Nicola Black
@nicolablack.bsky.social
Design, history, knitting, genealogy, gardening, hiking, self-employment, cooking, baking, outdoors.
👩🏻💻Ethical Creative Director & Design Strategist: https://nicolablack.com
🚀Community: https://joinwip.com
👩🏻💻Ethical Creative Director & Design Strategist: https://nicolablack.com
🚀Community: https://joinwip.com
Pinned
Nicola Black
@nicolablack.bsky.social
· Feb 18
Work in Progress applications are OPEN! 🥳 If you're running a one-person business and are looking for your people, this is for you! Apply today at www.joinwip.com
Reposted by Nicola Black
December 6, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Reposted by Nicola Black
It's already time! We must do the Thursday scream!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!
December 11, 2025 at 12:39 PM
It's already time! We must do the Thursday scream!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!
…but by 3:30pm I’m ready for a nap.
It's happened. I'm officially a morning person now. 🤷♀️
December 10, 2025 at 8:50 PM
…but by 3:30pm I’m ready for a nap.
Reposted by Nicola Black
Yuletide Borders, scanned by us from a 1960s Riscatype catalogue.
www.presentandcorrect.com/blogs/blog/y...
These were small lead units that would be arranged in a printing tray to create patterns etc.
www.presentandcorrect.com/blogs/blog/y...
These were small lead units that would be arranged in a printing tray to create patterns etc.
December 10, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Yuletide Borders, scanned by us from a 1960s Riscatype catalogue.
www.presentandcorrect.com/blogs/blog/y...
These were small lead units that would be arranged in a printing tray to create patterns etc.
www.presentandcorrect.com/blogs/blog/y...
These were small lead units that would be arranged in a printing tray to create patterns etc.
Reposted by Nicola Black
This is why hating and mocking AI relentlessly and publicly is vital work.
McDonald's has taken down a Christmas ad made with AI following online backlash
The company said the moment served as "an important learning" as it explored "the effective use of AI"
The company said the moment served as "an important learning" as it explored "the effective use of AI"
McDonald's pulls AI-generated Christmas advert following backlash
McDonald's said the moment served as "an important learning" as it explored "the effective use of AI".
www.bbc.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:45 PM
This is why hating and mocking AI relentlessly and publicly is vital work.
Reposted by Nicola Black
Folks, if you read one comic today, I hope it's this story about sperm as portrayed by your D&D party.
Written by Amber Dance and edited by @eva-emerson.bsky.social
Written by Amber Dance and edited by @eva-emerson.bsky.social
Journey to the egg: How sperm navigate the path to fertilization
COMIC: Male cells must survive twisty passages, strong currents and immune attacks; millions enter, but only one can finish
knowablemagazine.org
December 10, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Folks, if you read one comic today, I hope it's this story about sperm as portrayed by your D&D party.
Written by Amber Dance and edited by @eva-emerson.bsky.social
Written by Amber Dance and edited by @eva-emerson.bsky.social
Just finished going through & cleaning up a list of resources that we've been collecting via WIP for the past...5 years. 🤯 It's seeing collections like this and our Roundtable Repository that make me realize all of the great work we've done to make WIP a solid benefit for solopreneurs. Proud of it.
December 10, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Just finished going through & cleaning up a list of resources that we've been collecting via WIP for the past...5 years. 🤯 It's seeing collections like this and our Roundtable Repository that make me realize all of the great work we've done to make WIP a solid benefit for solopreneurs. Proud of it.
This sale ends Friday, 12/12/25! Solo small business friends, this is for you! If you've been thinking about joining us, now's the time. 25% off of your monthly membership. Fill out your application sooooon! www.joinwip.com
If you're a solo biz owner who's seen my WIP posts and thought, "oh, that sounds like a fun community!" I've got good news! We're running a Small Biz Saturday sale through 12/12/25. Save 25% on your membership with an approved application. 🥳 www.joinwip.com
Work In Progress - Community support for freelancers & creative solopreneurs
An online community of freelancers and creative solopreneurs/small business owners providing support, camaraderie, and accountability!
www.joinwip.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:09 PM
This sale ends Friday, 12/12/25! Solo small business friends, this is for you! If you've been thinking about joining us, now's the time. 25% off of your monthly membership. Fill out your application sooooon! www.joinwip.com
Reposted by Nicola Black
if there are kids in your life, show them mistakes. show them so many mistakes. show them the whiteout and eraser dust. show them silly sketches. draw silly sketches yourself. perfection doesn't exist. it never has. everyone has stories and our stories have always been enough
August 8, 2025 at 2:01 PM
if there are kids in your life, show them mistakes. show them so many mistakes. show them the whiteout and eraser dust. show them silly sketches. draw silly sketches yourself. perfection doesn't exist. it never has. everyone has stories and our stories have always been enough
Reposted by Nicola Black
In honor of BRAINS being the GRAND PRIZE WINNER for the MICE Mini-Grants, I have made it pay what you want on itch for the next week alexandragallant.itch.io/brains so you can snag a digital copy.
