Setting up my new Filofax Garden - Dusk Personal size - Part One

I bought the Filofax Garden - dusk from the Australian Filofax online store,  reviewed it in a previous post,  and now ... introducing Part One of the setting up! <cue fanfare>

This is a rambling, not well formatted, brain dump of a post. I wanted to  give you all a quick glimpse of what I am doing with the new Filofax, and explain some of my setting up process thoughts. The follow up post will have more detail, and hopefully make more sense!

This Filofax is for my personal projects. In my own time I write books on cybercrime and women in tech, I have two blogs, and I also create planner stickers, cybersecurity awarenss merchandise, badge pins and jewellery that I sell in my etsy store, and I write a column on cybercrime for the Women in Security magazine.   I do have a lot of projects on the go and need somewhere to put 'all the things '🤣.

To start with I wanted to put my etsy store business cards in the front pockets, however the pockets are too narrow to fit a standard sized business card horizontally, so I had to slot them in vertically, as you can see in the photo below. I am still not a fan of the pink interior - but I know there are many people that will like the pink lining (The wonderful Desley from the YouTube channel Desley Jane Plans for one!)

OOH side note - if you are a stationery fan and like to see how people use their planners in both a functional and aesthetically pleasing way, have a look at Desley's YouTube channel ... the link to it is here> DesleyJane Plans

And back to my rambling post....

The small front pockets aren't big enough for a standard sized business cards

If you have read my review post, you may recall I felt Filofax had missed an opportunity not having the '100 year' medallion on the actual Filofax. I ended up carefully peeling it form the acetate cover and sticking it to the fly leaf. I also used some of the matching washi tape I bought, to reinforce the holes on the paper fly leaf as you can see in the image below. (As you read this  imagine me waving my hands in a flourish towards the photo).

Kept the gold sticker and put it on the fly leaf

I used a grid ruled page to scribble a quick index, this won't be the final version, it is just so I can work out what I am doing as I set the Filofax up, and it is functional albeit messy!

Messy index page as I work out what I am putting in each section

I am using the tabbed dividers that match this Filofax, they aren't the garden design of the cover, but the flecked style of the interior, but in various colours.  I will go into more detail about the sections in the Part Two post, however a sneak look at the Finances section, in the photo below, you will see a budget envelope. I am not using that to stash money, but to stash receipts. Also, if you look closely at the upper right hand side, you will notice that I have already managed to ghet a pen mark on it .... I had it a day... a day... and managed to mar it.

If you have made it through my rambling post, to the end, THANK YOU .... I promise I will do better next time .... I am also working out how to upload a flip thorugh video of the Filofax to this blog, so stay tuned!

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If you want to see more posts about Filofaxes and planners please see the index to those topics in my blog to the left of this post, and also I highly recommend you visit Philofaxy.  For planner themed  video content from a  fellow Aussie planner and stationery fan, please check out Desley Jane Plans

(c) empressbat.blogspot.com 2011-2021

Review - Filofax Garden Personal

I am a stationery addict, I will happily admit, and I do love the Filofax branded organisers above all other organisers. When I saw this new(ish) release from them, the Garden in the 'colour' dusk, I decided I needed to buy it. I won't even bother explaining how I rationalised this purchase, just accept that I did, and here it is.

Filofax Garden - Dusk -  personal size

I ordered the organiser - and some accessories, (don't judge me), from the Filofax online store in Australia and they arrived about a week later, which is pretty good. The organiser itself was $79.95 (AuD), which given how it is constructed I found was a bit pricey, (Officeworks in Australia for example has Otto branded ring bound organisers of better construction for under $20 (AuD)) but one is paying for the brand.

Let's get to the review.

The acetate slip cover in the packaging has a gold sticker delcaring the 100th year of the FIlofax - wouldnm't it have been just that bit more special if that had been a badge ON THE Filofax itself? - Come on Filofax up your game! I woud have loved this to have had the badge embroidered or printed on the organiser. What a keepsake that would have been

Packaging of the Filofax showing the 100th year sticker

The organiser is a nice compact chunky creature, with a gorgeously gothic dark green mysterious dark garden style vibe on the cover. It is made from some sort of softish synthetic material, and has gold foiled dabs here and there. The stud fastener is hidden (as in there is no actual external stud button as in some of the Filfaxes) and the rings are standard silver tone and are 23 mm. \

Filofax Garden in dusk - personal size

The fly leaf is clear acetate and then there is a sheet of paper to put your name. I feel again that this is a missed opportunity from Filofax, the fly leaf could have had the '100 year' logo on it, and made this Filofax quite the collectors item.

