Episode 27: Liminal Space with Jenni Wingenroth of Nollie Bean

Jenni, the owner of Nollie Bean, is a modern quilter and quilt pattern writer whose goal to inspire others to make functional works of art that bring delight and provide a sense of fulfillment to the maker. Jenni shares that she has always been a maker, starting with jewelry making and opening an Etsy shop in 2007. When she was pregnant with her son, she stopped making jewelry and started sewing instead and hasn’t looked back.

Liminal Space

The concept of "liminal space", was introduced to Jenni at a conference during the COVID pandemic. Liminal space refers to the place where we find ourselves in the middle of a life-changing event, unsure of what the future holds. It's the space between what was and what will be. Jenni resonated with this concept on a personal level as she had just set boundaries with some toxic family dynamics and was in the process of healing. As a creative entrepreneur, Jenni realized that liminal space is a familiar territory, where ideas are born, excitement is high, but doubts and fears creep in. It's the place where we question our abilities and decide whether or not to push through the discomfort and take action. Jenni reminds us that being in liminal space is not a bad thing, but rather an opportunity for growth and transformation. It's where we can learn more about ourselves and our potential.

Limiting Beliefs in the Messy Middle

Jenni shares her personal experience of launching Quilt Camp, a virtual quilting retreat, and the doubts and fears she encountered during the process. She talks about the nagging voice in her head asking who would even want to attend quiet Camp, feeling nervous about launching, and worrying that it wasn't good enough. Despite these fears, 12 people signed up for the first Quilt Camp, which brought up a new round of emotions and fears about delivering on the promise. Despite the emotional rollercoaster, Jenni successfully launched and lead Quilt Camp and learned valuable lessons about overcoming self-doubt and pushing through the messy middle.

Tools to Use In Liminal Space

Jenni suggests that the first step is acknowledging and identifying that we are in liminal space and accepting that it is a normal part of the creative process. Jenni also emphasizes the importance of trusting the process and having confidence in our abilities, even when things may not be going as planned. To help alleviate anxieties around worst-case scenarios, she recommends developing a plan and safety net, such as planning for celebrations or rewards at the end of a project. Lastly, Jenni reminds us that growth and change take time, and while there may not always be a clear endpoint, we can still look back on our progress and find reward in the journey itself.

Trusting Yourself

Ttrusting oneself when moving towards a goal or project that is not yet fully formed is a challenge. Jenni shares her process of visualizing what the end result may look like, but also being open to learning as she goes and pivoting as necessary. Jenni is a planner and loves to write things down, so she creates a physical checklist to keep track of what needs to be done. However, she also acknowledges that she won't be able to think of everything, and leaves room for flexibility in case unexpected things come up.When questions arose that she hadn't anticipated, she was transparent about the time it would take her to compile the necessary information and get back to everyone. Jenni's approach to trusting oneself involves both planning and being open to change, and ultimately owning the outcome regardless of any unexpected obstacles.

Dreaming and Planning for the Future

Jenni’s goals for Nollie Bean have evolved over time, and she emphasizes the importance of allowing yourself to dream big and to not limit yourself with limiting beliefs. When she first started her business, her goal was simply to sell one pattern, but now she has much bigger aspirations such as hosting an in-person Quilt Camp. She advises setting long-term goals and working towards them by breaking them down into smaller, achievable targets, even if you're working full-time. For Jenni, this means setting aside dedicated time in the mornings and on weekends to work on Nollie Bean. Ultimately, it's important to include your long-term goals in your schedule and not get too bogged down with short-term projects.

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Key Takeways:

• As entrepreneurs we often find ourselves in the experience of liminal space, or the messy middle. This can sometimes cause fatigue and a lot of limiting beliefs can rise to the surface during these times.

• Tools suggested to work through the messy middle and liminal space were:
  -Acknowledging when you are in this state
  -Trust your process and yourself 
  -Think through your worst case scenario outcome and create a plan 
  -Recognizing that the messy middle and all the feelings you may feel are passing  and won’t last forever 

• Your self development can strongly impact how run your business with confidence.

• To help you trust yourself and your process while in the messy middle,  create a checklist and work backward from your perceived finish line of your project or goal.

• It is important to not lose sight of your long term goals amidst working on your weekly or monthly tasks. The same tools that you use on short term goals can also be used on your long term goals. Work backwards and trust yourself and the process.

  
  Jenni Ioves to encourage and inspire other makers to create functional works of art.  Nollie Bean quilt patterns are inspired by the natural world and bring a sense of curiosity to the quilting process. Jenni believes that quilts are meant to be used and loved and bring joy to both the maker and snuggler. Her goal is to inspire others to make functional works of art that bring delight and provide a sense of fulfillment.
  
  Check out Jenni’s website and follow along on instagram.