Coastal Creatures, Creative Breaks and Resetting for What's Next

After a little break away from blogging and posting regularly on social media, I'm so excited to formally introduce my new Coastal Creatures Collection with you! This release features a mix of stickers and sticker sheets inspired by life by the sea and marine life. I wanted these stickers to remind you of a summer holiday trip to the beach, so I hope you love them as much as I do.

Why I stepped back

If you've been following Indi Arden for a while, you'll know that I usually keep myself very busy with creating, planning and sharing online. But the past couple of months have been quieter here. And honestly? I needed it. Running a small business while working full-time in cafe management can feel like I'm spinning plates all the time. As much as I love what I do, I've learned that you can't constantly be in "creative mode" and sometimes the best way forward is to pause.

I found myself struggling to come up with new ideas and feeling like everything I created had to become a product. That pressure doesn't leave much room for playful, messy creativity. Taking a step back gave me permission to rest, to doodle without purpose and to reconnect with why I love drawing in the first place.

The Coastal Creatures Collection (and what changed)

When I first started planning this collection back in June, I actually imagined it being much bigger. The original idea included lots of art prints and extra products alongside the stickers. But the reality? I just didn't have the energy to bring it all to life in the way that I wanted. I knew that if I rushed into creating prints just to fill the collection, I wouldn't feel fully proud of them.

So instead, I scaled it back and focused on releasing the stickers I had already designed back in July when inspiration first struck. And honestly - I'm so glad I did. It gave me the space to celebrate the ideas I truly loved without adding unnecessary pressure. The stickers capture the playful, coastal spirit perfectly and I would rather put out a smaller collection that I'm proud of than a bigger one that doesn't feel right.

The importance of rest

One of the biggest lessons that I've learnt this year is that rest is part of the creative process. It's so easy to feel guilty when you're not constantly producing, especially when building a business you care so deeply about. But I've realised that burnout doesn't create great ideas - rest does.

When I let myself pause, my brain naturally started to wander and play again. That's when the Coastal Creatures collection came together. It reminded me that slowing down doesn't mean you're failing - it often means you're preparing yourself for your next creative spark.

What's next: Creative Reset Challenge

To keep myself accountable (and hopefully inspire you too!), I'll be starting a Creative Reset Challenge on Tiktok (follow me @indiarden) next month. The idea is simple: make space for small, no pressure creativity every day. Whether that's doodling, collaging, painting or even just scribbling down colours you love, it's about building habits that keep creativity fun.

I'll be sharing prompts, ideas and my own progress so if you've been feeling stuck creatively, I'd love for you to join in. It's about finding joy in the process instead of perfection in the outcome.

Locking in for Christmas

And now that I've had that time to reset, I'm ready to lock in for the busiest season of the year - Christmas! There are lots of exciting things in the works, including the return of the sticker advent calendar (yes, it's coming back bigger and better this year). Plus plenty of new festive products I can't wait to share.

So for now, I'm soaking up the excitement of the Coastal Creatures launch, focusing on building back my creative rhythm, and getting ready for the months ahead. 

Thank you so much for being here - it really means the world to have this little community growing with me.

Indi xoxo