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
American Museum in Britain, just outside Bath
Had a brilliant day here filming their current exhibition Hatched, Matched, Despatched - & Patched. Val trying to look professional! and here with Kate Hebert, Curator The exhibition runs until 1st November but if you aren't able to get there in person, you will be able to watch it from the comfort of your own armchair in September - it will be one to watch for sure!
Update 19th June 2015
Magna Carta Celebrations This week saw the 800th anniversary of [...]
Weekend Retreat at Midhurst
Busy loading the car to join Jennie Rayment and Sarah Soward at our weekend of sewing delights at Midhurst, W.Sussex. (Husband to be left in charge of cat and watering the hanging baskets - wonder if he can cope!!!) Watch out for pics of our results next week. If you would like to escape for a weekend of sewing pleasure, in a lovely hotel, check out our option in October (3-4th) - at the Legacy Hotel: click here: