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
Festival of Quilts 2013
As usual this was a fantastic event and most of our contributors were there; Jennie was busy with her own stand and Val was helping out on the Creative Quilting stand. It didn’t leave much time for wandering around to either see the quilts OR get new product but Val wasn’t to be outdone on her shopping and you need to keep an eye on the ‘shop’ for the new bits; in brief here are the highlights: Jennie has a new DVD out –Texture in Sudoku Mary Gamester has a new book – Transfer Painting Hilary Beattie has a new book – Make it Personal Janet Clare has a new book – A Field Guide – available through the shop Jane Rollason has a new book – Fun, Fast & Furious – quick & easy applique panels New patterns from Daisy Chain include: Just Peachy by Lee Brown New patterns from The Stitch Witch include new Dog House needlebox and a new hanging system for your small projects.
Downton Abbey fabric from Makower
Well for once Twitter has come up trumps; just learnt about new range from Makower Andover Fabrics is delighted to announce that the first exclusive collection of licensed fabrics for Downton Abbey ® will be available to you this September. Playing on the strength of the upstairs women of Downton, this exciting premiere collection will be THE WOMEN’S COLLECTION, featuring designs chosen in collaboration with the award-winning Downton Abbey production team.
You need to defluff your machine regularly!
Superior Threads in America have a Dr of Threadology - Dr.Bob; if you go to their website https://www.superiorthreads.com it is full of wonderful information and here is a true and salutory story from their June 2013 newsletter: Lint is defined as an accumulation of fluffy fibers. We have lint in clothes dryers, clothing, and unfortunately, our sewing machines.