Print copies will be available to purchase in January!
Print copies will be available to purchase in January!
December 10, 2025 at 2:52 AM
In honor of BRAINS being the GRAND PRIZE WINNER for the MICE Mini-Grants, I have made it pay what you want on itch for the next week alexandragallant.itch.io/brains so you can snag a digital copy.
Print copies will be available to purchase in January!
Print copies will be available to purchase in January!
It's happened. I'm officially a morning person now. 🤷♀️
December 10, 2025 at 2:35 PM
It's happened. I'm officially a morning person now. 🤷♀️
My diner order (this makes me miss Stratford Diner in Stratford, NJ something fierce.) 😭:
Breakfast: 2 eggs over easy w/bacon. Hash browns w/fried onions - crispy please!
Lunch/dinner: chicken cheesesteak w/fried onions and a side of fries OR their Greek salad.
Dessert: cheesecake and coffee
Breakfast: 2 eggs over easy w/bacon. Hash browns w/fried onions - crispy please!
Lunch/dinner: chicken cheesesteak w/fried onions and a side of fries OR their Greek salad.
Dessert: cheesecake and coffee
Breakfast: maybe just a french toast, maybe the biggest breakfast order they have. Something that takes at least 2 plates.
Lunch/Dinner: Sometimes something interesting if they have something unique. Otherwise, fish and chips or a burger/chicken sandwich.
Lunch/Dinner: Sometimes something interesting if they have something unique. Otherwise, fish and chips or a burger/chicken sandwich.
What's your diner order?
Breakfast is corned beef hash, two dippy eggs and an English muffin. Side of scrapple if I'm home in Philly.
Lunch is triple decker club sandwich or BLT
Dinner is chicken fried steak and a baker, sour and butter, or mashed and gravy
Breakfast is corned beef hash, two dippy eggs and an English muffin. Side of scrapple if I'm home in Philly.
Lunch is triple decker club sandwich or BLT
Dinner is chicken fried steak and a baker, sour and butter, or mashed and gravy
December 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
My diner order (this makes me miss Stratford Diner in Stratford, NJ something fierce.) 😭:
Breakfast: 2 eggs over easy w/bacon. Hash browns w/fried onions - crispy please!
Lunch/dinner: chicken cheesesteak w/fried onions and a side of fries OR their Greek salad.
Dessert: cheesecake and coffee
Breakfast: 2 eggs over easy w/bacon. Hash browns w/fried onions - crispy please!
Lunch/dinner: chicken cheesesteak w/fried onions and a side of fries OR their Greek salad.
Dessert: cheesecake and coffee
As @makinaro.com and I wait for the plows to come through this morning, I showed him this. This is how Scotland does it. 😄
It's the most wonderful time of the year: Scotland's gritter tracker is back! 🏴❄️🧊
www.traffic.gov.scot/gritter-trac...
www.traffic.gov.scot/gritter-trac...
December 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
As @makinaro.com and I wait for the plows to come through this morning, I showed him this. This is how Scotland does it. 😄
This is by far my favorite work of @makinaro.com’s! I know I’m his partner, but the level of artistry and skill that these marks showcase is fucking magnificent. My mind is blown and I’m so proud of him. 👏
Folks, if you read one comic today, I hope it's this story about sperm as portrayed by your D&D party.
Written by Amber Dance and edited by @eva-emerson.bsky.social
Written by Amber Dance and edited by @eva-emerson.bsky.social
Journey to the egg: How sperm navigate the path to fertilization
COMIC: Male cells must survive twisty passages, strong currents and immune attacks; millions enter, but only one can finish
knowablemagazine.org
December 10, 2025 at 1:37 AM
This is by far my favorite work of @makinaro.com’s! I know I’m his partner, but the level of artistry and skill that these marks showcase is fucking magnificent. My mind is blown and I’m so proud of him. 👏
Reposted by Nicola Black
*neuron activation*
I was five when this went down, and I still remember the ridiculousness of it all.
People were literally flying out-of-state to Toys R Us stores in remote parts of the country to get their kids these dolls.
I was five when this went down, and I still remember the ridiculousness of it all.
People were literally flying out-of-state to Toys R Us stores in remote parts of the country to get their kids these dolls.
"Must-have" Christmas gift of 1983? The Cabbage Patch Kid 🥬 👶
It started the holiday trend. Desperate parents camped out, while some greedy Grinches resold the dolls at inflated prices. 🎁
This serene Wishbook page belies the holiday chaos.
Browse the full catalog ⤵️
archive.org/details/1983...
It started the holiday trend. Desperate parents camped out, while some greedy Grinches resold the dolls at inflated prices. 🎁
This serene Wishbook page belies the holiday chaos.
Browse the full catalog ⤵️
archive.org/details/1983...
December 9, 2025 at 7:07 PM
*neuron activation*
I was five when this went down, and I still remember the ridiculousness of it all.
People were literally flying out-of-state to Toys R Us stores in remote parts of the country to get their kids these dolls.
I was five when this went down, and I still remember the ridiculousness of it all.
