Amy Pryor

1 week ago | thelaurelofasheville.com | Amy Pryor

Gray clouds hung heavy as I prepared to sit down with Nina. An artist, yes—but more than that, she’s a listener of material, a translator of energy and a living embodiment of resilience. Perhaps the heavy clouds embodied the rollercoaster of emotions I was about to hear first-hand. Her journey into clay and copper, into jewelry and music, is not just a creative pursuit but a spiritual one—rooted in healing, self-trust and the willingness to begin again.

2 weeks ago | thelaurelofasheville.com | Amy Pryor

By Lauren SteppIn June of 1909, North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Heriot Clarkson stood atop Grassy Mountain, a 3,800-foot peak straddling McDowell and Mitchell counties. As he surveyed the shadowed valleys and sweeping ridgelines of the Blue Ridge, the Charlotte man saw more than scenery—he saw potential. “This is the place,” Clarkson famously declared. Those four words would give rise to Little Switzerland, one of Western North Carolina’s most storied summer colonies.

2 weeks ago | thelaurelofasheville.com | Amy Pryor

Originally from Paducah, KY, Jean Stryker, owner of BlackBird Frame & Art, studied philosophy and fine art at Vanderbilt before spending a decade in Boston working for a financial company. She later pursued a medical career, earning a degree from Duke and working as a physician assistant in general surgery before transitioning into neurosurgery. After a few years away from work, Jean rediscovered her passion for painting and first encountered BlackBird through framing her own art.

2 weeks ago | thelaurelofasheville.com | Amy Pryor

Carolyn Ryden, the owner of delighted gift shop in downtown Asheville, has always had a passion for bringing beauty, humor and art into everyday life. Originally from Pasadena, CA, Ryden spent much of her life in the Los Angeles area, where she cultivated her love for creativity and unique finds. “I’ve always loved searching shops for affordable little bits of beauty and cheer,” she says.

2 weeks ago | thelaurelofasheville.com | Amy Pryor

In September, Sweeten Creek Antiques & Collectibles will celebrate 20 years serving Asheville in its location at the edge of Biltmore Village. Owner Veronica Kattermann is an Asheville native and returned to her hometown after graduating from UNC-Greensboro. “I grew up immersed in the world of antiquing and thrifting,” she says. “It’s more than a business to me—it is a deeply rooted way of life. I believe antiquing is the original green industry.