, and this number grows every week. Or consider Facebook sharing: people are more likely to click through if there is a photo showing them the attractively-presented content they will find on your site.

I don’t worry about people ‘stealing’ my photos on Pinterest. To me, it’s not stealing, it’s sharing, and it brings new visitors to my blog. If I’ve taken a great photo that people want to pin, I know I can take more great photos that will be just as popular. I just assume that any photo could be pinned, so I watermark everything before uploading it. This is also important in case the links get broken which can happen when things go viral. I use iWatermark Pro by Plum Amazing, which cost me about $30.

To make your images attractive to Pinterest users, you need to create a collage of some sort, with some great photos and a headline that draws people in.  [I will be making mine as unattractive as possible to Pinterest users! - Steve]


I put this picture on the Coming Soon page of my blog, and I couldn’t believe how many times it got pinned and re-pinned before this series was even published. So I spent some time analysing what made it ‘pinnable’:
  • The headline: a lot of Pinterest users are interested in personal organisation.
  • The colours: the use of pink is very feminine (most pinners are female) and the repetition is pleasing to the eye.
  • The Filo shots: there are a lot of Filofax fans on Pinterest.
  • The promise of more if you click through: it gives the impression that there will be hints on a range of aspects of personal organisation in the post. The image tells a little story about what my blog is about.
You can create a collage like this using free software called PicMonkey. It’s free and simple to use: you just load up your pictures, create your masterpiece, and save it to your computer.

Finally, there’s no need to spend hours editing your photos to perfection. Just get the basics right. A post with a good photo is always better than a post without one, or no post at all. So show, don’t tell the world how Filofax helps you live life to the full!

Thank you Zoe for your guest post, I will admit to admiring your photos on your site before now. It was great to get a different viewpoint on a topic we have previously covered. 


Of course if any one would like to revisit a topic with a guest post on Philofaxy then please get in touch philofaxy [at] gmail [dot] com

26 March 2013

Filofax Response To Kate's Petition

A few weeks ago Kate (The Life of the Perpetual Student) set up a public petition to campaign for action from Filofax regarding ring problems on Filofax Organisers.  You can read the full details in this blog post on Kate's blog.

Kate sent in the results of her petition along with the comments that had been left on it to the CEO of the Filofax Letts group yesterday. This afternoon a response was received from his team:
    Dear Kate,

    Thank you for taking the time to highlight your concerns to us in the form of your email and petition.

    We have for some while been working with our ring mechanism supplier to increase quality control measures on bulk production of these components that are fundamental to our products.   When we met with the representatives of the Philofaxy community in November last year we advised that, at that time, we had not seen a noticeable increase in consumer complaints/returns relating to faulty ring mechanisms, leading us to believe that any issues were internal and not in the hands of consumers.   Since that meeting we have seen a small increase in the number of consumer returns and can see evidence from the social community that there is a growing concern amongst Filofax enthusiasts.  This has all endorsed our position of challenging the supplier late last year.

    Our ring mechanism supplier is regarded as the largest and best in the world but like any supplier they experience problems of consistency from time to time, for various reasons.  There is actually still a lot of handwork involved in assembly of 'niche' (as opposed to commodity) ring mechanisms. Please be assured that we are working closely with them with a view to mitigating any quality issues.   This includes, amongst other measures, stepping up the rate of inspections we undertake at their factory and increasing our own quality control measures in our central warehouse in the UK.

    Please also be assured that our customer services staff will continue to respond to all individual consumer concerns about quality in the most efficient manner.  All issues will be addressed quickly and we always strive to resolve complaints to the customer’s satisfaction, the outcome of course being relevant to the individual circumstances.

    Once again, thank you for your communication and for taking the time to point out the specific products you have experienced problems with.  We would like to reassure you that there are no inherent problems in these ranges and that the ring mechanism issue is very much on our radar and one that we of course wish to eradicate as quickly as possible by working with our supplier

    With kind regards,

    Filofax Commercial Executive Team

    (headed up by the CEO).
I can confirm that the ring issues were discussed at the meeting with Filofax held in November in London.

