About Vendulka
Vendulka Battais is an award winning textile artist, tutor and half of the couple running textile studio OliVen in the heart of Suffolk.
Vendulka started her creative journey making clothes from remnants with her mum in the Czech Republic. She learned simple patchwork when she moved to the UK and was looking for a new hobby. From squares and triangles, Vendulka’s work evolved into quilting, embroidery, and circular patterns inspired by mandalas and dreamcatchers.
It was this growing passion which led her to start her own patchwork and quilting shop with her partner, Olivier, on the Isle of Wight in 2011. It’s called OliVen. In 2015, they moved family and shop to the village of Monks Eleigh in Suffolk.
Vendulka loves to make patchwork quilts, teach patchwork in the shop, travel to teach groups and demonstrate at shows.
Somehow she found the time to publish a wonderful book, Cathedral Windows – New Views, and win the Best in Show Award at Festival of Quilts 2021. This is what the judges had to say about the work: “a wonderful collaboration of design and workmanship. We loved the variety of feathers and their balance of glorious colour. A masterclass in the stitching of an intricate Mandala, together with precise use of the glitter liner medium.”
Signature Technique
Bringing embroidery into quilting
Top Tips
- Glittery and metallic paint on fabric brings a project to life – especially in the dark!
- Create an enhanced 3D effect on Cathedral windows with folded patchwork, padding, and a new colour twist.
- Combine different elements such as machine quilting and hand embroidery. It’s a joy to work on and the result is stunning.
Videos
Patterns
Posts
Quilting and Embroidery Weekend in Surrey, 15 and 16 March 2025
Date: 15 - 16 March 2025
Location: DeVere Horsley Estate, East Horsley, Surrey
Price: £440 Early Bird Special before 12 October 2024 / £470 after this
Make this beautiful Sentiments Quilt with Karen Crookes of Sunflowerstitches!
A Grand Quilting & Textile Tour of India
This holiday takes you on an immersive journey into the unique textile traditions of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Discover the vibrant Kutchi embroidery, intricate patchwork and unique Ajrakh block-printing of Gujarat and travel into Rajasthan to encounter the region’s tie-and-dye bandhani, distinctive block prints, colourful double Ikat Leheriya fabric and applique embroidered Gota Patti.
A Grand Quilting & Textile Tour of India with ECT Travel
Calling all quilters – don't miss our holiday on an immersive journey into the unique textile traditions of Rajasthan and Gujarat - A Grand Quilting & Textile Tour of India. (All our tours all fully protected).