I have been absolutely bursting to write this all day today! This morning I was rushing to get ready for work when the postie arrived at 6.45am with my parcel! I was already running late but just couldn’t contain myself. I opened the parcel at the speed of sound, almost wept with joy when I saw the contents and then had to shoot off to work.
I have now attempted to reassemble the parcel so that I can do a reveal. It reminds me of the British king who was beheaded and buried before the Court realized that they did not have a portrait of him. They then had to dig him up, put his head back on and paint his portrait afterwards. This was a MUCH happier occasion though…
Look at those gorgeous stamps! Loving the bunny!Gorgeous thin plastic with gold floral patternLook at this lovely box! The ribbon was more beautifully tied before I opened it. The gorgeous little heart tag is made of leather. I now have it hanging on my binder
I love this tag and how it perfectly matches the ribbon.
Tissue paper in shades of greenLittle lacy bags full of tabs and stickers
Little plastic lacey bags containing tags, plastic dividers, a gorgeous thick plastic flyleaf/today marker which I am going to use as my dashboard.First glimpse – look at that colour! And the texture!
You can choose different shapes for the hardware – stars, hearts, diamonds or flowers. I chose flowers. Each binder is made completely by hand with no machine being involved at all. There are more than 22 parts to each binder.Is that not utterly stunning?Look at the gorgeous detailing!
You can choose between a tassel without a charm (so you can use it as a bookmark) or one with a charm. I chose one with a charm and I am so pleased with it – a coppery gold leather flower.Akiko had written a tiny card and a little letter for me. Both with cats on. We both love cats!Lacey envelope containing a teeny weeny business cardSmall little noteThis pocket is lined in gold leatherQimmis peony year plannerQimmis Cupcake insertsLavender Filofax PaperI am using the box for all my accoutrements for the binder – spare rulers, pages, calculator, stationery, paper punch etc. Peeping out of the bottom right is the little kitten bookmark Nati sent me a few weeks ago. I love it!A gorgeous label on the box the binder came in
Now for the next thing—– I was not sure how this was going to turn out but it ended up brilliantly. I had seen these in Akiko’s shop and loved them. I was not sure it would work for the purpose I had in mind but it did it did it did!
Beautifully wrappedWell, it looked better before I ripped it to shreds this morning!A gorgeous metallic turquoise leather miniature purse with keyring and clasp. The ladybird was a special touch by Akiko which I love!Look how perfectly made it is with gorgeous lining and filled with turquoise tissue paper1This purse will hold all my stationery for the binder – my Edwardian Commemorative pencil from 1900, spare leads, a lead pointer to sharpen it, and a rubber. My rulers are in the binder.Look how nicely everything fits in! The pencil slides onto the keyring and the glass top matches the purse perfectly
I just have to say thank you to Akiko for this beautiful binder. She promised to save me a piece of this leather a year ago and make me a binder with it when she had time. And she kept her promise. She is an absolute sweetheart to deal with and her packaging, presentation, communication and delivery are outstanding.
Akiko is extremely talented; I purchased one of her more subdued brown croco designs late last year and it is one of those rare binders that you MAKE a use for, as you NEED to use it, because it is SO WONDERFUL. It’s so tactile and the size is very comfortable (I found filofax pockets tended to be on the large size). The quality is undeniable and the thought of a woman stitching these unique pieces herself makes the binder much more special.
Gourrrrrrgeous! And the box! All the details! Lovely and classy. I mostly use personal and A5 but I have a few pocket sizes. I mostly used them as wallets. But recently I set up a pocket that duplicated my personal and it works! I’m not an over stuffer anyway but was surprised that the smaller pocket rings worked. I left out a few unnecessary inserts but for the most part everything fit. I love, love my personals. But I just find holding and throwing a pocket size in my handbag so much fun! The smaller writing space hasn’t been an issue so far. I’ve been looking at her binders for over a year…
*Shrieks excitedly*. I’ve been waiting all day for you to get home from work and post the pix!
OMG, that is soooooooo beautiful! I want to reach out and touch it …
I just adore Akiko’s work. I have one of hers already, and am waiting for the sparkly grey to arrive (it was a hard choice between that and the powder green one).
I have one of the purses and have been dribbling unbecomingly over a couple of others.
I have never had such a long day, I can tell you! I just wanted to feel it and gloat over it and set it up and write about it and thank her but I was stuck at work all day. I just utterly love it!
She promised me a year ago to make me a violet binder, and she was true to her word. What a woman!
Wow stunning!!!!!
Akiko is extremely talented; I purchased one of her more subdued brown croco designs late last year and it is one of those rare binders that you MAKE a use for, as you NEED to use it, because it is SO WONDERFUL. It’s so tactile and the size is very comfortable (I found filofax pockets tended to be on the large size). The quality is undeniable and the thought of a woman stitching these unique pieces herself makes the binder much more special.
Ooh, so pretty! Even the packaging is beautiful, never mind the planner! So much effort gone into that whole package.
Gourrrrrrgeous! And the box! All the details! Lovely and classy. I mostly use personal and A5 but I have a few pocket sizes. I mostly used them as wallets. But recently I set up a pocket that duplicated my personal and it works! I’m not an over stuffer anyway but was surprised that the smaller pocket rings worked. I left out a few unnecessary inserts but for the most part everything fit. I love, love my personals. But I just find holding and throwing a pocket size in my handbag so much fun! The smaller writing space hasn’t been an issue so far. I’ve been looking at her binders for over a year…
I am so happy with it! Can definitely recommend!
Wonderful work, and great photos!
Beautiful!
that is the most gorgeous, beautiful thing I’ve ever seen!!!!! Why have I never heard of this before????
i can’t believe how beautiful everything is. The colors are just then best!
I have always wanted one of her binders but I don’t use pocket size. They are fantastic!
That’s got to be the most beautiful binder ever. I’m so jealous.
WOW! Absolutely gorgeous!! The planner, the purse, the insides, the box…everything.
I too am dribbling on the keyboard :),
*Shrieks excitedly*. I’ve been waiting all day for you to get home from work and post the pix!
OMG, that is soooooooo beautiful! I want to reach out and touch it …
I just adore Akiko’s work. I have one of hers already, and am waiting for the sparkly grey to arrive (it was a hard choice between that and the powder green one).
I have one of the purses and have been dribbling unbecomingly over a couple of others.
She is so talented and so lovely to deal with.
I have never had such a long day, I can tell you! I just wanted to feel it and gloat over it and set it up and write about it and thank her but I was stuck at work all day. I just utterly love it!
She promised me a year ago to make me a violet binder, and she was true to her word. What a woman!
Waaaaah, the agony!
She is a total sweetheart …