Thank you to Kate and Filofax for keeping Philofaxy in the picture with regards to this on going issue.

Web Finds - 26 March 2013

Announcing the Charity Auction over on the Charity Auction page. All the details (I think) are on the page. Go for it and get bidding:


Here are the latest Filofax blog posts from around the internet:
  1. Charity Auction - Philofaxy
  2. I have no explanation for it. - The Crazy Suburban Mom
  3. 101 Progress Check - March 24th 2013 - LJ's Blog of Stuff
  4. Personal Kendal Review - The Wonderful Life of Alice
  5. Using Printed Portal Notebooks with your Filofax - Planning with Printed Portal
  6. The Hunt for Mini Notebooks - Jagged Little Thoughts
  7. A Filofax Search Begins! - Emma's Blog
  8. Busy Bee - Thoughts and Exploration
  9. Let's have coffee...and Filo shop! - Circus Life with Disturbed Mamacita
  10. Equal but not the same - Circus Life with Disturbed Mamacita
  11. Is this what they call Planner Fail? - Red Lips and Pearls
  12. Mulberry Issue - Insert Sad Face Here - Imysworld
  13. Philofaxy Meet Up - California!!! - Behind my Purpley Life
  14. Filofax Arrival; Malden Compact Zipped in Purple! - My Filo World
  15. Filofax adventure 1 - Little Black Filofax
  16. My inadvertent good idea - She's Eclectic
  17. Filofax Seasonal Organisation - Carolyn Shares 
  18. There'll be days like this.. - From down the well
  19. my week round-up #12 - Paperlove Story
  20. "Our Aspirations, Are Wrapped Up In Books....." - Roses in December
  21. Welcome to my blog!!! - Katerina's Cupcakes & Paper
  22. The Success Choice binder - Plannerisms
  23. Filofax mania - Mad2write
  24. Auflösung des Oster-Gewinnspiels - Filomaniac
  25. Malden Inspiration - Kelsie
Does your blog earn it self a Philofaxy Gold Star? To earn one you must have a 'recent posts listing' like this or similar:


Having a listing like this in your side bar makes it a lot easier for me to include your blog posts in to these posts. Please consider adding a widget such as this to your blog. Thank you.


Enjoy

Video Web Finds

Here are a selection of the Filofax videos from around the Internet:


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Enjoy

Free For All Tuesday No 112

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.

25 March 2013

Packing a Filofax for Posting

A lot of our readers are selling or exchanging Filofax Organisers these days. You only have to take a look on our own Ad-spot (readers adverts) page to see the changing 'stock' on there.

We all like a reduced price organiser, but if the seller/sender fails to pack the organiser properly your whoops of joy on unpacking it might turn to tears and moans if it arrives damaged.

What you don't want to see..
Credit: Sandra
Another victim of the post
Credit: Christa
Packing a Filofax organiser so it escapes the worst of the punishment the mail people can throw at it is not difficult or expensive. So here are some tips to help you pack the organiser and to make sure it will arrive in excellent condition at the other end.
  • If you have the original box or slip case that will help protect the organiser, but it is not essential.
  • If you are sending the organiser with inserts, it might be better to remove these so you can pack the inside of the organiser with bubble wrap, or poly peanuts to help protect the rings. The more uniform in shape you can make the organiser the easier it will be to pack. Removing the inserts also places less stress on the rings should the parcel get dropped by the couriers/mail people. 

  • Once you have packed the inside of the organiser with poly peanuts, or foam or folded newspaper, put it in the slip case, it should be a very snug fit, if it isn't you need more packing inside it!

    If you are using one of the black Filofax boxes, add some padding around the outside of the organiser and make sure once you put it in the box it's not free to move around.


  • Now put another layer of padding around the outside of the box/slip case, a single layer should do it. Make sure the corners are well protected 

  • Finally drop it in a padded bag and seal it up with tape. Don't skimp on the size of the padded bag, buy a size bigger if it is too tight a fit, you can easily fold it over, they use wide sticky scotch tape to seal it up all around the edges. 

