A visit to Vendulka and Olivier Battais at Oliven Patchwork and Quilting

Pete and I were visiting Suffolk in November for an installation of a Handi Quilter Amara and servicing of a machine so while we were in the area we popped in to see how Vendulka and Olivier Battais were getting on with their Handi Quilter Amara which they had had installed by Pete only the previous month.

Olivier and Vendulka have been running their Patchwork and Quilting Shop "Oliven" for the past 10 years. It's open by appointment in Monks Eleigh which is between Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich in Suffolk. I first met Vendulka at the Duxford show when her method of painting on quilts with Marabu Liners really attracted me to her stand.

The next time we met was on the stage at the Festival of Quilts in August 2021 when I was delighted to award both Vendulka and her husband the joint award for Handi Quilter Best in Show and a prize of £3,500.

It is a truly stunning quilt entitled "Our Ladies". A collaborative work by Olivier and Vendulka and you can hear more about that collaboration when Vendulka talks about it on our Facebook Live on the video below.

Here are some more close ups of the quilt. 

As Vendulka says in the YouTube video she runs Workshops and is planning on combining her free motion quilting teaching with wearable classes. If you are interested in finding out more do contact Vendulka - you can visit her website on this link. Or email email info@oliven.co.uk

The workshop area at Oliven is spacious and airy with large numbers of tables and inspiring quilts on the walls. 

Our Ladies now hangs at the far end of the Workshop

The huge workshop area

Inspiring quilts are everywhere

Vendulka has that wonderful ability of being able to be not only acquire a skill but also to be able to share it and to want to share it freely. 

The best endorsement of Vendulka as a teacher was when I was standing in front of "Our Ladies" at the Festival of Quilts. 

A lady next to me who did not know said very abruptly and completely unprompted "It's stunning isn't it?"

"Well yes it is" I said mesmerised by the workmanship and trying to work out how it had been created. I had literally just walked up to it for the first time at this stage. I didn't know who the voice was behind the mask and I had a face mask on too but the voice was weirdly familiar. I looked more closely. The hair cut and style of this person was distinctive. 

"She has a shop close to me near Bury St Edmunds. When she teaches she gives her skills freely not expecting payment or reward. She just does so for the love of teaching. She is that kind of person. She and her husband are wonderful."

"Wow. That is remarkable!" 

I now knew who the person was.

"You're Lynne Edwards aren't you?" I said. "I'm Liz Holpin - was Liz Sewell!"  

For many years when I worked at The Cotton Patch we had bought books from Lynne Edwards, MBE for many years. Her sampler books were essential books for beginners on their patchwork journey. Another connection was my dear friend Heli Morris, who lives in Suffolk and who I was meeting the weekend that I recorded this Facebook Live, is close friends with with Lynne and her late husband as well. Too many connections to mention here.

You can read more about Lynne Edwards, MBE on this link.

What a fabulous endorsement!

We can see how much progress Vendulka has made in the past on domestic machines. This, together with her collaborations with Olivier, whose artistic talents garnered through his high level skills as a French pâtissier and chocolatier could take them both to new heights on the Handi Quilter Amara.

The future is surely bright!

If you are interested in finding out about our future workshops with Vendulka please sign up to our Email Newsletter.