Nicola Black
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nicolablack.bsky.social
Nicola Black
@nicolablack.bsky.social
550 followers 380 following 2K posts
Design, history, knitting, genealogy, gardening, hiking, self-employment, cooking, baking, outdoors.

👩🏻‍💻Ethical Creative Director & Design Strategist: https://nicolablack.com
🚀Community: https://joinwip.com
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nicolablack.bsky.social
Soooo good. OMG. Ice cream is coming, but had to try it while I wait.
Some apple crumble in a white bowl sans ice cream - which is coming, but just a taste while I wait. 😉
November 12, 2025 at 1:46 AM
nicolablack.bsky.social
Made some interesting hand pie type things with some extra pizza dough. They aren’t very pretty, but they taste nice. 👍
Four hand pies cooling on a rack. Cross section of chicken filled hand pie, cut in half and stacked on a white plate.
November 11, 2025 at 10:23 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
Looking forward to a cozy week at Work in Progress (www.joinwip.com). With hibernation season around the corner, I'm SO grateful for my coworkers at WIP. Having access to this intimate crew keeps me on track with my work goals when I'm in "not leaving the house" mode. ❄️👩‍💻☕
Graphic for events happening this week at Work In Progress! There is a list of event titles, dates, and times. At the top is the Work In Progress checkmark logo. The text of the graphic says: Monday, Nov. 10 • 2-3pm ET • Accountability Group Meeting Tuesday, Nov. 11 • 10am-12:30pm • Coworking w/Kara Wednesday, Nov. 12• 10am-12:30pm • Coworking w/Kara Thursday, Nov. 13 • 1-3pm ET • Coworking w/Nicola Friday, Nov. 14 • 4-5pm ET • Create & Play w/Nicola The above is a list of prescheduled events for the week. There may be additional impromptu sessions and events throughout. Lite Members may add Core events a la carte. Apply to join us at: JoinWIP(dot)com is at the bottom of the graphic in a black box.
November 10, 2025 at 3:50 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
This icon has me feeling excited. Initiated cozy mode. ❄️🫖
Screenshot from a weather app for Monday and Tuesday. There are two snow icons with 70% and 75% chance.
November 9, 2025 at 8:44 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
He’s taking good care of me today. ❤️
A small, black-and-white rat terrier/chihuahua asleep on me.
November 8, 2025 at 12:01 AM
nicolablack.bsky.social
Parked on the couch after putting together a vat of chicken noodle soup to get me over this dumb cold. 🍲
Me, sitting on the couch, under a blanket, holding a hot bowl of chicken noodle soup. There is a tablet on the back of the couch and a small black-and-white pup interested in my soup.
November 7, 2025 at 4:23 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
Now that we’re back on standard time, our 5pm walk is a dark and moody walk. Cool air, wind, and rain. Just the perfect amount of spooky. 👻
Ollie, a black-and-white rat terrier/chihuahua mix on a dark, wet road. He’s walking on a leash with his human.
November 3, 2025 at 10:30 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
It's always good starting the week off with my WIP Accountability group. I got most of my list finished last week, but after a rough Friday, a few things slipped through the cracks. Seeing what I can do to squash em today! Here's what's happening at joinwip.com this week:
Graphic for events happening this week at Work In Progress! There is a list of event titles, dates, and times. At the top is the Work In Progress checkmark logo. The text of the graphic says: Monday, Nov. 3 • 2-3pm ET • Accountability Group Meeting Tuesday, Nov. 4 • 2-4pm ET • Coworking w/Nicola Thursday, Nov. 6 • 1-3pm ET • Coworking w/Nicola Friday, Nov. 7 • 10:30am-12:30pm ET • Coworking w/Nicola The above is a list of prescheduled events for the week. There may be additional impromptu sessions and events throughout. Lite Members may add Core events a la carte. Apply to join us at: JoinWIP(dot)com is at the bottom of the graphic in a black box.
November 3, 2025 at 5:03 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
I love my local library. How awesome is this "Repair Cafe" event?! 🛠️
Screenshot from email that says, "Have a broken lamp, torn clothing, or small appliance that's seen better days? Bring it by and let's fix it – together. Out team of skilled volunteer Repair Coaches will help you fix items for free. Kids can even tinker and create while you wait!"
November 3, 2025 at 3:42 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
This was delicious! 😋
Chicken parm in a baking dish. Melted mozzarella and marinara surrounding perfectly crisp chicken breast.
November 2, 2025 at 10:19 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
Another dramatically lit boule. The light in the kitchen at this time of day is 😍.
A dramatically lit, fresh-baked, round loaf of bread on a cooling rack.