    Make sure the address is written in the correct format for the country it is going to. Your own address is on the reverse side. And when you go to the post office make sure you fill in the relevant customs forms for the country it is going to. These will normally be available at the post office.

It might seem like a lot of padding, but the trick is to layer the protection inside and outside the organiser to ensure that any drop the parcel suffers in transit the shock will be absorbed and the parcel should get to the destination intact. 

You can buy specialist mailing boxes like those used by Amazon and similar mail order companies, but I tend to save packing material in a large box for reusing for sending out items.

So next time you send an organiser I'm sure if you follow these simple tips you won't quite so worried once you have handed over your parcel. 

24 March 2013

Philofaxy Meet Up - California - Summer 2013

After seeing the reports about the London and Hamburg meet ups, Jennifer got in touch and asked if we would put out a post to gauge interest in a West Coast USA meet up.

So far this is what Jennifer is planning:

When:  I'm thinking summer time, when they kids are on break from school.
Where: Los Angeles, CA (Beverly Hills/Westwood area)

We can maybe eat & drink somewhere then visit some Filofax shops like this one in Los Angeles. Seems like they have a great selection or alternatively this one in Beverly Hills

I'm trying to gather up all the Californians and ask around for suggestions.

Please contact me if you are interested: jbreyes3 [at] gmail.com

Thanks,
Jennifer

Jennifer has also invited me along... but given the cost of travel etc, I think it might not happen this year... but I'm not ruling out the possibility in future.. I will have to get Alison to sell more copies of Inceptio first I think!!!  

23 March 2013

Web Finds - 23 March 2013

Here are the latest Filofax blog posts from around the Internet:
  1. my week round-up #11 - Paper Lovestory
  2. My Filofax Collection #3 - Behind my Purpley Life
  3. My wallet, aka my Pocket Filofax planner money set-up & hack - Valerie's Web 
  4. Holding it all in the head - Rhodia Drive
  5. "Besagter Lenz ist da" - Echt jetzt? - Filomaniac
  6. Keep Calm and Carry On - Behind my Purpley Life
  7. Gearing Up The The Move To The Malden - Kelsie
  8. It’s Here! - Kelsie
  9. Paperchase Filofax goodies! - The Wonderful Life of Alice
  10. Baroque for Sale - SOLD - Filo-Manie
  11. A new Malden Filofax! - Filo Obsessed
  12. Neuheiten 2013 (7): Pennybridge - Filomaniac
  13. Take a Look Inside Rachel’s Filofax - Homemakers Daily
  14. Mulberry Agenda REVEAL - Imysworld
  15. Filomaniac fragt... Michaela - Filomaniac
  16. Grund zum Feiern - Filomaniac
  17. The Fun Starts Here - Roses in December
  18. Filofax Special Edition oder Diamonds are a girls best friend - Inspiration of a Butterfly
  19. Little Miss Finsbury - Leesh  
  20. The Maldens - This Little Life of Mine
  21. Malden set up - Susan Sharpe Ceramics 
  22. Royal Mail prices, eBay, and Filofaxes. - Little Black Filofax
  23. My Weight-o-Fax - Emma's Blog
  24. My BFF - The Crazy Suburban Mom
  25. New Filofaxes Part 3; Arrival of the Compact Metropol, Personal Sketch & Personal Domino - My Filo World
  26. How do you make an A5 portable? - Planning with Printed Portal
  27. April Filofax Photo-a-Day Challenge - Friday, I'm in Love 
  28. Personal Filofax musings - The Life of The Perpetual Student 
  29. FREE Weekly Insert for your Filofax! - Lime Tree
  30. New Doodle Page Marker - Cloudberry Musings
  31. Planner Fail or Patty Fail - Homemakers Daily
  32. My new Work-Filo:Holborn Zip A5 :o) - Chrissie's Universe
  33. How To Decide on Planner Sections - Life is Crafted
  34. - Cake and Ice Cream
Funny how I've found 34 posts since Tuesday, yet Google only lists 6 posts in the past week and some of those are from Philofaxy!....

