Creative Retreat | Punch Needle in Lisbon
From Tiles to Textiles -Transforming the Motifs of Lisbon into Punch Needle Art with Rashida Coleman-Hale
Lisbon, Portugal | April 17 - April 24, 2026
Journey to Lisbon with celebrated textile designer Rashida Coleman-Hale, to discover Portugal's captivating capital where centuries-old azulejos (tiles) create a mosaic of stories across sun-warmed walls and cobblestone streets. This is the place to immerse yourself in a city where tradition and innovation dance together, where every corner reveals intricate patterns and color palettes that have inspired artists for generations. On this unique, design-focused retreat we'll absorb the visual richness of our surroundings while translating that inspiration into contemporary fiber art.
Throughout our multi-day workshops, Rashida will share her expertise in curating visual inspiration, teaching you to see like a designer and transform the patterns, textures, and colors of Lisbon into punch needle motifs. You’ll work on two different projects, learning not only what makes a design well-suited to this type of fiber art but also the fundamentals of punch needle techniques from prepping your fabric all the way to finishing your piece.
Between our workshops, we’ll fuel our creativity tracing the history of tiles, from centuries-old techniques to modern creations. We’ll visit a tile factory established in the 1700s, still making tiles with the same hand-crafted process. For contrast, we’ll also visit modern tile murals, created by contemporary Portuguese artists and we’ll take a trip to the Nation Tile Museum to highlight some of the most interesting ceramics throughout Portugal’s history.
To immerse ourselves in the delights of Lisbon we’ll visit various neighborhoods, getting outside the typical tourist tracks to experience the art and culture that makes Lisbon so special. You’ll try your hand at tile painting, creating your own azulejos to take home. We’ll visit a locally-owned shop to learn about Portuguese wool as well as their hand-spun yarn. We can’t forget the culinary delights of Lisbon and you’ll be tasting many of the famed dishes like pastel de nata, a traditional egg-custard tart as well as cheeses and wines from various Portuguese regions.
This Ace Camps Travel trip is open to all skill levels. Trip Itinerary, Details and Important Notes below.
DATES
April 17 - April 24, 2026
8 Days + 7 Nights
PRICING
Shared Room - $5,495 USD
Private Room - $6,495 USD
Full Rooming + Pricing Details Below
BOOKING FOR THIS TRIP STARTS ON
SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 AT 1:00PM PST
CREATIVE RETREAT HIGHLIGHTS
Multi-day workshops with Rashida Coleman-Hale
Design translation from inspiration to punch needle pattern
Punch Needle Art including supplies prepping fabric, creating a working frame, punch needle techniques and finishing
Hands-on Tile Painting Workshop
Guided tour of the National Tile museum
Visit to Boutique shop to learn about Portuguese wool and yarn
Traditional Portuguese Culinary Walking Tour
Explore an off-the-beaten-track neighborhood in Lisbon
Taste the flavors of Lisbon and influences from around the globe
Boutique Hotel Accommodations
Transportation during included meals and activities
Dedicated Ace Camps Travel Host, with you throughout your trip
Trip Prep call to meet fellow travelers and talk through schedules, recommendations, and questions
Travel + Learn with Rashida Coleman-Hale
A designer at Ruby Star Society, Rashida Coleman-Hale has been making things ever since she can remember. Her passion includes textiles, surface pattern design, and illustration.
She studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Not sure if fashion was her calling, she traded her sewing machine for a computer and worked as a freelance graphic designer.
Her passion for sewing was rekindled in 2006 after the arrival of her first child, and she began the blog I Heart Linen to document her re-born creative life and her life as a stay-at-home mommy.
A fabric designer as well as an author, Rashida has designed fabric for Timeless Treasures and Cloud 9 Fabrics.
Her first book,I Love Patchwork, was published by Interweave Press in Fall 2009 and was awarded the 2010 PubWest Book Design Bronze Medal in the How-To/Crafts category. Her second book, Zakka Style, was published by C&T Publishing in Fall 2011 and was the 2012 International Book Awards winner in the Crafts/Hobbies/How-to category. Her third book, Zakka Sewn, released by C&T Publishing celebrates her return to her roots as a maker, blending charming zakka-inspired projects with modern sewing techniques.
Day by Day Itinerary
Nota Bene: This is a prospective itinerary. It is subject to modest modifications, dependent on local weather, partner schedules, unexpected opportunities and the desires of the group.
Day 1
Friday, April 17
Welcome to Portugal!