November 2, 2025 at 8:56 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
This guy is the most popular pup. He’s over the moon to see all his friends coming to his house to see him. ❤️ He’s LOVING Halloween.
Ollie, the best and most popular guy in the neighborhood, wearing his skeleton Halloween costume.
October 31, 2025 at 11:24 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
It's taken me longer than usual to get into spooky mode, but when this spooky eye emerged after experimenting with acryla gouache (something I'm having a bit of fun with), I made this graphic for Mischief Night! New Jersey knows. 😈
A scary red/yellow eye coming through green fur, painted in acryla gouache, accompanied by text that says, "New Jersey... It's Mischief Night!" Design and illustration by Nicola Black.
October 30, 2025 at 4:52 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
It's a boule! A dramatically lit boule. ☀️🍞
A fresh-baked, round loaf of bread on a cooling rack. It's very dramatically lit by a blast of sunshine through the window.
October 28, 2025 at 8:26 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
I've been experimenting with acryla gouache as part of my intention to play & explore more. I sit down in the AM for about 15-30 mins at a time and paint something like these no pressure Autumn/Halloween themed objects. Whatever I feel like. It's been a lot of fun exploring a new medium! 🎨
A sheet of 300lb cold pressed watercolor paper with random items painted. There's a square jack-o-lantern, a leaf, two helicopters, and a scary red eye from what looks to be some sort of green creature.
October 27, 2025 at 4:19 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
Getting the work week started with my friends at Work in Progress! 🥳 Today, I get to meet with my Accountability Group (one of my favorite parts of the week). It's always good to hear what everyone is doing and how things are going with their goals. Happy Monday, friends!
Graphic for events happening this week at Work In Progress! There is a list of event titles, dates, and times. At the top is the Work In Progress checkmark logo. The text of the graphic says: Monday, Oct. 27 • 2-3pm ET • Accountability Group Meeting Tuesday, Oct. 28 • 10-12:30pm ET • Coworking w/Kara Wednesday, Oct. 29 • 10am-12:30pm ET • Coworking w/Kara Thursday, Oct. 30 • 2-4pm ET • Coworking w/Nicola Friday., Oct. 31 • 2-3pm ET • Ask a Visual Designer – Office Hours w/Nicola Black The above is a list of prescheduled events for the week. There may be additional impromptu sessions and events throughout. Lite Members may add Core events a la carte. Apply to join us at: JoinWIP(dot)com is at the bottom of the graphic in a black box.
October 27, 2025 at 2:02 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
Made a pizza to share with @makinaro.com. It was good.
A freshly-baked homemade pizza with sauce, cheese, and Kalamata olives on a well used pan.
October 26, 2025 at 6:17 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
A very cute Ollie on his morning walk. ☀️🐶
A small, black-and-white dog on a leash. He is enjoying his morning walk while he wears his purple hoodie.
October 26, 2025 at 12:46 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
Last one. A moody lake scene. Clearly heavily edited, but… colors.
Scene from the edge of a lake. There are rocks and brush, leaves and grass in the foreground. The sky is filled with moody clouds. It was drizzling.
October 25, 2025 at 6:23 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
I know, I know. They’re just leaves, but… aaaahhhhh!
Various colored (yellow, brown, orange, red, green) fallen leaves on asphalt path.
October 25, 2025 at 6:23 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
View along the path. 😍 I’ve edited these to punch it up. I couldn’t help but play with these colors and scenery.
View of a path to the right of a grassy area covered with fallen leaves. There are orange trees in the distance and a lake to the right.
October 25, 2025 at 6:23 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
More colors for a long afternoon walk. 🍂
Yellow, orange, green, and red leaves on a tree.
October 25, 2025 at 6:23 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
On our morning walk, today, there were some beautiful colors to see. 🍂
A shot of a tree with orange leaves. Fallen leaves, of various earth tones, in a patch of green grass. Another shot of the orange leaved tree. A fuller shot of the striking orange tree!
October 25, 2025 at 1:38 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
That's so cool! I am a fan of Penelope Dullaghan's work as well. She was very kind to me, back in the day. She answered an email I sent to her about web design (I was learning and was so inspired by her as a fellow illustrator). I also picked up this print of hers. An art retreat sounds amazing!
A square print by Penelope Dullaghan of a woman on a chair in a black and grey print dress. She holds a red umbrella and is in the top left corner of the piece. In the bottom right are two additional umbrellas.
October 21, 2025 at 4:06 PM
nicolablack.bsky.social
Enjoyed a morning turkey bacon butty on one of my tall, home made morning rolls. 🥓🍞
A tall morning roll with some turkey bacon (and cheese) on a white plate with a napkin.
October 21, 2025 at 1:07 PM