Does your blog earn it self a Philofaxy Gold Star? To earn one you must have a 'recent posts listing' like this or similar:


Having a listing like this in your side bar makes it a lot easier for me to include your blog posts in to these posts. Please consider adding a widget such as this to your blog. Thank you.

Enjoy

Video Web Finds - 23 March 2013

Creating these posts these last couple of weeks has become very difficult. For some reason best known only to You Tube they are mixing in other videos in to my Filofax search string.

Take a look at this search and you will see what I mean. There are more videos that have no connection to Filofax by a considerable ratio compared to the ones we are looking for.

So if your video is missed out of any listing then you will have to accept my apologies, I do my best to make sure they are all included, but faced with a listing that goes on and on with non-Filofax videos included in it you will see why it's easy to miss one.  Including Filofax in the title of the video will help of course. But I'm convinced there should be more Filofax videos than I've found.


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22 March 2013

Free For All Friday No 227

I've recently returned from a longer than normal holiday abroad, and my Malden was the perfect companion (post to follow). Whenever I travel, I enjoy having less belongings and always have a clear out on my return home. Naturally I've found this has led me to thinking about my Filofax collection! I own the grand sum of two, but I'm finding that I am once again tempted by the simplicity of having just 'the one' in my life. I'm still undecided about whether I would regret selling my A5, but I have a suspicion that it's only time...

Have you experienced something recently that has made you re-consider the amount of binders you own? (either to increase or decrease their number)

And as it's Friday, please feel free to discuss anything Filofax or ring bound planner related.

21 March 2013

The New Range So Far.....

So far you have seen the first two parts of the 2013 new range and judging by some of the comments to say that some of you are 'less than impressed' is an understatement... and to a certain extent I can understand your comments...

However, you have to understand that 'traditionally' Filofax have always announced their new range in the following order.
  • New non-leather and new colours in existing leather ranges in the Spring, 
  • In the Summer to Autumn period they launch the new leather ranges.
Nothing has been discontinued at this stage either so you still have the full range of the existing leather organisers that we all know and love. Some colours from last year might have been started to disappear by the time we get to Autumn.

The phasing of the launches in this way is mainly to target the different organisers at different markets, as well as levelling out the logistics of getting thousands of new organisers in to the distribution chain here in UK and abroad as well.

As you might have already seen the 'Back to School' compact organiser has arrived on the website. So hopefully others will start to follow soon after press releases are seen here on Philofaxy. 


20 March 2013

Philofaxy London Meet Up - 16 March 2013

So last Saturday saw the eighth London meet up, they started back in November 2010, some of the faces have changed, but there are still one or two from the early days!

The English weather seems to have played too much of a factor in recent meet ups, and Saturday was no exception, wind and rain, in the morning, and just damp and grey in the afternoon. I think by the end of the day we were all looking a little wind swept in our damp coats!  But there was still plenty of smiling faces around.

With the imminent closure of City Organiser, we had to make a few hasty changes from our original plans for this meet up, so I was flying my the seat of my pants a little.

Sixteen of us (yes the largest group yet!) gathered outside Vapiano in Great Portland Street to wait for them to open at 12 noon. The leading bunch headed straight upstairs and grabbed 3 tables in the corner.  I think the format of the restaurant and the way it works using a smart card to store your order details individually was appreciated by every one... especially me, dividing a huge bill by 12 or 16 in this case has never been my strong point! This way is far easier and with four tills in operation at the exit the wait when we left was a short one.

As usual it wasn't very long before the tables started to fill up with Filofax organisers whilst people waited for their orders to be made/cooked. It was good to see people moving around sharing and comparing organisers with others as well.

Everyone was very relaxed even though in a lot of cases it was the first time they had actually met face to face. For instance it was the first time that Ray and I had met, which seemed to surprise a few people! The power of the internet with Skype these days helps you get to know each other so much faster.

