My Pocket Ochre Malden - Early Days!

My transition from an A5 binder which contained EVERYTHING to a small and more simply maintained Pocket Malden has gone well.

Not smooth by any means, but it is OK.

I have moved in about 10 days ago and it has been a very steep learning curve.

The Pocket Ochre Malden with Coleto 4-ink pen

I already have an A5 Ochre Malden which I use for my journal and I really love it.

So I came across a pocket size at a good price (Hi Candi) and I made the move.

No fuss, no tears - I just decided.

The metal divider tabs from Jim Holtz

I had in mind the style and look I wanted - Rustic, semi-Victoriana, Cotton-cream paper, black ink and a metal charm (Yes - everyone - here's a male who wants a charm!)

Did I mention it has a wide, full length outside pocket for receipts?

The single pen loop was a come down from the double one I was used to, but as long as I could use my Coleto 4 colour pen I was happy. The loop on the Pocket Malden was ridiculously small but I made sure I could stretch it and soon the Coleto had a new home. For THAT adventure see the previous blog entry - I am sure you'll enjoy it!

Two Moleskines and a WO2P Insert (from above)

I decided that I was sick of carrying around all the stuff I hardly ever used - so I made a list of what I REALLY needed. It came down to something very simple:

A Week on Two Pages Calendar 

A place to write TODO lists

A place to write down thoughts

A place to write notes on what I did during the day

A pen

and THAT's IT!!!

It is quite thin - not too stuffed!

I was shocked as well!

But really - all I needed on a day-to-day basis was the above.

Everything else I could place on my desk or in my drawer for when I needed it.

I had to streamline - but that small list seemed ridiculous!

My Steam Punk Fly leaf - sets the rustic tone and look.

I searched around for the right inserts.

I found the Filofax Pocket just that too thin and small.

I tried some out.

It didn't work.

My mini dashboard with a few essentials
and my own designed tri-fold calendar

I ended up cutting a Debden Vauxhall Week-To-View printed diary in cotton cream. I had the nice man at Officeworks cut it down at the spine and then drill the 6 holes I needed for it to fit.

The other sections were going to be written in two Pocket Moleskine Cahiers ruled journals (also holed for me). And that was it.

The week at a glance - it is small but manageable
(plus page turner)

I made a few laminated dividers using Steam punk Card stock and I made some page turners from a clear plastic folder cut down and topped with some very rustic looking metal tabs from Jim Holtz Ideaology range.

I added a shopping list to the front of the first Moleskine
(with washi tape)

I had some brown paper Post-it notes from eBay and smaller ones from BigW and a few highlighter thin sticky strips from Dizzy Moras. I also made my own three layered double sided horizontal calendars (July-December) based on my own A5 Calendar that I sell on Etsy. I printed them on light brown 120gsm Kraft Paper from Officeworks. They look great.

My Bullet Journal TODO list and note section
(with post-it and highlighter sticky)

I was nearly set up. I had successfully stretched the pen loop but realized that the large Coleto was not sitting properly and the pen clip was too high up. To accommodate this, I bought a plastic A5 J.Burrows Pen Holder Insert from Officeworks and cut it down and holed it to fit the Pocket. It sits better and the pen clasp secures the pen up higher and is easier to remove in a hurry - it is very plastic-looking, but as the title of this blog says - it is early days. I have plans to get a leather one done soon.

The plastic J.Burrows Pen holder I cut down.

The pages are small and I need to write small - but I am coping with it.

Another thing I noticed is that I am not keeping it ULTRA TIDY and NEAT like I was doing with the A5. This was annoying me a lot that I had to spend a lot of time keeping my Filofax so nice for everbody else to see, but in reality, I needed a quick, earthy binder to just jot things down and have it with me all day. No-one else was going to see it. It needed to be just a tool to get me organised - not a work of art.

Notes from the day which I use as reference when
journaling in my A5 Malden

So I moved in. Initially, on the advice of Steve Morton, I was going to use the A5 in tandem and leave that on my desk and carry the Pocket around and transfer things each night.

THAT farce lasted a week. 

I couldn't do it!

I had to just use one or the other.

so I dedicated myself to solely use the Pocket.

A scary but liberating thought.

A true Filofax!

So, you may be asking - 'Why a Pocket?"

Well - to be honest - I didn't think it would work.

I had tried using Personal sizes and didn't like the look or feel of them at all.

Then I saw a Pocket size in a Thrift shop.

a deep, leathery binder the same size as a Filofax Pocket.

I liked how it felt in my hand.

it was strangely comfortable

it looked good.

I kinda liked it!

I just love the clip on the Maldens! Even the sound they make!

I set it up and then gave it away to a friend of mine.

but the memory stuck.

and then I found the pocket Malden.

and it was in Ochre.

I bit the bullet.

And bought one.

The colour and texture is like luxurious chocolate.

When it arrived and I opened the box, the smell and the feel of the Malden hooked me.

It just feels right in my hand.

it is light and easy to carry.

It looks good and is very earthy.

It holds everything I need.

The stitching is unique and makes it look interesting

The colour is rich and warm

a very manly binder.

The stitching is in great contrast to the 'antiqued' leather.

it is a pelasure to use and is working well for me

so far

it is early days

but 'fingers crossed'

it might be the beginning of a beautiful friendship!

My new best friend!