..what I have been working on for the San Diego County Fair.

So what is it?
       It is an educational display..

       It involves chasing and repousse.....

       IT IS AN EDUCATIONAL DISPLY ABOUT CHASING & REPOUSSE

The educational display will be part of the Gems, Minerals and Jewelry competitive exhibits.  I am entering  Class 68 Gems, Minerals, Fossils or Jewelry related educational exhibit.  An educational display fills an entire case that measures  45½” Wide by 24” High by 22½” Deep and I  have to fill it all. 
Last year, I entered the Calamari Cuff in Class 51: Constructed jewelry, all metal. Amateur. Which I won. 

Since then, I had been pondering what to enter this year - another cuff, a piece of jewelry with some cabs, maybe an educational display? Oh, around and around I went.  Finally I realized that many people do not know what chasing & repousse is; the educational display would be a great choice and then the planning started. And as usual, I got side tracked with classes with Valentine; new projects at work; weaving. 

When the fair entries opened in March, I had to make my decision - entry or no entry. I went for it; I was committed - would I have my name attached to an EMPTY display case; not me! I then called my friend BJ who has entered cases in this category before and so she could give me some good advice on how to set up the case and what NOT TO DO.   

During this time, I stared a document where I was gathering notes and images about my subject. I had sections on:

• Definitions of the Terms
• History
•  Tools & Equipment
• How to Do Chasing & Repousse
  
• Possible titles for the display

In early April, BJ and I met for brunch. I had, in advance of our meeting, sent her my *research document*. I figured that since she was not familiar with the technique, that if she could understand it, then my display was truly educational, different than anything I had seen before and possibly a winner.    We talked for almost three hours and came home very excited because she thought it was a great subject. 

I now had to get started. 

I gathered images of pieces, illustrating chasing & repousse through history. I started to build text panels explaining the tools and equipment; what the terms mean; and the steps  of the process. 

But most of all, I started to design and make the same piece 6 times, to illustrate the process: tracing the design, lining, repousse, and the final chasing. Yes, this is only four steps, but I needed extra just in case I made a mistake and to select the best of each step. That meant I had to trace 6 pieces;  then line 5 pieces; do the repousse on 4 pieces; and finally do the final lining and chasing on 3.   

In between all the copper pieces, I would work on the display which was set up in the dining room - I was refining the text, tweaking how the various items would be arranged. I also realized as I worked on the copper, that I could cut back the overall number of pieces of copper.  Yes, I had lined 5 pieces, but I only did the repousse on 3 and I only chased 1 - which has saved me quite a lot of time. 

And now I only have to do one more, final piece in Silver - this is what I am working on right now. 

So here is a teaser, just one picture showing the display only partly arranged and filled. 
To see the final display, you will have to go to the fair which opens on June 8th and run s through July 4th.  

All together now... RE-POUS-AYYYYYY, yeaaaaaaaaaaaa!Today I will be doing the repousse on the last copper piece.  Then I can do the chasing.   After I finish that I have to do ONE MORE piece but that will be in Silver.It will be just a bit more time before I reveal what I a working on for the fair, but I think you will be impressed with the amount of effort that has gone into this.