I always enjoy meeting people and listening to them talk about things that are obviously of mutual interest. Once again I was subjected to a detailed questioning about the new 2013 range... some people are getting to know about some of the models that we haven't yet officially announced though!!

By about 3pm we left the restaurant and headed for the Filofax Pen and Paper store in Conduit Street, some of the group headed off to look at other shops first, so a reduced number of us entered the empty shop. I introduced myself and assured the staff that we would not overcrowd the shop if other members of the public came in.

We spread out and people were gathering together things off their shopping lists to purchase. A shopping list is essential if you ever attend a meet up. I didn't buy anything myself from the shop, but I saw several organisers being 'examined and checked' before handing over their credit card.

We were done and dusted in about 20 minutes, which was very quick really. We managed to pose outside to take a photograph or two without being run over by the passing traffic.. another hazard we never had to contend with in Neal Street or Bow Lane!

It had by now stopped raining it was still light. Some of the group said their good byes and headed off for an early train. Imy then led the way to the Mulberry Store in New Bond Street.  About ten of us went in to the store and the assistant didn't quite know what to make out about the group of people escorting Imy... she must be someone famous... look at all of her assistants! Sadly Imy was not able to purchase the Mulberry organiser she had so long been waiting for. The 'crowd' gasped in chorus... the assistant looked a little scared... Ray and I waiting outside... me with camera looked like two bouncers! I was waiting to capture that magic 'unboxing' photo shot for the 'front page' but it wasn't to be.

Disappointed but not deterred... a few more said their good byes and the remainder again led by Imy with her phone acting as a sat nav headed off for Art box, a small shop in Covent Garden, that you could describe as 'Sticker and Washi Tape' heaven... Again I stood guard outside... making sure the 'Sticker Police' were not about! Lots of Stickers and Washi tape was purchased... but not by me.... my organiser is decidedly a sticker and washi tape free zone!!!!!!

Tired and shopped out and now in over crowded Covent Garden we dispersed in a relatively orderly fashion to head home.. but with just one more visit with Kate and Imy to the Covent Garden Mulberry store.. a very efficient and friendly assistant there sadly didn't have a Mulberry organiser in stock for Imy, but promised he could get one in a few days. Imy decided to order on line.

I melted in to the crowds and made my way to Charing Cross to catch the train back to the cottage in Kent. It had all gone so quickly. As always there were things I had forgotten to tell people and I had forgotten to bring a couple of things to the meet up itself. The train journey gave me time to reflect on the day. What was good, what wasn't so good. How can we improve the 'meet up experience'. When should we have the next one etc etc.

I got back to the cottage just before 7pm and warmed up in the shower and changed in to fresh dry clothes, I didn't feel quite as travel tired as the previous weeks trip to Manchester.

Overall I really enjoyed the day, especially meeting so many new faces. For those interested it was a 50:50 split between those that had been before to a meet up and those that hadn't, so it was a nice split in that sense. I hope everyone else enjoyed the day. I'm certainly starting to think about when we should have the next meet up and what should we change to improve it.

And so to the pictures....

Kate (TPS) and Susanna
Lindsay, Angela, Imy, Tracy
Angela (Paper Lovestory)
Christa, Alison, Sharon, Paula, Ray
Sharon
Paula, Angela, Tracy, Lindsay, Lorena
 
 
 
 
Tracy, Lindsay, Ray, Steve

Thank you to everyone that came along to support the event and a big thank you to the staff at Conduit Street for letting us visit as a group.Thank you to Paula for the last couple of photos too.

