iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Nicola Black

“If IBM had Paul Rand, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority had Massimo Vignelli, and Alfred Hitchcock had Saul Bass, nature itself had Charley Harper.” www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/art/exhibiti...

A detail from Charley Harper’s mosaic Space for all Species” in the lobby of the John Weld Peck Federal Building in Cincinnati. A stylized flying squirrel seems to glide across the grid surrounded by yellow and brown birds.

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 15h

Sunshine time with Ollie! 🐶☀️

A small, black-and-white dog named Ollie sunbathes on a wooden deck with green grass in the background. There are fallen leaves scattered around him.

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 15h

The day after hosting an event is always a bit strange. The come down & reflection... I'm working solo in my home office today, feeling grateful to have a space I can pop into now and then, to be amongst and meet new friends locally. Looking forward to Cozy Coworking on a monthly basis. 🤓

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Only two more "Ask a Visual Designer" Office Hours appointments left in the day! Is one of them yours? When you RSVP, you'll receive a link to book. Then bring your questions to Gereblock in Syracuse, NY for a design chat. 🙂

Screenshot of a booking page for "Ask a Visual Designer" Office Hours with Nicola Black Design, LLC at Gereblock in Syracuse, NY. There are two more appointments available for the day (October 7th, 2026).

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Jonathan Surratt @beerinator.com · 07/10/2026

Do you sometimes crave an American-style sub sandwich but don't want to give your money to private equity? First, you should patronize your local sandwich shops, but if you want to make your own at home, I wrote up a long blog post about making soft sub rolls. boundedbybuns.com/sub-sandwich...

boundedbybuns.com

Sub sandwich rolls 101

Time to get your roll on. Oh, and also make a great sub sandwich.

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Oooh! I'm so gonna try this! Thank you! 🥖

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

If you're in the Syracuse area from 9am-5pm today, and are looking for a great space to work, join me at Gereblock for Cozy Coworking Wednesday! We've got some light breakfast bites to nibble on and coffeeeee! RSVPs are appreciated (www.nicolablack.com/events), but drop in as space allows.

Me, a white woman wearing glasses and a red knit cap, pointing to a sign that says "Gereblock Lounge" which is hanging from the ceiling of a coworking space.

A tray of breakfast bites including plain and everything bagels, pazazz apples, and blueberry mini-muffins.

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Maki Scare-O @makinaro.com · 07/10/2026

Happening now at Gereblock in Syracuse 😎

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Absolutely beautiful work! 🙌

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Boiled Owl Leather Goods @boiledowlleather.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Im GIVING AWAY this Traveler notebook/passport wallet. To enter, follow this account + repost this post. Draw Oct 24 Included: -Traveler Wallet -Handmade 3.5x5.5" Notebook -Zebra F-701 Ballpoint Pen -Free Worldwide Shipping See next post for a video tour! boiledowlleathergoods.com/products/the...

Traveler Wallet made from blue and whiskey Buterro premium full grain Italian leather with tennis ball stitching. Wallet interior featuring 4 card slots, flap pocket, sleeve pocket, and notebook pocket. Handmade notebook and pen visible

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Jeremy Ghooooost Shipp @jeremycshipp.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Meet my newest fabric art creation: Thundercloud Cuckoo the Neolithic Bird Statue. I designed and hand-sewed him, and I first created this style of bird in a dream a few months ago. Thundercloud enjoys appearing to people in their dreams. jeremycreature.bigcartel.com

Here's a lovely photo of Thundercloud. He's a fabric art bird. He's a mottled dark and light gray, sort of like granite. He's a roundish bird with two tiny wings and a little face in the center of his body. He has two light gray eyes of slightly different sizes and an open light gray beak. There's green fur in the background.

Here's another lovely photo of Thundercloud where he's resting on my palm.

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

I miss this pup something fierce. 😂 He was the absolute best.

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Aw! Our Cody man. I can hear him in this photo. 😂 He wanted ALL the Kongs. None for Ollie. Nope.

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

This Wednesday! If you’re in Syracuse, NY or the surrounding area, join me for a free day of coworking plus my “Ask a Visual Designer” office-hours where you can pick my brain on all things design. RSVP to claim your spot. Only five office-hours appointments available! See you then. 🤓

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John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 05/10/2026

This is your occasional reminder that generative "AI" in particular could have been developed on public domain materials and/or licensed and compensated works but the major players intentionally, methodically and systemically chose to steal labor from working creative folks instead

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High Priestess, Low Patience @cheriepriest.com · 04/10/2026

no, she’s the wolf from a 4th or 5th century mosaic depicting the founding of Rome

The she-wolf who nurtured Romulus and Remus, depicted in mosaic form as a maniacal black dog with sharp teeth and white eyes.

My dog, bearing an uncanny resemblance to the maniacal mosaic wolf.

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I've been working on floral studies and you know what... flowers are difficult! 😅 Nothing to show yet, because aaaahhhhhh! As a designer, I like to simplify things. I have this idea in my head, but my gawd... it's not translating well (yet). [breathes] It's all part of the process.

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I created this event with self-employed people, like myself, in mind. When you work alone, it's SO NICE having friends available onscreen to tap into for a chat or support when you need it. Motivation, momentum, and accountability are a welcomed side-effect.😉 Registration closes 10/11! Join us!

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Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

A thread about a great cat, and the post-retirement creative evolution of a great artist, in 20 images...

My late cat The Bear in a box marked Hotel California, realising he can check out but he can never leave.

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I love these 50 degree mornings. Sitting outside drinking my coffee while Ollie enjoys the Autumn sunshine. 🍂☀️

A small black-and-white dog named Ollie. He’s very happy to be enjoying the morning outside. He loves a sunny day!