As you arrive in Lisbon, make your own way to our hotel close to the Príncipe Real and the Botanical Gardens. Have a rest or explore the city. Maybe you take a short walk to some of the boutique shops nearby, have a beverage at the park, or take a ride on one of Lisbon’s icon yellow trams. Please plan to arrive at our hotel no later that 5pm so you have time to settle in before dinner.
This evening we’ll meet for brief introductions and then head to our welcome dinner with Rashida.
Meals included: Dinner
Day 2
Saturday, April 18
Let’s explore the Tiles of Lisbon! Today we’ll dive into the beautiful azulejos, tiles, that decorate the city, learn about their history and the more modern styles used today. You’ll visit a well-known Azulejos workshop, founded in the 1700s, still creating tiles using the old, handcrafted techniques—from the clay preparation all the way through to hand painting. Next, we’ll visit some of the most interesting tiles around Lisbon including modern tile murals created by contemporary Portuguese artists.
This afternoon we’ll visit Madre de Deus Convent, the home of the Azulejo Museum. The Museum features an impressive collection of tiles and ceramics, ranging from the 15th century to contemporary artists. Throughout the day you’ll be gathering ideas and inspiration on designs, patterns and color palettes for your workshops with Rashida.
Dinner this evening is on your own to explore all the amazing flavors of Lisbon! We will provide suggestions for some of our favorite spots to check out.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3
Sunday, April 19
Today is our first full-day workshop. We’ll start with an introduction to Rashida and her approach to punch needle design and creation. We’ll deep dive into materials and techniques, working through threading your tools, the pros and cons of fabric type and the best yarns to use. You’ll also create your own frame and stretch your fabric as the basis for your punch needle art.
This afternoon, we’ll put a modern twist on a centuries-old craft, taking inspiration from the ceramics we saw yesterday and creating a textile interpretation. With Rashida’s guidance, you’ll sketch simple tile-inspired motifs, create a cohesive color palette and translate them into punch-needle patterns. Using your original design, you’ll create a small set of punch needle tiles.
This evening we’ll enjoy dinner together while we sample some of the regional cuisine that makes Portuguese food so delicious.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4
Monday, April 20
This morning, we’ll get our hands dirty at our tile painting workshop. Here we’ll learn about the process of hand-painting tiles, typical Portuguese designs and colors, and the process for taking an existing image and making it into a tile stencil. You’ll paint your own tiles using traditional methods and they’ll be fired and ready for us to take home later this week.
The afternoon we make our way to the LX Factory, a creative hub and vibrant artistic district, home to design stores, art galleries and boutique shops. From here, the rest of the day is yours to explore. If you love museums, there are several to choose from including the MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) and CAM (Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian). If flora and fauna are your thing, you might visit the Jardim Botânico da Ajuda or wander the Estrela Gardens. Whether it’s the castle perched on a hill, offering spectacular views of the city (and peacocks!) or the waterfront to get your seaside fix, there are no shortage of sights to take in.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 5
Tuesday, April 21
Today we continue our workshop with Rashida, focusing on our next design. Today Rashida talks about inspiration and translation. She’ll share her process for curating imagery, patterns and colors and then walks us through how to fit those into a format best suited for a particular medium.
You’ll use photos you’ve captured throughout our days exploring Lisbon and work through a series of sketches to simplify your image into a motif that’s approachable for a punch needle pattern. With group instruction and one-on-one guidance, Rashida will help you land your design before you start the punch needle process. You’ll spend the remainder of the workshop getting into the flow of punch needle and resting in the rhythm of repetition.
Tonight, grab a fellow traveler or try a new restaurant on your own. There are several great options for dinner within walking distance from our hotel and we’re happy to share our favorites.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6
Wednesday, April 22
This morning we’ll enjoy a leisurely breakfast before we head over to one of Lisbon’s most famous yarn shops—a textile lover’s dream! Here we’ll learn what makes Portuguese wool so special, and in turn Portuguese yarn. We’ll see this shop’s signature yarn—handspun by artisans using traditional methods and tools. You’ll find out which yarns are best suited for particular techniques and maybe even bring some home with you.
Afterwards, we head to our culinary walking tour to discover the enchanting and complex food scene of Lisbon. Take a closer look and you’ll discover a city that maintains the deep-rooted links of its former trading empire, one that once connected Macau in the east to Rio de Janeiro in the west. We’ll visit some lesser known parts of the city as we taste our way through a variety of dishes. Along the way there will also be a tasting of signature Portuguese cheeses and wines, we’ll sample savory pastries at a historic bakery, a spot as beautiful as the pastries are delicious, and we’ll dine on a feast of flavors from dishes with influences from around the world. Finally, no day in Lisbon would be complete without a pastel de nata, the famous local custard tart, with a stop at a tiny neighborhood shop that serves one of the city’s finest.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7
Thursday, April 23
Today is our final, full-day workshop. Rashida will offer her best tips and tricks for the most common issues you’ll encounter in both punch needle art and adapting your designs for this textile medium. We’ll spend time completing and refining our projects, settling into the meditative cadence of punch needle.