19 March 2013

Web Finds - 19 March 2013

Here are the latest Filofax blog posts from around the Internet carefully hand selected for your consumption:
  1. Noch jemand ohne Baroque? - Filomaniac
  2. Das 1. Filofax Meet up in Hamburg - Filomaniac
  3. On a train to London!! - The Life of The Perpetual Student
  4. London Philofaxy Meet-up and Haul!! - The Life of The Perpetual Student
  5. Pocket Cross Filofax! - The Wonderful Life of Alice
  6. Personal & Compact Metropol Comparison - Filofaximile
  7. Hamburg-Meeting :o)) - Chrissie's Universe
  8. Travel-o-fax - Jagged Little Thoughts
  9. Flower Garden - Cloudberry Musings
  10. Budget Envelope System - Renew Your Space
  11. Trial and error ;) - Addicted to Filofaxes 
  12. My Filofax Gift!  - The Wonderful Life of Alice
  13. Ein Filofax namens Jack - Filomaniac
  14. My Filofax Collection #1 - Behind my Purpley Life
  15. The Baroque Sadness - Chaotic Perfectionist 
  16. {16th march 2013 } my first philofaxy meet up - Paper Lovestory
  17. I’ve only gone and ordered a Malden! - Kelsie
  18. FF Pro Wo2P part 1 - Little Black Filofax
  19. Neuheiten 2013 (6): Neue Stifte - Filomaniac
  20. Filofax Update; Moving into the Personal Amazona in Almond - My Filo World 
  21. My Filofax Collection #2 - Behind my Purpley Life
  22. I Swapped for a Personal Red Amazona Filofax ! - The Storage Studio
  23. What happens in Mulberry on New Bond Street...... - Imysworld 
  24. The Planner Dry Season is upon us  - Plannerisms
  • 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...  
 Enjoy


Video Web Finds - 19 March 2013

And here are the latest Filofax Videos for your viewing pleasure:



Link

Enjoy

Note: For some unknown reason the search on YouTube has started including lots of non-Filofax videos in to my previously sound Filofax search routine. So it might be possible that I miss the odd Filofax video. 

Free For All Tuesday No 111

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.

18 March 2013

Reader Under the Spotlight - Renee

Hello, I am Renee Weatherford from Ventura, California.  You can find me at my website, ‘Renew Your Space’ talking about Organizing and Time Management tips.  Not long after I discovered how cool the Filofax was, I found this website and I fell head over heels with all of the free printables and information I found here.  I have gotten all caught up on customizing my Filo after watching YouTube and browsing Amazon’s stationery isles.  I have written all about it on my blog, but had no idea how this community would explode over paper organizers - I couldn’t be more thrilled!  Thank you for having me – I look forward to reading many more informative posts here at Philofaxy.

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

I am a newby to the Filofax world owner – I received one as a gift for the New Year.  It is a mustard yellow Finsbury A5.

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

I have always used the Day Timer brands in the past with Franklin Covey calendars.  I am in love with Filofax layout and the A5 is so similar, I don’t even miss my old planner.

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

I had hoped to find a flexible red Finsbury but they were backordered until April.  I couldn’t wait, so I settled for one in yellow and I really love the cheeriness of it.  My DT was very soft and floppy but I love the crisp leather of my new Filo. 

4. How many Filofax organisers do you own?

I just have two, but I already have my eye on a few others for different reasons.  My A5 is perfect for my desk at work, but I just bought a Personal Chameleon for a special project that I am working on.  I’ve even given them both proper photo-shoots to share with my other Filofax obsessed friends.

5. What is the oldest Filofax in your collection? 

Well, I don’t have much of a collection YET – but in a few months, I’ll have an answer for you ☺  I still love the A5 size, despite the convenience of the Personal size – it just works better for all of the projects that I like to keep track of.

6. What do you use your Filofax for? 

I use it for EVERYTHING!  My Filofax is my schedule, Financial Tracker, Meal Plan / Grocery List, Workout Schedule, my list of goals, and a lot of projects broken down into tiny bites so that I don’t get overwhelmed.  I’ve even created a tab for my bucket list as a reminder to make it happen!

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

I love their ultra thin calendar pages, and I also like that the page marker has a top and bottom tab to get right to the current day.  I also like the pen holders – other brands usually have these pitiful rings that lose their elasticity too soon.  These are out of the way and can hold my multi-colored Bic nicely.

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

I would make them the traditional desk size like used for Day Timer.  What I liked most about that was that I could create my custom print-outs easily by cutting a letter-size page in half, punch holes and insert.  The A5 pages are a little tricky, but I make it work.