Fly leaf

The FIlofax comes with the standard inserts of a week on two pages, some sample coloured pages,  To Do lists, address section and some paper dividers. The organiser inside, is a pink with coloured flecks pattern ( I am not a fan of the pink, I think something equally as dark as the exterior would have been better), and features six card pockets and a slip pocket in the front  and a vertical notepad pocket and pen loop on the right side.

Inside the Filofax, silver toned 23 mm rings

Here is where I get a litle disappointed ... and feel the manufacturing is not as good as one would normally expect from this brand, even for the cheaper ranges. The lining of the pockets is the cheap synthetic woven fabric that easily rips away from binding. This right out of the box already has loose threads and a not too secure lining. Thus type of lining is often found in those 'Dollar Store' cheap knock off wallets, yuo know the kind? They look cool, cost you $5, and then sfter a week of use your coins fall out as the pocket lining has come away.

The pockets are lined with cheap synthetic fabric

I digress.

Other than the inside being pink and the lining being sub par, the organiser is cool, and I bought some matching acccessories for it as well. I will do a post on another day on my set up of this one.

All up I am happy with this purchase, although I think the lining material really let this orgainser down. The matching accessories is a nice touch, and I can't wait to set up this new Filofax!

Have you bought this Filofax? what are your thoughts on it? Feel free to comment below!

If you want to see more posts about Filofaxes and planners please see the index to those topics in my blog to the left of this post, and also I highly recommend you visit Philofaxy.

(c) empressbat.blogspot.com 2011 - 2021

#Filofax - I just ordered a new Filofax

As a collector of Fiofaxes (and I DO use them) I could not pass up the opportunity to buy this little beauty. The Garden Personal Organiser in Dusk from the Filofax shop in Australia.

As well as the organiser I purchased some of the matching accessories. I cannot wait until they arive, and when they do I will have an unboxing blog post and a follow up post on how I plan to use it.

Stay tuned!

Filofax Garden in Dusk - Picture from the Filofax Australia site

If you want to see more posts about Filofaxes and planners please see the index to those topics in my blog to the left of this post, and also I highly recommend you visit Philofaxy.

(c) empressbat.blogspot.com 2021

Review - etsy shop purchase from dspdavey - black cocktail ring

I am passionate about supporting local small and hobby businesses, it is imporntant that artisans continue and are not swallowed up by mass produced plastic companies. One of the artisans I admire for quality and beautiful work, is Deborah Davey. I have followed this multi-talented artist, scientist and etsy shop owner on Twitter for some time, and admired the beautiful items she hand crafts and sells on etsy. 

I saw a post she made on twitter recently haring a cocktail ring she had made and was selling in her etsy store - the ring was just my style, silver toned, Baroque style, and black. I was immediately enamoured with it and rushed (as much as one can rush in virtual reality) to her etsy shop in the hope it was still available for sale. Happily for me it had not yet been snapped up and I scored a beautful hand crafted cocktail ring.

This ring is beautiful. It was packaged in gorgeous black tissue with a decorative sticker seal and sent in recycled packaging which I LOVE! I believe in re-use and recycle and when a seller does this they get an extra star from me - can I give Deb a 6/5 stars?  

There was a handy instruction tag about how to care for the piece which is useful to ensure the ring is kept in excellent condition and can be enjoyed for a very long time.

The black centre is set on a silver tone light weight metal adjustable ring, and therefore will fit most finger sizes from tiny to large. I have been alternatively wearing it on my thumb and little fingers, which shows just how adjustable the ring is!

This ring is just a delight -  Thanks Deb your work is stunning

Follow Deborah on Twitter -> Dr Deborah Davey

Check out her etsy store ->  dspdavey

(c) empressbat.blogspot.com 2021

#Filofax - Fifteen ways to use your organisers

I don't want you to call me an enabler ---- BUT ... as an owner of many a Filofax myself, I decided other stationery addicts like myself may want some ideas about to use their multiple Filofaxes (insert name of your planner of choice here), or have a 'reason' to buy another.

So here is a list in no particular order.

Fifteen Ways to use your Filofax / planners/journals

1. Work planner - have tabs to place inserts for  your meeting times, to do lists , notes, planned and unplanned leave, pay slips, training infomration, conferences etc.

2. Art journal - grab your favourite art paper, punch holes to match the rings, put your favourte pencil or drawing impliment in the pen holder, some belnding cards, and if your Filofax/planner has a zipped pocket, add some coloured pencils or pens.