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Littleevil0ne @littleevil0ne.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

💔Heartbreak Burlesque💔 For the prompt, weapon: Love! Forgive my janky animation skills- I haven't animated since 2008 😅 #art #myart

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Dev Petty @devpetty.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

A plea to all you wonderful folks who are thinking to adopt (not buy) a dog or cat… The shelters are FILLED with animals who’ve been surrendered. Yesterday they had a bed and a family and now they are confused and terrified through no fault of their own. Consider giving them a next chapter.

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Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @mayor.nyc.gov · 02/10/2026

Calling all NYC artists — painters, filmmakers, poets, musicians and more! Did you know our city provides grants to support your work every year? And this year, we're DOUBLING the amount — from $5,000 up to $10,000 per artist! Deadlines are approaching fast — apply today at nyc.gov/artistgrants.

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Researching CPAs that handle tax prep for self-employed folks. If you're self-employed + have a provider you trust and recommend, I'm looking at all suggestions.

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Rachel Deering @racheldeering.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Book Cover of the Day:

Black book cover with spider web design, pale blue lettering, A THIN GHOST AND OTHERS
MR. JAMES

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Kasey Gifford @kaseygifford.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Wow. LOISH got accused of using Ai to make her art. I started following her on early deviantart. I remember first seeing her paintings in college. This is ridiculous, no one is safe. Artists Ive followed for actual decades are getting harassed because their work has been stolen and regurgitated.

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taenia @taenia.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Finished while waiting for my curling draw. Still needs to be ironed and framed, but I think the variegated floss was a success. Pattern from Shitpost Sampler, recolored by me with overdyed floss from Cottage Garden Threads and Cosmo.

A cross stitch on white fabric featuring the quote "But I am very poorly today and very stupid and hate everybody and everything." The lettering overlays a pattern of red birds and green trees. This is surrounded by a garland of stylized orange, red and yellow flowers.

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Dr Hannah M. Rowland @hannahmrowland.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Hope your day was better than Darwin’s, on this day 165 years ago

I am very poorly today & very stupid & hate everybody &everything.

Charles Darwin
Letter to Charles Lyell
1st October 1861

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Sir, I am VERY inspired. This is honestly everything. The fun and mystery! Aaaah, I just wish I could’ve experienced it. Well done. So good!

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

OH. MY. GAWD. I wanna do this SO BAD! Absolutely incredible. 👏

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Abby The Cleric @abbythecleric.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

"give me the butter, Subaru" is not a sentence I thought I'd have to say today

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

He’s very much okay. A very happy boy. He just likes to do a lot of stops to smell the smells and check his peemail.

An actual, untouched freeze frame from a video of our small, black-and-white pup, Ollie. It looks as if he’s smiling. 😄

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Ollie is so popular in our neighborhood. He’s so loved. I’ve been doing speedy walks on my own, after walking him, to get a bit more exercise. Tonight, a neighbor was so sweetly careful to ask if he was okay. She saw me twice without him over the past days and was so worried. ❤️ A popular boy!

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I've spent this glorious first day of the best month with the windows open, watching leaves fall as I work, drinking tea, and studying botanical illustrations of old. I'm getting ready to dig into some of my own drawing time while a boule bakes in the oven. Can every day be like this, please? 🍂

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Max Novem @maxnovem.art · 01/10/2026

I reshared this comic yesterday, but keep thinking about it. It reminds me of when, a few years ago, I was having a horrible day in the middle of several horrible months. I was alone, away from home, and feeling very beaten down. I stopped to get coffee at Tim Hortons drive-thru in Vancouver...

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

This is a very sweet story. It's so true. One small act of kindness can really turn a rough day around. 🍪 Cookie person is the best person. :)

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Digging into some floral design and while doing research, I came across this amazing reference by decorative artist Eugène, published in 1896. So many beautiful designs and forms inspired by various flowers/plants! Grassethttps://archive.org/details/planteetsesappl00Gras

archive.org

La plante et ses applications ornementales

statement of responsibility: sous la direction de M. Eugène Grasset

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Jamie, the same exact thing happened to me and I was also mesmerized. 😂

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

And then I've got the online WIP Writing Retreat happening on October 20th! 🥳 I'm super excited for this one. A great way to dedicate the time you need to dig into your ideas. Come hang out! Info is on my events page, but you can find all the details here as well: www.joinwip.com/writing-retr...

joinwip.com

WIP Writing Retreat Registration

Register for the next WIP Online Writing Retreat! A cozy, online event for creative, solo, small-business owners who are guided by curiosity, play, and discovery.

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

For those local to the Syracuse area, the Cozy Coworking will happen every first Wednesday of the month. Gereblock is a great space! I hope I'll see you there. If you'd like to claim one of my 5 Office-Hours appointments, RSVP on the events page (www.nicolablack.com/events) for next steps.

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Nicola Black @nicolablack.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

New events page on my website! 🥳 There are two events I'm hosting in October for my self-employed friends: 10/7: Cozy Coworking Wednesday at Gereblock in Syracuse, NY. Free coworking + office-hours. 10/20: WIP Writing Retreat. A full-day, online writing retreat. Join me! nicolablack.com/events/

nicolablack.com

Upcoming events hosted by Nicola Black Design, LLC

Freelancers, solopreneurs, solo-small business owners, these events are for you! In-person and online gatherings to support you in your day-to-day. You don't have to go it alone.

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Frightening Brian ☠️ @briangeorge.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Picture it: Sicily, 1640…

A cartographers map of Sicily, on parchment, from the year 1640. All costal
Towns are written in tiny script. The southern portion of Italy can be seen as well

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