9. How do you carry your Filofax? 

I carry a large bag to work with my small essentials on one side and my Filofax takes up the entire second portion.  A small sacrifice to pay to have all of my information by my side.

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

I am a little obsessed with the Malden in brown, and would have bought it if it was available on their site back when I was first looking…. But it’s next in line when I get the bug again!

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

My Finsbury A5 was $99 USD.  I have spent more than that for other brand paper organizers.

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

I print my Editorial Calendar on long paper, and customize it so that I have a tri-fold document at-a-glance.  I used the same template for my monthly meal planning and meal prep reminders on the back so that I remember what needs to be done before bed. 

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

I love hearing about how others use their organizers differently. 

I love the community here, and that you capture everyone on the net who are sharing their great ideas.  I also enjoy the free templates, reference sheets and paper that can be saved and duplicated instead of paying so much for refills.

14. And what do you not like about Philofaxy? 

What’s not to like?  I think you strike a nice balance with your Guest Posts, Web Finds and Free For All Fridays – it’s all eye candy to me!

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


My last purchase was Corinne Bailey Rae – The Sea.  She is Ah-mazing!!!

16.  Mark Darcy or Daniel Cleaver?

Oh that would definitely be Darcy ~ Both in Bridget Jones and in Pride and Prejudice ☺

Thank you Renee for being part of our Reader Under the Spotlight series. If you would like to be part of this series please contact us at philofaxy at gmail dot com

17 March 2013

Filofax New Range 2013 - Part 2

Continuing from last weeks post we reveal more of the new Filofax 2013 range, there is still more of the new range to be revealed.

Be Fashionably Organised
The NEW Saffiano range from Filofax
The striking NEW Saffiano range of organisers from Filofax are all about impact. The classic cross grain leather look design comes in two bold on-trend colours – a vibrant Aqua or an eye-catching Bright Purple.

Saffiano range details:
  • Material: Classic cross grain leather look
  • Colours available: Aqua and Bright Purple
  • Features:
    • Subtle two-tone leather-look cover
    • Simple understated style
    • On trend colours
The design is available in three sizes – Pocket (£28), Compact (£29) and Personal (£30).



Fashion & Function
The NEW technology-friendly Fusion from Filofax 

Filofax has launched a brand new range of technology-friendly organisers for men. Fusion is designed to complement the latest technology – the Personal size has a smartphone pocket and the A5 size is designed to securely carry an iPad.

The robust combination of microfibre and full grain leather makes the Fusion extraordinarily tough and hard wearing as well as good looking. With its expandable strap closure and flexible interior pockets it can effortlessly grow to hold extra contents.

Both sizes of the Fusion are available in either Black or Blue. For users of digital devices, Fusion folders offer a stylish option to cover and carry your tech.

Fusion Personal Organiser (Navy)
£40
Fusion A5 Organiser (Black), £56
Fusion Personal Organiser (Navy), £40
Fusion Folders
£40
Fusion A5 Organiser (Black)
£56
Fusion A5 Organiser

Fusion range details:
  • Material: Microfibre and leather
  • Colours available: Black, Blue
  • Features:
    • Fashionable fusion of microfibre and leather
    • Slot in strap closure allowing organiser to expand when extra contents are added
    • Expandable smartphone pocket inside


Organiser Pens

Organiser pens are the perfect accompaniment to your Filofax organiser. New Calipso and Botanics ranges span a multitude of colours, and the new Stylus Duo Pen with stylus at one end and ball pen at the other has excellent added value.

Calipso, £10 - new

Vibrant coloured mini pens with push-button action and triangular lower barrel for easy grip.


Botanics, £10 - new

Twist action mini pens inspired by nature’s colours.



Stylus Duo, £18 - new

With touch screen stylus and twist action ball pen this is the perfect accessory for paper and technology users. The stylus is suitable for use on all touch screen devices.





So that is Part 2 of the 2013 range revealed... and there are still more to come.... so keep on the edge of your seat, there really is something for everyone this year....