My name is Nicole Block, affectionately known as Nic, and I am the creative behind The Nic Studio. I knew I was an artist from an early age – literally. In the first grade, on a worksheet, I filled in: “My name is Nicole. I am 5 years old. When I grow up, I want to be a(an) artist.” I keep this worksheet with me to this day.

I devoted myself to the arts, and graduated in 2000 with a degree in illustration from Syracuse University. After a sadly failed attempt at being a freelance illustrator (hey, it’s tough out there), I became a self-taught designer and landed myself a job as a designer for a small publication. I honed my page layout, color, and press skills on that magazine, and had the ability to keep my hand in art. I could always hire myself as an illustrator for an article, right?

The Nic Studio is a stationery, design, and illustration studio based in Brooklyn, NY. We specialize in cards, invitations, home decor, and artwork that highlight little moments in life. Quirky, funny, sweet with an edge, my work is heavily influenced by life in the town in which I was born and raised. Decidedly non-hipster, we give you look at the real New York City – and the people, places, and things that make it so great.

The Nic Studio is in more than 50 stores across the country, and growing all the time. Nic was tapped by Random House in 2011 to illustrate and design the interior of “The Bride-to-be-Book” by Amy Krouse-Rosenthal, and was also filmed for a Howcast series on custom invitations that same summer. In addition to an ever-growing card line and our custom and ready-to-order wedding invitations, The Nic Studio has now launched Tyles -- a new vinyl decal tile product.

Always a proud boro girl, I live and work in Brooklyn with my husband David Block of Studio Redeye, our wonderfully willful daughter, Anna Jae, and our big little man, affectionately referred to as #thegeorge all over social media.