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

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

Hobonichi Techo Avec A6 - unboxing

UPDATE - I love the layout and the paper, so I have ordered the Cousin in A5. I will be using this A6 one to experiment with layouts and to note ideas for putting in the larger Hobonichi!

This is a picture heavy post!

I have seen different videos of Hobonichi diaries/planners and wanted to try the Tomoe River paper and simplified planner pages myself. So I purchased a six month A6 version to try, from etsy seller danika58, to see if I am a Hobonichi convert BEFORE I commit to a more expensive A5 12 month version.

The package arrived from Japan very fast, within a week of purchasing, I was impressed with this as Aussie domestic post can take a loooong time so to have an International post arrive so fast (and free postage) was amazing.

When it arrived, even though I knew it was A6, I was still surprised how tiny it is!  Despite its small size it has a day to a page, month pages, a year overview/index and other pages. The Tomoe River Paper can pack a lot of pages in small space. In some of the pictures here you will also see how easy the pages are to read and use despite the small size.

Compared to my A5 Filofax Malden it is very small!

The Techo Avec comes with a small pamphlet, it is in Japanese so I have no idea what is in it, but from the illustrations it appears to be ideas about how to use the planner. 

Sorry this photo has the shadow of my phone on it! Despite the photo bombing from my phone,you can see how clearly the day on a page information is printed, the checklist boxes and the grid ruling.

Time table page at the back of the book - I like this it could be used for daily tasks that are repeated.

There is a two page spread at the back with an enumerated list of 100 lines to add your top 100 lists of ... something. I like this it could be used for 100 blog topics, journal prompts, favourite things.

There are two pages of exercises you can do in the office, I cannot read the Japanese but the illustrations are well done and I can understand what the exercises are.

There are two pages with useful phrases in different languages - this is quite a useful and education feature.

More photo bombing from my phone here ... but if you ignore the phone shadow you can see a page where you can list gift ideas to buy or make for people and, a page that can list up to six addresses.

I think this next page is for your details, in Filofax the page is usually put at the front of the pages in the binder.

The pages have months shown by coloured rectangles printed on the pages, like tabs, as you can see by this side view.

Each Hobonichi has a seal with a unique number. 

This is a really nice touch, makes the book special!

I will do another blog later on how I am using the book.

Review: Typo brand Drawing Journal

I do a lot of creative projects including  'serious art' using water colours,pencils or oil paints in the more conservative manner. However I love the freedom of art journalling, where the rules of art, what is good what isn't, how mediums are supposed to be used, and perfection are ignored. The process of creating the art is as, or even more, important than the finished product. I can freely experiment with mixed media and ideas without feeling constrained about the finished product or how I am using the materials. I have many sketch books and doodle pads to use for art journalling but I am always on the look out for a book that really works for me. I want one that is bound like a traditional old style book, has good quality paper that can take all manner of materials, is hard cover to protect the contents, and light enough to take with me wherever I go.

We were in DFO Brisbane a while ago, at the Typo store, and I saw a selection of journals there for $19.99 (AUD) each, from their Activity Journal range. I kept going back to the shelf, opening the 'demo' books, feeling the paper and flicking through the pages. There were several different types there, but the one I really liked was the one that had 'Drawing Journal' on it in gold metallic embossing and featured water colour style decoration on the cover. The pages inside are thick, have a matte texture, and include an area for title and date. The pages have different decoration from grids, to cream coloured to pages with decorative corners.

I like the concept of an art journal that comes with different designs on its pages.  There is a well known phenomenon of blank page syndrome that afflicts artists and writers alike, and having an art journal with some colour already on the page helps to alleviate that issue!

How do the pages hold up to use

I have tried the pages using graphite and colour pencils, water colour paint, felt pen, waterproof felt tipped pens (such as Sharpies), glue, gesso, and waterbased varnish. I am pleased to share with you that the pages can handle all of this, the slight buckling of the pages after using glue, varnish, gesso, or paint is alleviated after the pages are dried and the book is shut for a few hours. 

How does the book hold up to being carted around

Small and light enough to cart around but large enough to draw in, the book is shoved in my work bag, used on the train, dumped on my desk at home, carted in the car, it handles this well, you do not have to be overly kind to this book!

Some of the art journalling I have done in this book

gesso, paper, glue , watercolour, fetl pen,

gesso, colour pencil,watercolours, felt pen

watercolour, feltpen, colour pencil, varnish

collaged photo, watercolour, felt pen, pencil satin water based varnish

You can by the Typo activity journals online  from their website here.

If you are interested in reading another review on Typo products  please have a look at this post where I  reviewed a Typo satchel.

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Iron Maiden and Eddie! In Brisbane May 2016 - great concert

Last night my husband and I went out, on a work night (ugh)... to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, to see a band. Not just ANY band .... this was Maiden.

I have been a fan since the early 80s, when as a child in England,  I first heard them. My cousin who is much older than me had the record 'Iron Maiden' amongst his Status Quo albums. I think maybe it was Paul DiAnno who fronted the band then. My cousin was kind of appalled when his ten year old female cousin was rocking to Maiden,  but then I think I appalled him frequently ..  he also never forgave me for accidentally scratching one of his Quo albums. (Quo ... pfft)

Anyway back to Maiden.

