YACP (Yet Another Custom Planner)

Maybe you've noticed that I like the color red 😍. Here's more evidence of my affliction:






My latest custom VDS Un-widened Senior (A6) in burgundy Janet Leather. It has the same configuration that I have been using for the previous customs..A4 closure strap, full back pocket, ring protectors, and both sides have secretarial pockets. This and the previous senior I bought in red Italian are 25mm rings - and again UN-WIDENED. (VDS automatically widens the planner for the bigger rings, without any special request- see the dimensions on their website )

This time I asked for extra foam instead of stiffener. BEST IDEA EVAR


The burgundy is on the right prior to moving in. The left planner is my Italian red VDS that I skipped posting about -maybe because I am a little mad at myself for not ordering completely correctly- I mistakenly clicked "yes" for stiffener 😥 (The red Italian is otherwise perfect and since being used, has actually become molded exactly to the shape I want)

I'm grateful that I stalked photos in the Facebook VDS fan group to see burgundy JL in other photos. It's NOT burgundy, it's a dark, cooler red. I actually do not like burgundy at all! And luckily, this color doesn't have the brown or purple undertones that I find icky in a true burgundy.

Here's a group shot of the red leathers I have purchased at VDS in the Senior model:

From left to right, top to bottom: 1) JL red 20mm rings with A4 widened strap, 2) Papavero Croco 20mm rings with A5 widened strap,  3)JL burgundy 25mm rings with A4 widened strap,  4)red Italian 25mm rings with A4 widened strap. The JL red (1)is quite orangy and bright- the "burgundy" (3)is darker and has a blueness but not so much as to make it purple. The croco and Italian reds are the truest reds. The croco and the Italian leathers have a shiny finish and therefore come already with a patina. The JL leathers are very squishy and the pieces I have, have a sheen that I love.

Hopefully this answers some questions you might have for some of the different red leathers available at VDS.

-----edited to add more photos of the JL "burgundy" :

Red Janet Leather VDS Un-Widened Senior

O
ops, I did it again..another VDS un-widened senior (A6) - this time in Janet Leather RED yeahhhh.

I asked for extra pebbly, and foam "stiffener". It really should be called "squishy-ner". It gave it the squishiness I love so much that my Gillio Amica has.

you're gonna want to enlarge these photos..

gold!

texture

time to switch from my trusty brown...

all moved in 

squish squish squish

nice and tidy back wallet pocket

A6 it is..

Confession time. I've gone bananas with planner sizes recently. It's a bit embarrassing to say the least.
I've always loved pocket planners as they feel good in the hand, but are not the ultimate experience to write in. I predict I will be back in them off and on forEVER.

For my recent cross-country trek I was very happy in a Gillio Medium Slim Compagna. I was so happy that I now own four; red, purple, gold epocas, and one purple croco.

After that I went a bit nuts (like I hadn't already) with the Filofax Classic Croc pockets. I own the black, fawn, chestnut, and fuchsia. I don't even like fuchsia but then there's that. I absolutely LOVE the pocket Classic Crocs; they lay flat without training, there's no warping of the back wallet pocket, and they have 20mm ring, but most of all the Big Fat Closing Strap. Yassss.

As you may have seen previously, I custom ordered a pocket sized planner from VDS in Foresto. I then proceeded to order another custom exactly the same, but in their Papavero croc (cherry red).

Also, ALSO!, I jumped on the A6 train when Gillio did their recent restock a few weeks back. I bought the red, yellow, and purple epoca models. In my defense, I did resell the yellow. Like that'll get me into heaven..

And THEN, I custom ordered a senior from Van Der Spek. It should be here tomorrow.


Meanwhile, this is my red epoca A6 from Gillio.

Of course I have to have a planner where refills are harder to find (much like my Franklin Covey Compact size addiction).

What I didn't like when it was new has gone away. The A6's layout when new, its new stiffer leather makes the planner lay wonky when on its side and closed, where the front side lays shorter than the back. Now that the leather has broken in a bit, it lays square. I think putting in a page lifter in the back helped.







I got both side and "top" (I like using them upside down at the bottom) dividers at DividersRUS on Etsy

This page lifter helps, but it is a bit shy of the full width and the Tomoe River Paper filler paper I have at the back curls a bit by the outer edge.


 One thing I have struggled with, is when using my planner as a wallet/planner, opening a floppy planner while paying for things in a checkout line makes me nervous. Not knowing what flies out, and perhaps I feel a bit exposed as well.
So! My workaround is finding this slim credit card holder that I can take out ahead of time to use in the checkout line, and this has helped tremendously. Link below-




This link may not last forever, but here goes anyway:
slim card case with pouch for cash. It has 3 slots on front and back. Maybe since it's new, using all six made it hard to get cards in and out, so I only put four in it.

*Edited to add that your chances are better for matching the leather with Gillio's own slim credit card holder


Top view, just enough room for the small amount of cash I carry..



 Since A6 page finders are difficult to find in frosted, I made my own by buying these washi tape holders, and hole-punching them myself, and used a corner rounder for a more polished look.



I got my month on two pages inserts from CityGirlPlanners.com






I do my own week on two pages layout with my favorite paper from HandyForms on Etsy.  They are on Amazon as well, but I couldn't find a direct link for the A6 size graph pages.





I hope this article helps you in some way-
Sharon

Pocket-sized planner flatability

Here's a post just for pocket planners, and when I find my Van der Spek, I'll add it. It's hiding somewhere. (*found the VDS, added to the end ) All of my pocket planners have the full back wallet pocket. 

From left to right, here are my pocket sized planners: Gillio in purple epoca, Filofax Malden in ochre, Filofax Malden in crimson, Filofax Malden in purple, Filofax Amazona in red croco.

The crimson Malden leather is stiffer than the other Maldens, but I bought it brand new in box, so I expect it to soften up more. 

The purple Malden lies the flattest of all of the Maldens, loving the ring size 19mm

The Gillio has excellent flatability, the best card layout , but the rings are smaller at only 15X12mm

The ochre Malden has good flatability

The Amazona has bad flatability, but not enough for me to not use it. It's so pretty I forgive it.

And here is my elusive Van der Spek. Excellent flatability

Here's the Van der Spek compared to my pocket Malden

Van der Spek on top, Malden on bottom

Pocket Filofax fun

Really love what I got from Filoaddict on Etsy

Maybe it's me, but I had a hard time finding page finders that are clear for pocket sized Filofaxes. This pocket Amazona is soooo pretty I only have been using it sparingly. It's shiny, it's red, and that's basically all I need to love something.

Medium Gillio Amica walk through

Bodyguardz for my Razr Maxx

I didn't apply the pieces to the curved edges, just the back pieces.

on our wak today

pretty

an original

This was given to me by the artist. Isn't it spectacular!

Red! twitter.com/Sharondippity/…

— Sharondippity (@Sharondippity) December 25, 2011

I heart sparkles

yeah I looked stupid taking a photo of my coffee mug

and I don't care. I love looking at red sparkles in the sunlight.

posted on 1/26/2011

Full moon yesterday.

At dusk

posted on 1/21/2011

I haven't killed it yet, and it's January :)

17.3" laptop

is on its way. In cherry red, with 4GB ram and two year warranty. It'll be a ha yuge upgrade from my 8 year old laptop or 7 year old desktop. It was only 700 dollah, which cracks me up. This old laptop I'm typing on cost a little less than $3000. Wowers.

From Red

It's that Corvette time of the year again