This afternoon, Rashida will instruct us on blocking, trimming and finishing. Whether your piece ends up as a wall hanging, cushion front or framed fiber art, you’ll learn how to finish your work for display or functional use. We’ll wrap up our session with a mini gallery showing, highlighting not only what we’ve created but also our key takeaways for future projects. We’ll share the inspiration behind each piece and see the stories we’ve stitched into our textile visualization of Lisbon.
Tonight we have our final dinner together, indulging one last time in Lisbon’s modern food scene and celebrating our time together in this beautiful city.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8
Friday, April 24
This morning we pack our bags and say our farewells. Take one last pastel de nata to-go as you head out to your next destination.
Thank you for joining us on this incredible trip to Lisbon!
Meals included: Breakfast
Where We’re Staying
We’ll be staying at a 19th century townhouse that is loaded with charm, lovingly restored, overlooking a quiet historical praça, square or plaza. Specifically designed to feel like a home, it invites guests to become part of the thriving Lisbon creative scene. It features a spectacular fountain, palms and centenarian banyan trees, and it’s located in the Prínciple Real, one of our favorite neighborhoods in Lisbon that features a wide array of colorful boutiques and delicious restaurants.
Rooming Options
Please read below carefully and make your rooming selection on the Booking Request form.
The style and layout of every room is unique and may not be exactly as pictured.
Note: If you are two guests traveling together and would like to share one bed, please contact us for details about a shared bed option.
Group Size: Minimum 9 guests, Maximum 12 guests.
All prices are in USD.
BOOKING FOR THIS TRIP STARTS ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 AT 1:00PM PST
OPTION 1 - SHARED ROOM
with en suite bathroom
$5,495 per person, paid in two separate installments.
Rooming Details:
You will have a shared room and en suite bathroom for the duration of your trip. You and your roommate will have your own, separate beds. The rooms feature a cozy interior with antiques, crystal chandeliers and modern bathrooms with Portuguese tiled showers.
Initial Payment due immediately: $2,495
Final Payment due October 19, 2025: $3,000
OPTION 2 - PRIVATE ROOM
with en suite bathroom
$6,495 per person, paid in two separate installments.
Rooming Details:
You will have a private room for the duration of your trip. The rooms feature a cozy interior with antiques, crystal chandeliers and modern bathrooms with Portuguese tiled showers.
Initial Payment due immediately: $2,495
Final Payment due October 19, 2025: $4,000
Important Trip Details
Accessibility
Lisbon is famous for its hills and to enjoy this beautiful city we will be walking every day, often uphill. You should be comfortable walking uphill and on uneven or cobblestone streets for at least two miles. We will encounter many stairs and up and down hill portions of our daily walks. We will also have walking tours where uneven pavement may be present.
Culinary Notes
Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate vegan, gluten free, egg-free or dairy-free dietary restrictions on this trip.
Portugal has a very seafood + dairy focused culinary culture. This trip is best suited for those open and eager to enjoy and experience a variety of regional ingredients and flavors.
On our culinary tour: Some, but not all, tastings can be altered for vegetarians, but vegetarians will have to skip two dishes where seafood and meat are served as part of the traditional ingredients.
If you have any allergies or dietary restrictions, you will need to submit those on your booking request form. We cannot accommodate any allergies or dietary restrictions if you do not advise us when you submit your initial booking request.
Please contact us before booking if you have any questions.
Who is this Trip for?
This trip is for the open minded and patient traveler. You should be eager to learn and work hands-on during your workshop session and be curious about regional culture and cuisine.
This is an immersive adventure and best suited for those who enjoy traveling as a part of a small group.
Travel Health
We recommend consulting a doctor, nurse, health care provider, or travel health clinic once we confirm your booking on this Ace Camps Travel trip so you know what may be required based on your individual circumstances and based on the locations you’ll be traveling to. If you have any health concerns, contact your health care provider for advice prior to booking this Ace Camps Travel trip.
Trip Start + End Locations
This trip starts and finishes in Lisbon, Portugal.
Humberto Delgado Airport, also known simply as Lisbon Airport, is an international airport located 7 km northeast from the city centre of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. The airport is the main international gateway to Portugal with many direct flights from all over North America + Europe.
