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
More Turning 20 Again
Just a quick follow-up to the wonderful weekend at Dunford House.
I had my finished quilt top long arm quilted and then I did the binding myself. I have given it to my son and daughter-in-law who are delighted with it and have attached a photo of the finished quilt for you.
I never thought I would have got as far as I did over one weekend and have to say I was so pleased with the result
Many thanks for all you help and advice especially with rotary cutting that I am now confidently using more and more(this is going to drive my husband mad).
Some comments on the Water Water Exhibition videos
We often cycle along the Thames to Henley..shame I missed it!
But thinking on,it wouldn't have been the same without Kate's input,very interesting..can't wait for part 2!
And yes I remember The Oneidin Line too!!!!!!!
Lyn Thank you for this. I enjoyed seeing my quilt on the film – and thought you did a brilliant job of talking through all the quilts
Best wishes Rachel
Thank you so much for arranging for us to see the film of the exhibition. It was a lovely reminder of a very special and successful occasion. And you were a brilliant presenter; you knew each piece so well..... Gill
Hi Kate
Thanks so much for this ........
Frixion Pens – the debate goes on.
Question: Have you ever used the Frixion pen and would you consider it safe to use on any fabric that will take the heat? I know we will have to test a sample of it but it seems to go against the grain to heat to remove, after all we use heat to set the Microtex pens! Answer: Bear in mind that these pens were not originally designed for use by quilters - we have adopted them!
I have not used these pens at all but Jennie has and mentions them in one of our videos; her word of caution is that they are re-activated by the cold - this could be through the postal service or through air conditioning.