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 :) 

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

Janet Leather Brown (JL104) Custom Un-widened A6

Van Der Spek!   My latest order arrived today- let me tell you the shipping delays only added to the excitement. (yet I'd never choose it on purpose). Here's my fractured order info - I had forgotten the left secretarial pocket, and two other items I had to request via email since not on the website menu: 

Added to this order was the forgotten left side secretarial pocket, a big fat A4 sized strap, and a custom credit card holder. 

I wanted a more substantial but not bulky, credit card holder with space to put paper currency in. This request is due to my unease of opening my planner in public to make purchases. Not only is it awkward, it makes me feel exposed as I write personal items in my planner. Instead, I can grab this and leave my planner in my bag. This size credit card holder makes me less worried I might lose it.

It has three slots on each side, on opposite ends so it may lie flatter in its pocket:

The rest of these photos show the same features as my last A6 un-widened custom order from Van Der Spek, but added even more width to the strap:

This strap!!

 

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

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

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

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