“Art Of The Jewel” Was In Full Bloom With An Array Of Gems For The Dallas Museum Of Art League

After the past year’s stop-and-go-and-stop-and-finally scheduling, the Art In Bloom fundraiser to benefit the Dallas Museum of Art was taking place. Even the whispers of sleet couldn’t stop the guests from heading to the Dallas Museum of Art League’s lecture and seated luncheon on Monday, March 7.

Doffing furry coats and pashminas, the ladies were greeted by a check-in on the right of the concourse and to the left the Hamon’s Atrium was gloriously blooming with faux cherry blossoms and tables covered in burgundy tablecloths surrounded by chairs with a gift — a book by the day’s speaker, jewelry artisan Paula Crevoshay.

While some posed for photos opps under the arbor of cherry blossoms, the Circle Of Gems (aka generous supporters like Dianne Adleta, Barbara Bigham, Meghan Boyett, Ann Brookshire, Regina Bruce, Susan Foot Burke, Nancy Lieberman, Penny Loyd, Christine McKenny, Debbie Heller Myers and Carla Russo) were in the Horchow Auditorium green room being decked out in Paula’s handiwork.

As Louise Griffeth, Rusty Duvall, Sue McCoy, Linda Ivy, Renee Winter, Anne Nixon, Di Johnston, Dian Moore, Becky Bright, Dana Moore, Donna Weitzman, Pat Pace, Beverly Freeman, Carol Resnick, artist Rosi Roth and DMA League President Jan Clay and President-Elect Tara Freeman with her son Benton Freeman checked in, Paula’s husband Martin Bell was seen arriving and heading straight through the crowd with an old retailer’s shopping bag. One person asked, “I thought that store hadn’t been around for a while. What’s up?” Who knows? But one jewel-loving type hinted, “Wanna bet there are some of Paula’s trinkets in the ‘Works’?”

But before the question of the bag went any farther, the chimes calling the guests to the auditorium were rung.

While the Horchow can hold 400, it quickly became obvious that the organizers’ expectations of 240 guests was way too low as the rows of seats filled, with the front row reserved for the Gems. Even late arrivals found themselves searching for seats only to settle for chairs in the back of the room.

Event Chair Sila Grogan and Co-Chair Pat McDonough welcomed the crowd, recognized Honorary Chair Peggy Sewell and thanked the top sponsors —Title Sponsor Lone Star Monarchs, Presenting Sponsor The Adleta Corporation and Debbie Heller Myers and others.

Following an introduction of Paula by Title Sponsor Lone Star Monarchs Co-Founder Carla Russo, Paula presented a slide show on how nature inspired much of her work.

Following her presentation, Paula introduced each of the Gems explained how she had selected the jewelry according to their skin tones and personalities.

Barbara, who has been a longtime Paula fan, couldn’t resist but mic bombing the presentation by telling the ladies that “When you wear Paula’s jewelry you look 10 lbs lighter and 15 years younger.”

In closing the presentation with Susan Burke, Paula added that she would be the only Gem who would be wearing her earrings at the luncheon. It would give guests an even closer look before it went up for bidding at the live auction.

Following the program, guests adjourned to the Atrium looking like a garden setting thanks to Garden Gate’s Junior Villanueva and Decoration Chair Stacey McCord. Taking their places at the assigned tables, lunch was served including a first course of artisan spring mix greens with blood orange wedge, candied pecans, sun dried cherries and goat cheese service with a raspberry chipotle vinaigrette and garnished with a purple and white edible flower, followed by a duet entrée of petite herb crusted Angus beef filet paired with pan seared halibut served with a coffee vanilla beurre blanc on a bed of roasted vegetable orzo topped with grilled green asparagus.

During dessert (a trio of a mini passion fruit bomb, a gold dusted strawberry champagne mini bundt cake and a pistachio macaron sprinkled with colorful candied gems), the fundraising continued with Heritage Auction’s auctioneer Samantha Robinson coordinating a live auction and a raffle drawing.

For more looks at the guests and “Gems,” check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.