3. Junk Journal - Want to use up the pretty papers, brown paper bags, envelopes and scraps of paperin a junk journal wihtout having to venutre into book binding? Have I got an idea for you! Grab all the papers you want to use, punch holes in them to match the rings in your Filofax / planner, decorate some tabbed dividers and you are ready to get creative in your ring bound junk journal. 

4. Memory Scrapbbook - Use tabbed sections for months, add pages where you can note down what you did that day/week/month, and put some photos in that you print out from your phone/camera.

5. File of facts - So Filofax is a neat name derived from the binder originally being a file of facts. (get it facts... fax...anyway...). Use your Filofax as a stash of information, use tabs to divide the topics. For example a section for conversion tables, a section for maps, a section for railway staions ... well you get the idea.

6. Recioe binder - you can write out, print out, tear out recipes and shove them in your Filofax. Using tabs the reciopes could be seperated into starters, snakcs, mains, desserts, breakfasts, vegetarian,. whatever you want!

7. Gardening planner - stash in your FIlofax your new waiting to be planted as well as  empty seed packets, pruning schedule, favourite plants, garden to do lists...;. everything your little green thumb finds handy for gardening!

8. Pets - We have a lot of pets, and everytime we take one to the vet we get asked what food they are on, what brand pest treatment we use, and all sorts of things that make me think I am in a school exam! I use one of my ringed planners for the pets. Each pet has a rtab and there is a plastic sleeve for each of their vaccination records. I have their birth dates, breeds, pedigree papers (where relevant), the food they are eating, the pest treatment used, and the vet bills. It is a very handy File of Facts! Two of our pets are pictured here (Frank the pedigreed  (but not elitist) lilac point ragdoll cat, and Chloe the rescue Staffy-cross )

9. Writing journal - A Filofax is a great place to write, just write your thoughts, your ideas, your brain storming. It is great because you can move the pages around and put them where you want to as yuo organise your thoughts and ideas. 

10 .Lists - Use a Filofax/ planner/notebook for lists. You could use tabs to have topics for each of the lists to go under. In the BuJo community the lists are called collecitons, which brings me to 

11.  Bullet Journal - Number ten segues well to this one, . you could use your Filofax as a bullet journal.

12. Home inventory - You could use your Filofax to store your warranty cards, reciuepts and home  inventory information.

13 Wallet -  I have a post about using a Mini Malden as a wallet and using a Filofax Topaz as a wallet, and from my expereince they are great for wallets. The cards can go into sleeves on the rings, there is room for note money, grocery lists, and coins.

14. Projects - If you have a specific project (like home renovation) or many projects, stashing all the infomration into one binder means everything is in one place, easy to find, and easy to add to.

15 Studying - whether you are enaged in fomral or infomral stuydy, a place to put all your notes, information, sources, and research is essential to keep track of your learning.

There are so many uses for rmultiple planenrs, you don't have to just use them for calenders/schedules and a diaries, but you can use them to keep information, lists, warranty cards... all sorts of things.  I reiterate - don;t call me an enabler...but.... consider yourself enabled...

So when you see that gorgeous new Filofax/Kikki K/TN/notebook, you may not really NEEDED it .. but you could surely find a use for it!

If you want to see more posts about Filofaxes and planners please see the index to those topics in my blog to the left of this post, and also I highly recommend you visit Philofaxy.

(c) empressbat.blogspot.com 2021

Filofax - Mini Malden in navy

I have many Filofax ring bound organisers.. Some of them are quite old, some of them are unusual, ... some of them are sitting on a shelf gathering dust bunnies. Basically I really did not need to buy another Filofax. Did I let that stop me? No dear reader, no.

My favourite model of Filofax of all time is the Malden. The soft covers, the zipped pockets, the many places to stash forgotten business cards. I have had a Personal and an A5 Malden in purple for many years, and have wanted a mini version for a long time. I was sad when I realised Filofax were not making them anymore. 

That was until Filofax started making them again!

Last month (being April 2021 if you are reading this in the far off future) I decided I was going to stop being sensible - ha me sensible... anyway I was going to stop saying to myself 'no you don't need another Filofax', and give in to the temptation that is the gorgeous navy Malden mini.

I purchased mine online from Organiser World in Australia, I have been a frequent customer of theirs for quite some time. If you are interested in viewing their offerings the link to their site is here: Organiser World (Australia).