Weather
April is a nice time of year to visit Lisbon, as it’s spring and the flowers are in bloom. Days are usually warm with balmy evenings. Daytimes temperatures are usually range from 60°F to 70°F with evenings in the low 50s F. We recommend packing layered clothes for your stay and a light jacket and umbrella to prepare for the chance of showers.
Included in this Trip
Multi-day workshops with Rashida Coleman-Hale
Design translation from inspiration to punch needle pattern
Punch Needle Art including supplies prepping fabric, creating a working frame, punch needle techniques and finishing
Hands-on Tile Painting Workshop
Guided tour of the National Tile museum
Visit to Boutique shop to learn about Portuguese wool and yarn
Traditional Portuguese Culinary Walking Tour
Explore an off-the-beaten-track neighborhood in Lisbon
Taste the flavors of Lisbon and influences from around the globe
7 nights Boutique Hotel Accommodations in Lisbon
Transport during included meals and activities
7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
Dedicated Ace Camps Travel Host, with you throughout your trip
Trip Prep call to meet fellow travelers and talk through schedules, recommendations, and questions
Ace Camps Travel Host
An Ace Camps Travel Host will be with you through your trip, dedicated to ensuring you have the best possible experience. Your Host is there for any questions or concerns, to look out for the health and safety of the group and to help resolve any issues that might arise. This Host is not a local guide but will work with our local partners to insure the right combination of pace, information, and duration. Our local partners are deeply knowledgable in the culture and customs of the area and will be there to share their knowledge and passion with the group.
Not Included in this Trip
International roundtrip airfare; required Travel Insurance; alcoholic drinks; activities and food and beverages not included in the trip itinerary; hotel incidentals including but not limited to room service, laundry service and hotel bar tabs; and all expenses during free time.
Travel Arrangements
Ace Camps Travel will send you detailed Trip Planning information when it’s time to make your travel arrangements. We usually send this information once we’ve reached the minimum number of guests required to run the trip. We’ll also send you an Ace Camps Travel “Preparing for your Journey” document prior to your trip, which will include arrival and departure information, a suggested packing list, useful country information, and more.
Supplies
Essential supplies for your workshop will be provided. In addition to the supplies we provide, you’ll need to bring a few of your own things. Closer to your departure date, we’ll send more information about supplies you’ll want to bring with you.
Travel Insurance
As stated in our Terms and Conditions, we require all guests to have Travel Insurance that at minimum covers both medical emergencies and trip cancellations. Cancellations 180 days or fewer prior to the trip start date will incur a cancellation fee equal to 100% of the price for the trip. There are no exceptions to this cancellation policy which is one of the many reasons we require all guests to have Travel Insurance.
For full details on our Travel Insurance requirements, visit our FAQ’s and review our Terms and Conditions.
Health + Safety
Our goal is for each of our guests to enjoy the amazing trip we’ve put together. To ensure that happens, we put the health and safety of the group as our top priority. Individual guests are responsible for ensuring they meet all destination and layover country requirements and laws, including any Covid-19 related requirements, providing proof of vaccination, testing before or after entry, masking, etc.
During the trip, if you feel unwell, exhibit signs of, or test positive for an illness, you should be prepared to follow the advice of local health authorities as well as the Ace Camps Travel Host to ensure the health and safety of the entire group. Depending on the severity of your symptoms and/or viral nature of your illness the Ace Camps Travel Host may determine you need to mask, distance, self isolate, or depart the trip early. You are responsible for any expenses incurred from an illness, injury, or early departure including testing, treatment, isolation, accommodation, transportation, etc. and you will not be issued a refund for any unused portion of the trip. This is one of the many reasons we require all guests to have Travel Insurance, as outlined in our Terms and Conditions.
For full details on our Health and Safety Policies, visit our FAQ’s and review our Terms and Conditions.
Cancellation Policy
If you choose to cancel your trip for any reason, you must do so via email to hello@acecampstravel.com. If we receive written notice 181 or more days prior to the Trip start date, we will refund your initial payment, less a $1,000 cancellation fee. If we receive written notice 180 days or fewer prior to the Trip start date you will incur a cancellation fee equal to 100% of the price for the Trip. There are no exceptions to this cancellation policy, including for reasons related to weather, terrorism, civil strife, pandemics, illness, personal, family or medical emergencies, or any other circumstances beyond our control. For this and other reasons, we require you to purchase Travel Insurance.
Be sure to read our Terms and Conditions for full details on Booking and Payment, Cancellation by You and Trip Changes and Cancellations.
Questions + FAQs
If you have any questions about this Ace Camps travel Trip, please feel free to contact us.
You can also read our FAQs here.
Hear from Our Past Guests