After working for years as a real estate appraiser, Michelle Conely realized that she was ready for a change in careers. Always having a creative side that she never fully explored, Michelle
decided to start making her own jewelry that combined antique design with her own artsy flair. She began making earrings and necklaces under the label of Vint Design. As she entered the local art scene, Michelle began meeting groups of talented artists from North Carolina that shared her passion for creativity. She worked for a while in big box art store in Wilmington that featured local artists as well as generic prints from around the world. It bothered Michelle that these local artists were not getting the attention that they deserved, and when she moved back to her hometown of Raleigh, she set out to create a store to showcase local artists exclusively.
With the help of some of her artist friends she had met through shows and the community, Michelle opened up Going Local NC to accomplish her goal of creating a space solely for local artists. Her store features a little bit of everything, ranging from jewelry, paintings, pottery, and photography. For this year’s Boutique Blowout, Going Local NC will be taking six of their featured local artist to the event: Zzesty’s Creations, maker of beautiful floral gifts, Nutt House Pottery, creator of handmade clay and ceramic pieces, Trice’s Treasure’s by the sea, producer of beach themed decorations, Mama Bear’s Baby Beads, designer of beautiful necklaces that are baby teething safe, The Butler Did it, creator of unique book art, and Wicks for Wags, maker of handmade candles that help support animals in need. We are so excited to see all Going Local NC has to offer at this year’s Boutique Blowout!