People were literally flying out-of-state to Toys R Us stores in remote parts of the country to get their kids these dolls.
If there was interest out there for me to research, write about, and share my adventures/experiments in making historical recipes, I would be so into that. Dreaming.
December 9, 2025 at 6:07 PM
If there was interest out there for me to research, write about, and share my adventures/experiments in making historical recipes, I would be so into that. Dreaming.
Reposted by Nicola Black
Just a reminder --
December 9, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Just a reminder --
I did pretty good on today’s game! 🥳
Yearly Daily - Dec 9th
0 ✨ • 1⬇️ • 2⬇️ • 4⬇️ • 7⬆️
86 lives left ✨
#coffeefirstgames #yearlydaily
coffeefirst.games/yearly-daily... ☕
Yearly Daily - Dec 9th
0 ✨ • 1⬇️ • 2⬇️ • 4⬇️ • 7⬆️
86 lives left ✨
#coffeefirstgames #yearlydaily
coffeefirst.games/yearly-daily... ☕
Yearly Daily: Guess the Years of Today's Events!
Events that all happened on this day in history—can you guess the year?
coffeefirst.games
December 9, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I did pretty good on today’s game! 🥳
Yearly Daily - Dec 9th
0 ✨ • 1⬇️ • 2⬇️ • 4⬇️ • 7⬆️
86 lives left ✨
#coffeefirstgames #yearlydaily
coffeefirst.games/yearly-daily... ☕
Yearly Daily - Dec 9th
0 ✨ • 1⬇️ • 2⬇️ • 4⬇️ • 7⬆️
86 lives left ✨
#coffeefirstgames #yearlydaily
coffeefirst.games/yearly-daily... ☕
Just finished my weekly Accountability Group meeting via WIP. There was a passionate discussion about client expectations and boundary setting which I LOOVVVVED. 🙌 Cause... don't get me started on the power of, and all around good stuff that comes with, setting and sticking to boundaries. 🤓
December 8, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Just finished my weekly Accountability Group meeting via WIP. There was a passionate discussion about client expectations and boundary setting which I LOOVVVVED. 🙌 Cause... don't get me started on the power of, and all around good stuff that comes with, setting and sticking to boundaries. 🤓
It’s lonely running a solo small biz. Work in Progress member @ethankocak.com knows what I’m talking about. 😅 At WIP we host coworking sessions, office-hours, roundtable discussions, & accountability groups! Save 25% on your membership w/approved application through 12/12/25. www.joinwip.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:34 PM
It’s lonely running a solo small biz. Work in Progress member @ethankocak.com knows what I’m talking about. 😅 At WIP we host coworking sessions, office-hours, roundtable discussions, & accountability groups! Save 25% on your membership w/approved application through 12/12/25. www.joinwip.com
Reposted by Nicola Black
Hey Philly!
It’s time!! Come to Starbolt in Fishtown/kensington for the last minute market! We’ll be here until 5pm
It’s time!! Come to Starbolt in Fishtown/kensington for the last minute market! We’ll be here until 5pm
December 6, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Hey Philly!
It’s time!! Come to Starbolt in Fishtown/kensington for the last minute market! We’ll be here until 5pm
It’s time!! Come to Starbolt in Fishtown/kensington for the last minute market! We’ll be here until 5pm
Reposted by Nicola Black
I’m doing a second auction for Patch, a local charity that provides food, cloths and toys for people in poverty. At Christmas time they gift toys to kids who’ve had a referral. What could be more in the spirit of Christmas? This little wren is up for auction to raise money for toys. Please dig deep
December 6, 2025 at 9:10 AM
I’m doing a second auction for Patch, a local charity that provides food, cloths and toys for people in poverty. At Christmas time they gift toys to kids who’ve had a referral. What could be more in the spirit of Christmas? This little wren is up for auction to raise money for toys. Please dig deep
Expedition Unknown, a mug of hot buttered rum, and a warm blanket is all I need on this cold ass evening. 🥶
December 5, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Expedition Unknown, a mug of hot buttered rum, and a warm blanket is all I need on this cold ass evening. 🥶
Reposted by Nicola Black
Want to learn how to write for nonfiction comics? We're sharing this chapter on writing for comics from new book Making Nonfiction Comics: A Guide for Graphic Narrative www.crucialcomix.com/comic/writin...
December 5, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Want to learn how to write for nonfiction comics? We're sharing this chapter on writing for comics from new book Making Nonfiction Comics: A Guide for Graphic Narrative www.crucialcomix.com/comic/writin...
Friday creeped up on me. I have my weekly Accountability Group meeting (w/Work in Progress) on Monday. While I finished the majority of the tasks, I have a couple more items to do to clear my list. Honestly, I love how these groups keep me on track. When you're solo, a crew like this is everything!
December 5, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Friday creeped up on me. I have my weekly Accountability Group meeting (w/Work in Progress) on Monday. While I finished the majority of the tasks, I have a couple more items to do to clear my list. Honestly, I love how these groups keep me on track. When you're solo, a crew like this is everything!