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
What needle should I use?
I have a Brother RH127 sewing machine, can you please tell me what size needle I require to stitch denim. I shall be making a denim patchwork cushion cover so will need to stitch through more than one layer. Answer from Val: I would purchase 'denim' needles 90-100- they do what they say on the packet! and if you want to find out more about needles and threads, check out the excellent information from Dawn Cameron Dick in her video Learn About Needles & Threads
How do I cut the strips for Log cabin?
I like you just love the look of the log cabin and am about tho venture down this road. Can you tell me - is the strips cut on the bias or just straight across? Answer from Val: always assume that strips are cut ACROSS your fabric unless you are told otherwise - when you cut down the grain is very unforgiving and when you cut on the bias your quilt will wave!!!
Is a steam iron necessary for pressing?
Assuming you are using cotton fabrics it is better to just use a warm - hot iron for pressing the seams and the blocks; if you use seam it is very easy to stretch the fabrics. Dawn Cameron-Dick shares a tip with us in her little video on the subject: click here Simple pressing is all that is necessary and you can make a very cheap pressing board by using the central cardboard bolt inner that is discarded by your local quilt shop!