Franklin Covey Pocket

I've been using this size planner since the start of the year, or close to it. 

Franklin Covey Pocket size is like a smaller "personal" size page, with A6 hole spacing for pages. 

The page size is 3.5" X 6". I'm using Franklin Covey's tabbed month on two pages, and I keep switching daily pages.. between FC's day on two pages, to some printables I bought on Etsy. I print personal size printables at 85%, on pre-cut and pre-punched blank FC pocket paper. Easy peasy, if you can get the printer to cooperate doing duplex. The trick on mine is to keep the paper stack tall and it will duplex fine. 

This first post is the planner I purches from Amazon.jp - I had to create another account with Amazon to use their Japan site. You have to be extra careful when shopping on their Japan site, it lists Franklin Covey dated planners that are years old, so be careful . Amazon.jp lists Franklin Covey products that are not sold in the US. You also need to figure out your browser to have it automatically translate Japanese to English. 

Duck Egg Filofax Malden with Franklin Covey Compact Inserts

Wowee! The new Malden colors are yowza- I had to buy the mini also, just because I can't stand how cute it is. They still have the annoyingly small pen loop, but I did find a pretty gel pen that fits and writes well.

Back in Franklin Covey Compact

What the ever-loving-eff?! Here's my explanation in a nutshell: I miss pre-decorated pages and beautifully colored tabs... That's it! I couldn't hold out any longer. If there were an option for A6 size, I'd buy a room full of the pages. Franklin Covey makes a "pocket" size which has the same A6 hole punch, but the pages are too narrow to match any other pages available out there. I'm NOT going to hand make all other pages- not happenin'.


I've resurrected my custom-made planner and have adopted Franklin Covey's daily pages. The best feature is the "daily notes" page on the right hand side. Perfect for a right-hander, and more perfect to journal in daily. I have a journal in my first planner from the same Etsy shop, which is simply filled with Franklin Covey compact lined pages. Having a separate journal meant I would only journal sporadically; sometimes months would be between entries.  Now I will have pre-dated entries, meaning if you drop your binder you won't cry as long putting it back together.

Here are both together, the further one is my previous journal:

Since the planner lacks in card holders, I love that my VDS card holder fits nicely on one side- its bulk helps in keeping the pages away from the pen loop when closed. I like taking this card holder out prior to shopping - it holds all necessary cards and small amount of cash- and I can keep my planner in my handbag.

 Franklin Covey makes a nice card-holder/pouch insert which holds other less-used cards.

I have been journaling every day now- 

Beautiful tabs for their month on two pages:

I purchased the frosted side-tab dividers from DividersRUS on Etsy, and asked that their Personal Wide size be left un-punched. I trimmed them and hole-punched them myself. I kept the fly-leaf that came with it, in its original size to keep pages from getting caught into the back pocket with my card-holder. I bought the bottom-tab dividers from a store that is no longer open on Etsy.

I still LOVE the grid paper I get from Handy Forms . I originally found them on Etsy but can't find the link there, luckily it's easy to find on Amazon.

In about a month I'll be receiving my custom VDS and will post photos of it here and on Instagram. Meanwhile, I'll be enjoying this beast :) 

quick and dirty comparison of the new Gillio Medium Compagna XL to other models

As the title states, this is a quick and dirty post, which I fully intend to circle back to and update.

This first picture, top to bottom, left to right:

A6 Compagna,  Slim Medium Compagna,  new Medium Compagna XL, original Medium Compagna





 This is a top side by side view of the XL (left) and A6




This is the side view of the XL with Franklin Covey Compact inserts, with side tabs and pen, after switching the rings to 25mm





Top -down view of the XL with Franklin Covey Compact inserts with side tabs and pen, and again, I have switched the rings out to 25mm



My first thought after holding the Medium Compagna XL, is that I absolutely hate HATE the feeling of the wider back plate to the rings.

These are initial feelings, I will update this post later-



Added- difference in width between original Medium Compagna to the XL, in cm then in inches

Van der Spek Tortora Croco Standaard with Franklin Covey Compact inserts

I just received this new-to-me planner from the Van Der Spek Sales group on Facebook and it is perfect for my Franklin Covey compact sized inserts, which you must know by now I am very fond of.

The color is Tortora and is challenging to capture in a photo. It definitely has brown in it, but it also has a hint of mauve.

It is not overly floppy like the Menthe Touch Me I have if that is a concern you have. It has great flatability without being floppy.


Here's a shot to show its nice sheen

This photo shows its ever-so-slight hint of mauve in this brown

Here's the top view

bottom view

here you can see how the tabs , the closure and pen fit with room to spare

inside front pockets

inside back pockets

Franklin Covey Compact in Gillio Amica with 30mm Rings

Uhm, no, the 30mm rings do not work for me due to the increased overhang. Back to 25mm rings .....

Custom-made hand-tooled leather planner

Swoon. I'm obsessed with this new custom planner by JMR Custom Leather on Etsy. I sent 30mm Krause rings to him use in this beauty. Just LOOK

beautifully braided stitching on the edges 

J.Mark Rhoades (he goes by Mark), the artist who made this allowed me to share some insight into his inspiration:

My craft is old school leather carving/tooling. The designs are actually hand carved and tooled into vegetable tanned saddle leather. Everything is done pretty much one at a time. Most leather products that people are familiar with from retail type stores are actually embossed/stamped with  hydraulic presses in mass production facilities. Mass produced embossing simply cannot achieve the depth, texture and detail of hand craftsmanship. My patterns are derivations of "Sheridan" style carving that was developed by master saddle makers in Wyoming.
I began tooling leather as a hobby a few years ago and made items for family and friends. Over time, I began selling a few custom order items. I am still employed as a full time college professor, so this limits the number of items that I can offer for sale. However, I hope to expand the business very soon and will be launching my own website Star Mountain Leather in May. -
J.Mark Rhoades

Krause rings, and fits Franklin Covey compact sized inserts, elasticized pen loop

front

back

Franklin Covey Compact sized inserts in medium Gillio Amica

I see this question often, so I will show how Franklin Covey compact sized inserts look in a medium Gillio Amica. You can find the tassel at Amazon. *note* this is with 25mm rings, the 30mm rings do not work

Franklin Covey compact size inserts in Filofax personal size Malden

I see this question so often so I decided to show my Filofax that I'm now using for my work planner. There's a slight amount of overhang but I actually like seeing the tabs.

Franklin Covey Blooms month on two pages have colorful tabs

They barely touch the strap

I prefer the wider writing area