Long term fan, but had never seen them perform live. Then in 2011 at Soundwave in Brisbane I finally got to see them live. Amazing! Bruce Dickinson with his amazing vocal dexterity, Adrian, Steve, Dave, and Janick with their guitar virtuosity, and Nicko McBrain with his lively percussion. The only thing missing was Eddie. Sadly blog readers... there was No Eddie.

Fast forward to May 2016 ... Brisbane Entertainment Centre, there we were, seeing Maiden for the second time! 

After The Raven Age finished their set (and they were polished awesomeness as well by the way) a short intermission and then... lights dimmed.... there was susurration from the crowd.. then quiet... the stage is bathed in a glowing green light, then the two side monitors display Ed Force One.. and... Eddie!! (Yay Eddie!!) .. then the lights brighten on the stage... and the crowd starts to roar .... and the opening of If Eternity Should Fall quells the audience's roar....

What an amazing show... stage sets, lighting, everything ... and Mr Dickinson's voice is still that amazingly brilliant multi-octave delight it has always been. (Glad you are well again too Sir after your illness of last year). Watching Janick and Steve bounce around the stage and Dave's fingers fly over the frets, and Adrian and his brilliant solos.. and Nicko with his Energiser Bunny super energetic, amazing drumming... .. could this concert get any better???

Then.. yes! EDDIE!!! yayayaayayayayayay.

Eddie struts onto the stage.. and Bruce rips his heart out Aztec style... theatrics are always a great part of Maiden's  performances.. not that they need them, their music is entertaining enough.

Then... later.. Eddie as a massive huge, did i mention massive, creature towering over the stage appears!!! 

Yay.. not only did we get to see Maiden perform ... we saw Eddie!!! Twice!!!!

That reminds me, Iron Maiden is bringing out an Eddie mobile platform game mid year... make sure you get in on that! The link to get to the info.. ooh and buy some game merch is http://ironmaidenlegacy.com

I am a fan, a long-term fan of Maiden, a long long ..I am old.. ok.. OLD... been a fan ..for a long time.. a long long... anyway you get the idea......
so I am biased... but to me that was the best concert I had ever been to.

... Until the next Maiden concert anyway! ;)

The play list last night was: (I think I got all of them here... I was immersed in the concert so I may have missed one .. if I have please let me know!) 

• If Eternity Should Fail
• Speed of Light
• Children of the Damned
• Tears of a Clown
• The Red and the Black
• The Trooper
• Powerslave
• Death or Glory
• The Book of Souls
• Hallowed Be Thy Name
• Fear of the Dark
• Iron Maiden
• The Number of the Beast
• Blood Brothers
• Wasted Years

Iron Maiden - The Book Of Souls World Tour 2016 at Brisbane Entertainment Centre 4th May 2016

I took this photo of Bruce Dickinson at the Iron Maiden concert in Brisbane

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Sneak Peek: unboxing the limited edition Blue Midori Traveller's Notebook cover

I love stationery, I draw, write in long hand, and scribble ideas for the things I make to sell in my etsy store. I go through a large amount of sketch books and notebooks in my scribblings and sketching. I have been wanting for a looong time a basic notepad cover that is sturdy and strong, and can cover a few notepads at once, that is small enough to cart around wherever I go, and not so precious that I am too scared to use it in case I scratch it in some way.

Enter the Midori Traveller's notebook cover.

I bought mine from Notemaker, (they are on Twitter as @NoteMakerTweets), which is one of my preferred online stores for quality stationery. The have speedy, quality customer service, and the prices are reasonable, with rewards for repeat customers, and free postage for orders over a certain amount.

Midori is a Japanese stationery brand, not the name of the notebook cover itself, and they make and sell a lot of quality goodies such as brass pens and pencil cases.

The Unboxing

The Midori Traveller's Notebook cover (which I shall abbreviate to MTN for the rest of this post) is beautifully packed. 

Wrapped in clear cellophane and a cardboard cover, with a description tacked to the front and held together with an elasticated band.

Opening the cellophane and cardboard reveals a small cotton drawstring bag ...

Opening the drawstring bag reveals.... the MTN!!!

This one is the limited edition blue, and it is thick but flexible, any scuffs will enhance the look of the cover, and you seriously do not have to treat this with 'kid gloves'. This is a tough cover meant to be used!

The MTN comes with one refill of a blank notepad and a spare elastic to add notepads.

I have a total of four notepads in this cover and they all fit perfectly. 

Midori have a specific sized notepad  for their regular sized covers, as tall as an A5 but skinnier. The paper they use in their notepads is fountain pen friendly and such a smooth paper to write on. I have the thick sketch paper, the plain paper, the ruled, and the graph in mine.

I  hope this unboxing post helps to show you the MTN in more detail than shop websites do, and can help you work out whether this is for you or not!!

I will show my MTN set up in a future post.

............................................................................................................... Please visit me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat handcrafted gothic goodies at bargain prices. see me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat ...Please visit me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat handcrafted gothic goodies at bargain prices. see me on etsy! www.etsy.com/shop/empressbat