It was Ken’s Birthday today and we did celebrate it! But it’s just another day in Steidlville so we spent the day working on making edits to the new layout. It’s a different looking book but a great improvement we think. It is all an amazing whirlwind of activity. There are still 3 teams in various phases of getting their books finished. We are all working together in the top floor of the building.
We jockey for working space, time with the designers, and try to figure out if we have any time to run an errand. We are all expected to be here so that when any of the production or printing staff needs us we are available. It is necessary because we are usually only here for a week at a time and it has to run on schedule as the Germans are so great at doing. And then there are the Lagerfield or Chanel jobs that come in and take precedent over all of us, as they pay the bills!
Our friendships with the other teams are multiplying. We met a new person today–Robert Polidori http://www.robertpolidori.com/ and his wife and daughter. We went out to dinner for Ken’s birthday to Gephard’s Restaurant and Hotel and as soon as we sat down, we recognized Robert from meeting him at Steidl today. They are really fun! They insisted that we join them at their table and we’re so glad we did! We had a long and rich conversation. Afterwards we ran into Lunetta at the ATM and then we walked home together. She was on her way back to work on her project.
It’s been super hot here, in the upper 90s. The trains were affected and running an hour late (they are never late!), and the worst thing was that the press was down. The big print runs for Chanel, Fendi and Lagerfeld were stopped! And then of course Lunetta and Josh’s book was stopped! Steidl and the printing crew were still there when we came back from dinner at around 10 last night. We don’t know yet how late they were up working.
Today, unbelievably, is our last day of work. We have to get all the photos placed before we go. It will be sad to leave this dear place.
We are constantly stopping to appreciate the quality of German engineering. Just looking at the windows, the way they can open two ways. It’s ingenious! We could go on and on. We will add more about that later! Gotta go!
