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
Busy weekend sewing with the girls
A group of 8 of us had a wonderful time at the Ramada Inn Hotel on the Hogs Back; naturally we spent most of our time sewing so didn't really take advantage of the swimming pool/spa complex but we really enjoyed the food and the hospitality - which was excellent. What did we get up to? Well here is one that Margaret finished: and I managed to make a start using the new Sew Simple Pinwheels from Karin Hellaby (we are going to do this to camera - so keep watching!); it was fun and quick - just what I like as you know!
October 2012
What a busy Friday it turned out to be - [...]
Lifted Star inspiration
Hi Valerie...loved doing these....so made two! I would add that the measurements are quite tight! Had a little trouble stretching the first one over the hoop...so cut the final rounds a little wider for an easier life!..Lyn and if you want to enjoy the workshop - click here