Once the gorgeous little Malden arrived, and after I spent a good hour or so delighting in its company, and talking to it (don't judge), I realised I needed to have a use for it. This is where I decided to make it my new wallet,  Note I have used Filofaxes as wallets before, in 2018 I was using a Filofax Topaz mini as a wallet, a short post about that can be viewed form this link: Filofax Topaz as a wallet. I have also used other mini Filofaxes as wallets ... and funnily enough I have also used... wait for it ..WALLETS as wallets...

The mini Malden, isn't it adorable?

I scoured around my very disgustingly messy art room/study/cannot find the floor room, for plastic credit card holders that I could convert for this Filofax. I found some from an old wallet, punched holes into the sides of the plastic sleeves and then placed them in the Filofax. This way I have somewhere to stash cards (like my EB Games card, or as you can see in the photo, my public transport card - 'Go Card') that can be scanned without having to take them out of my wallet. The small zipper section is ideal to keep a few coins, and there is a full length pocket encompassing the entire back of the organiser that I can stash dollar notes and receipts. I have added some note paper in the back in case I want to write a quick shopping list or note something, and I added a key ring chain to the zip so I can clip decorative and possibly nerdy type of things on there if I choose too. Like a Legend of Zelda keyring charm for example.  I cut the acrylic packaging that was around the organiser (the acetate stuff that has 'Filofax' printed on it, to make a fly leaf. I kept the box the Filofax came in to stash the diary and other inserts the Malden came with.

It's my wallet!

The mini Malden is well made, with contrasting white stiching along the edges, a press stud closure, and a pen loop. On the right hand side when open, there are two credit card sized pockets and one zip pocket, and the right hand side has two credit card/business card pockets.As mentioned before there is a pocket the length of the cover at the back. The rings are tight and close well, and the opening mechinism is firm but not too hard to press to open the rings.

This mini Malden cost me $159.95 Australian and I am pleased I convinced myself I needed it as it is a cute wallet, and is now also part of my Malden collection.

If you want to see more posts about Filofaxes and planners please see the index to those topics in my blog to the left of this post, and also I highly recommend you visit Philofaxy.

(c) empressbat.blogspot.com 2021

Book Review - Captor!: Justice Delayed...Justice Served! by Lain McIntyre

Captor!: Justice Delayed...Justice Served! by Lain McIntyre

Book Details

• ASIN : B07GFB9JWN
• Language : English
• File size : 446 KB
• Print length : 162 pages

Please support the author Lain McIntyre , by following him on Twitter: @LainMcintyre

DISCLAIMER: I purchased this book  myself to support the author who sadly was not getting any reader reviews despite his generosity of gifting many copies to readers.  Although I enjoy mystery, thrillers and police procedurals, the book with its 'adults only' warning due to  the inclusion of descriptive rape scenes, means I would not normally be drawn to this style of book. My review reflects my personal views, however I have sought to treat the book fairly and review it on its merits while acknowledging it is not to my personal tastes..

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<Note I placed an abridged version of this review on the book's Amazon page.>

I give this book 4 out of 5 bats  for being well written and well-paced, but It lost a bat as I felt the s*x/rape scenes were gratuitous, I think they could have been a part of the murder and torture scenes without being so full on (my personal opinion so don’t let that stop you buying the book if you like that type of read) 

My personal views on the writing are that the scenes could have been left to the reader's imagination and did not need to go into such detail. I do not believe they added any value to the plot moving forward and they really did not need to be there. The narrative would have moved just as well and the reader understanding that the callous tormenter was just as bad, without the minute descriptors of the rape and s*x scenes. 

That being said, the plot was solid, it has the making of a very scary thriller film. The narrative has you on the edge of your seat as you read, and you keep wanting to yell 'behind you' to potential victims. 

The torture and murder scenes and the psycho captor character would make a good movie plot. I just skipped over the gratuitous s*x scenes cos they arent my thing. That aside, it is however a solid thriller ... and the ending is downright scary!

This novel was captivating (‘captorvating’ – read the novel you will understand my pun then!). It had mystery, murder, police procedural and a thriller feel. I found the full -on overly descriptive rape/s*x scenes a turn off (was that another pun?) and personally felt they were not necessary to go into such detail to keep the narrative going.The book was an easy read, it had a good balanced level of descriptors and narrative without getting bogged down, and its pace was just right for its theme.

Overall a quick read, and if the gratuitous rape/s*x descriptors were removed, for me the book would rate as a solid thriller/crime type book.

The e-book can be pruchased from Amazon USA from this link: Amazon USA Captor

The e-book can be purchased from AMazon Australia from this link: Amazon Au Captor

(c) empressbat.blogspot.com 2021