When I decided to do this display case for the San Diego County Fair, I knew it would time consuming but I had no idea how much time it would really take.
But, as my father taught me, if you are going to do something, do it well.
In other words, don't do it half assed!
In mid-March I contacted my friend BJ, who has done cases at the fair before, and she lent me her case liners. I set them up on my dining room table so as I worked on the sample pieces and started to type up the text, I could see it all come together. This is the first picture of the display. As you can see it is some hammers, tools, pieces I made, and a few text panels.
But, as my father taught me, if you are going to do something, do it well.
In other words, don't do it half assed!
In mid-March I contacted my friend BJ, who has done cases at the fair before, and she lent me her case liners. I set them up on my dining room table so as I worked on the sample pieces and started to type up the text, I could see it all come together. This is the first picture of the display. As you can see it is some hammers, tools, pieces I made, and a few text panels.
Start of the Display
Then as I started to finish the samples, I added them and more items I made and printed out some pictures of repousse through history....
Start Placing Items
I then added some risers and used my web color guide to find a good color that would coordinate well with the beige/fleshy color of the liners. Once the risers were made and covered I started to play with the arrangement and text that would explain it all.
Add Risers and Start Arranging
I trimmed down the text more and shrunk the over all size of each text/image page. I purchased some glasses to hold the tools and put wedges behind the copper samples. This image is the layout I thought I would go with but BJ was on her way over to do a look-see and appraisal.
(Almost) Final Layout
This is the aftermath of the appraisal with BJ, we discussed flow, eye focus, typos and word changes, a few more risers and the final printing.
Appraisal Changes
After the appraisal, I printed it all again and worked on the positioning of each piece. A few more typos were corrected and sentences changed. The pedestal risers were made but had to be covered.
Almost Done
Then the final printed could start. I did this on photo paper so the colors would be more vibrant and give a more professional look. I did one final change to the title banner and bought smaller glasses to hold the tools. All I had left to do was break it down and take it to the fair.
Final Layout
This is the final and I mean final setup. It took 3 hours to do. I found out during my packing last night that the back and bottom panels were switched and the left and right panels were rotated by 90 degrees. So when I got the fair I had to un-pin and re-pin everything. Then because the case has light in the top and that large top border in the front blocks the top 5", everything on the back and side panels had to be moved down. Once the back items had been down, the finished pieces on the pedestals on back riser now blocked a good amount of text. So all those items had to move and I removed one finished piece.
It's Really, Really Done!
The case has now been locked and will remain this way until July 5th, when I go back to take it all out and home again. The judging will be on Tuesday and I will know how I did by the weekend. I have spent over 150 hours on this but I think it is fantastic and when you go to the fair and see it, you can say "I KNOW WHO DID THIS!".
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