Paula’s Restaurant and the Oak Room in Cookeville will be hosting a gem of a sale from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4, to benefit the Appalachian Center for Craft.

Thousands of gemstones will be available at wholesale prices to the public, and admission is free.

The event, sponsored by The Art Store Café, is a fundraiser for the Craft Center’s artist in residence program, which has recently received a $100,000 Challenge Grant. To meet the challenge, the Craft Center is required to raise $100,000 as well.

“The Appalachian Center for Craft’s artist in residence program brings exceptional emerging artists to live and work at the Craft Center,” says Ward Doubet, director of the Craft Center.

“These artists improve our university programs, workshop programs, outreach experiences for K-12 students and all of the Craft Center’s regional community events, and this challenge grant will help make the program bigger and better,” he says.

So far, the Craft Center has raised about 35 percent of the funds needed to meet the goal.

In addition to being able to buy gorgeous gemstones at wholesale prices, shoppers at the gem sale will also be able to enter an hourly “Win a Gem” door prize drawing from noon until 7 p.m. (One entry per person will be accepted, and the person must be present to win.)

Jewelry consultants will be on site to answer questions about the stones and options for creating a variety of jewelry pieces, from commercial settings to one-of-a-kind designs, and security will be on site to safeguard the entire inventory of gems that will be for sale.

Paula’s will be serving a menu of appetizers that will be available for purchase that day as well. The restaurant is located at 120 W. First St., at the corner of First and Oak Streets.

“The gemstone sale is an opportunity not to be missed,” says Jane Dudney Roberts, promotions and development manager at the Craft Center. “The event will feature a huge inventory of unique stones with a wide range of cuts and sizes at truly amazing prices.”

Purchases can be made with cash, check and Visa, MasterCard or Discover credit cards. No American Express or debit cards will be accepted.

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