How could it possibly compete with a slim, pretty telephone complete with a digital notepad, an unlimited contact directory, an appointment calendar with alerts? I placed it on the “out” side of my in/out basket and never looked back.

Until recently. Last week my friend, Ro, sent me a link to galadarling’s blog post about falling in love her Filofax all over again. Well…what can I say? She brought back all the memories of why I loved my Filofax in the first place. And then I really started feeling guilty about how I had dumped her for something new and shiny.

So last night I reunited with her. As I opened her well worn red leather cover, I remembered the hours I spent filling in my address book in small fine print. I remembered getting excited when I found the small plastic zippered pockets to hold receipts, fortunes from cookies, and magazine clippings. And hat little 5″ ruler that snapped into the six ring binder was always so helpful! The color choice for note paper that could be purchased ruled or solid…the search for the extra thin pen that fit perfectly in the leather loop at the clasp. And then losing that pen. So many memories.

No phone, regardless of the number of features and apps, can really replace the tactile experience of a well-worn Filofax. It doesn’t require “service”, it doesn’t require you to press enter to save, its photos can be handed to a friend to touch and look on the reverse for the name and date. It holds your drivers license and credit cards, replacing the need for a wallet.

I’m excited to see what new accessories I can find to rev up my little red Filofax and put it back in use. Off to filofaxusa for more inspiration! Thanks, Ro, for reminding me that some things just can’t be replaced.

My latest project is developing a small shaded space in the backyard that is closer to the back door. I’m trying to create the feeling of walking out the back door and into a comfortable sitting area. Right now…when you walk out our back door there are sidewalks to the alley and garage. On the right is a wrought iron gated pool and on the left there’s a huge expanse of grass. I made a little garden against the back wall and have some garden seating established there under a big pepper tree. But I don’t like that you have to walk across the grass to get to a place to sit down. And who needs a big backyard full of grass to water and mow?

We’ve had a dead olive tree for quite a while and last year I started a climbing vine .. thinking of the tree as a natural arbor. Yesterday I had the dead-est areas of the top limbs removed and am left with four tallish, sawed off clumps. Not exactly what I had in mind. So….I’m considering the idea of using one or two of the limb stumps to stabilize a canopy of some sort. That would solve the shade part and incorporate the tree as a focal point. How about a bench encircling part of the tree base?

The first photo shows the view out the back door. The second is from the garden area looking toward the house.

Honestly, I’m not sure where to go next with this. Any thoughts?

Thinking. Pondering. Re-imagining.

I love my studio space and am thinking about ways to redefine it. It’s planned around designing and sewing clothes. The sewing part continues to intrigue me but the fashion is no longer a part of the plan. (Except for a few special customers who I’m happy to work with.)

Yesterday I placed my remaining garments in zip-up bags and want to cover the rolling rack with some kind of protective yet decorative cover. So that’s my first project. Then my son, Kevin, needed his television stand back which housed all of my trim bins under the table. They need to be reorganized and that’s my second project.

Overall, I’m thinking about a larger table in the middle (to invite friends for creative fun?) and another way to utilize the dividing (hiding?) folding screen.

We’ll see what I come up with.

For my guestroom window treatments, I’m using 32 scarves- most of them with travel themes- and sewing them together patchwork style. Each window will have two panels and some kind of a topper, either a valance or swag. I’ll be putting purchased sheers behind them to protect them from the direct sun. I’m thinking about sewing the patchwork scarves directly to the panels rather than just layering them in front. Still thinking about that.