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
Applique Techniques Weekend in Hampshire, 25 and 26 October 2025
Date: 25- 26 October 2025
Location: New Place Hotel, Hampshire
Price: £440 Early Bird Special before 25 April 2025 / £470 after
Spend two days with Sarah Soward and Terry Summerfield of Pauline’s Patchwork learning different applique techniques
Nantes: Pour L’Amour du Fil April 2025
Calling all quilters - ECT TRAVEL goes to Nantes: Pour L'Amour du Fil April 2025 and we’d love you to come too! (All our tours are fully protected)
Sign up and be the first to know when booking opens for Pour L’Amour du Fil in Nantes and Brno Patchwork Show in the Czech Republic
Our friends at ECT Travel are finalising their 2025 programme. Sign up and be the first to know when booking opens for Pour L'Amour du Fil in Nantes (April 2025) and Brno Patchwork Show in the Czech Republic (April 2025).