Page created on: 29 May 2026
Project Admin and Mobile Office
I have many live projects at any one time and need to be able to gather up the material between actively working on designs. I also generate a lot of idea chunks on small pieces of paper. Up to now I tended to have a number of boards with spreads on them and various slash pockets, booklets and whatnot. All this can got a bit out of hand, so I came up with a few ideas to tame all those notes. Some are inspired by the Traveler's Notebook, the EverBook (especially Boss Leather version) and the Kokuyo Systemic Cover to name but a few. Some of these items also allow me to work on parts of the design away from home - in the garden or at the end of the track waiting for a delivery.
There are more ideas in the pipeline, so here are just the latest additions to my new system.
The Slip Clamp
The latest variation on my slip holders is a massive improvement on the more time consuming and clunky way I made them before. This upgrade is making use of the very versatile lamination pouch. The principle is based on the transparent strips in stamp albums. I cut strips of the material, crease the edge to form a lip which aids insertion of the paper, and run a soldering iron with low temperature setting along the edge to attach the pockets. I used to use a small travel clothes iron until it gave up its spirit. More details to follow with images and tips on how to do that. All the items on this page have these slip holding strips on or in them.
Accordion Note Tamer
These accordions are made from a very strong Kraft paper. The number of leaves depends on the size of the paper to include that will fit on a 60cm strip - the width of the roll. For larger paper, where I want more leaves than possible with the roll width I just extend by gluing another strip of paper to the first. The pockets are formed by simply folding up the bottom edge and glueing the ends only. The accordion folds hold the pockets closed at their sides.
This mini accordion is sized for small notes utilising the blank back of the stubs of unsold raffle tickets, of which I have thousands, gifted to me some time ago. They are about A8 size, but a little wider. Also suitable for random slips of paper. Closely related notes go in one pocket. The accordion can be viewed like a booklet or pulled open to get an overview of all the content. Individual note are titled themselves, and stacks of notes are labeled with a strip of sticky note. The cover has a slip clamp for a label and a mini note at the bottom, such as a to-do note, next action or whatnot. These mini accordions are mostly used for writing projects where I gather related chunks in each pocket for storage, but break out these stacks into full view accordions (as below) or a spread to work on individually. Later the chunks are fused into sections, chapters etc. on larger paper. The principle is similar to the way some authors use index cards.
Similar to the above mini accordion with the ability to hold a staggered bunch of the small notes, a couple A7 notes or the larger ticket portion of the raffle ticket (a little longer than A7) in strip clamps. With anything larger I cheat by clamping the paper in the folds of the accordion.
EDC Jotter
This is the first of several folios that allow me to write or work remotely. This one is also based around the mini raffle stubs, made from an old hanging folder and Kraft paper, and lives in my pocket to jot down ideas as they happen when away from my desk. I can also take with me a to-do list for an outside job, or give someone my contact details. Small enough to live in a shirt or trowser pocket. It has a little writing board with a top and bottom strip clamp to hold the paper, a pocket for notes, strip clamps for mini notes that I can view as I open the cover. The middle panel has a bottom flap to stop any content, including the writing board, to drop out the bottom. Everything is secure from a gust of wind. And the crowning glory is the OHTO minimo mechanical pencil, a marvel of miniature engineering, which takes standard 0.5mm leads. The mini paper strips are to capture individual tasks. My day-to-day to-do list is mostly in the form of individual slips of paper I can re-order as needed. It avoids lots of crossed out items or having to re-write tasks.
Pocket Office
If I have to meet a delivery driver at the end of my impassable track access, I take a little pocket office which allows me to brainstorm ideas for some project whilst I wait. They are for A7 paper and have a bit more space and a mechanical pencil which is a bit easier to work with than the OHTO. Both are made like the pocket jotter. The green one came first, but I realised I didn't make it wide enough to take an A7 accordion, so I made the yellow one a bit wider for those occasions I would need to take an accordion. The green one is my favourite though. The pen/pencil loop is attached to the writing board. It is made of Kraft paper, with top and bottom folded over for double thickness, sandwiched between two pieces of cardboard. Here I use a Pilot Birdie mechanical pencil, also a small format pencil, but more difficult to obtain now in the pencil only version. There is a pencil and ballpoint pen duo available, the Birdie Switch, for about £12. Downside is, there is no eraser.
The green one has an insert with strip clamps to allow for a number of notes to be viewed fully as reference for example.
Used in landscape mode with additional notes on view.
Front flap is sized to drop in front of the pencil to reduce thickness.
Mobile Office
This one is for A5 material, again, like the above construction-wise, and similar in purpose to the pocket office. The writing board has strip clamps on three sides and can hold several smaller notes. It has centimetre and 5mm markings on all sides on an A5 frame for grid work like floor plans etc., and a faint grey centimetre grid. The pencil can be inserted from either end to access in landscape or portrait mode. Used like the pocket office for more extensive material, especially if I know the wait could be a bit longer than usual for a delivery (i.e. 2-3 hour slot instead of 1 hour), or if I want to work at the river bank for a scenic change. It allows me to take a break-out project folder. This "office" comes close to the EverBook cover inspired by Boss Leather with added protection, and viewability with the strip clamps.
The back of the writing board has a pocket with a strip of thick acetate (folder cover) for a straight edge. No need for a ruler, as I can use the board markings to measure. It also allows me to draw out three columns as I like to work in landscape on A5 and use columns for spacing. The thirds are also marked on the edge of the board.
The insert also acts as a pocket divider for tucking paper in front and behind.
Slim and narrow profile with space at top for pencil.
All four folders for size relationship. Flaps can be folded left over right or right over left, though the green one will be slimmer if folded right over left. The jotter benefits from the reverse, as the front inside panel will have notes with tasks, shopping list for local veg stand etc. for quick viewing.
Ideas for future editions
I view the mobile office folder also as a prototype for a master planner and Project headquarter. It will have fixed content in addition to removable folders and inserts and will be even more in line with the EverBook principle. Structurally, it will also have some kind of booklet holding device based on the Traveler's Notebook method, though it may be not elastic. It's still under development (as is this page). Once happy with a card prototype I will upgrade to a structurally more robust version using "washable paper" made of paper and latex. It is the same material as the leather like lables on jeans. The best known brand is Kraft-Tex, however, I found a cheaper one by Katia, sold on the Sweet Seams website.
There will also be individual project folders with dashboards based around a framework of standardised content.