Stumpwork Embroidery with Deborah Wilding in Madeira, 2nd - 9th February 2026

Your creative holiday package has been carefully designed to offer a seamless, relaxing, and inspiring experience, with the following included:

• Accommodation
  Stay in a beautifully appointed single or double occupancy room at the 5-star Quinta da Bela Vista hotel.

• Meals
  Enjoy delicious breakfasts, lunches, and three-course dinners, thoughtfully prepared by the hotel’s talented culinary team.

• Excursions
  Take part in guided excursions, with all entrance fees and transport included for a seamless experience.

• Stitching Work Room
  Access to a dedicated, air-conditioned stitching room, fully equipped with comfortable tables, chairs, and magnifying lamps to support your creative work

While we have taken care of most details for you, the following items are not included:

• Airfares
  Flights to and from Madeira must be arranged independently.
• Travel Insurance
  Comprehensive travel insurance is highly recommended and remains the responsibility of each guest.
• Beverages
  Drinks, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, are not included.
• Meals Away from the Hotel
  One lunch and one dinner during off-site excursions are not included.
• Tutor’s Kits
  Embroidery kits provided by Deborah Wilding are an additional cost and payable separately.
• Airport Transfers
  Transfers between the airport and hotel are not included in the package price but can be added to your booking for an additional cost.
• Gratuities
  Gratuities are not included. However, there is an option to pre-pay gratuities when finalising your booking, should you wish to do so.

Reaching Madeira is easy, with regular flights from major European cities.

• Travel by Airplane
  Madeira’s main airport is Madeira Cristiano Ronaldo Airport (FNC), located just outside the capital, Funchal.
  The airport is serviced by a range of international airlines, including Lufthansa, British Airways, EasyJet, Jet2, and several other carriers offering direct and connecting flights.

If you would like assistance with finding the best flight options, please feel free to contact us — we’re happy to help you arrange your travel to ensure a smooth and stress-free journey.

Your home for the week will be the award-winning Hotel Quinta da Bela Vista, a distinguished 5-star boutique hotel nestled in the lush hills overlooking the bay of Funchal. Dating back to 1844, this elegant family estate blends Madeira’s renowned hospitality with an atmosphere of luxury, tranquility, and timeless charm.

Recognised as Europe’s Leading Boutique Hotel by the World Travel Awards, Quinta da Bela Vista offers beautifully appointed rooms with stunning views across the hotel’s botanical gardens, the Atlantic Ocean, and the majestic Madeiran mountains. Thoughtful amenities, serene gardens, and impeccable service ensure you will feel relaxed and well cared for throughout your stay.

Dining Experiences
Your holiday includes a full dining programme featuring breakfast, lunch, and dinner — all prepared by the hotel’s talented culinary team using the finest local and seasonal ingredients.

• Avista Navios Restaurant
  Begin each morning with a delicious breakfast at Avista Navios, set in a charming dining room filled with natural light. In the evening, indulge in a refined Table D'hôte menu, with beautifully prepared dishes offering a taste of Madeira’s rich culinary heritage.
• Manor House Cocktail Bar
  Adjacent to the main restaurant, the Manor House Cocktail Bar provides an intimate setting to enjoy expertly crafted cocktails and premium drinks. Relax by the fireplace and soak in the elegant ambiance after a day of stitching or exploring.
• Bar Avista Navios
  Situated at the entrance to the restaurant, Bar Avista Navios is a cozy spot for a pre-dinner aperitif or a nightcap. Three evenings a week, enjoy live piano music, adding a touch of old-world sophistication to your evenings.

Throughout your stay, you’ll be treated to authentic Madeiran hospitality, luxurious comforts, and gourmet meals, creating the perfect environment for both creativity and relaxation.

To ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable stay in Madeira, we recommend packing the following essentials:

• Sun Protection: Sun cream, sunglasses, and a hat to enjoy Madeira’s mild, sunny climate.
• Swimwear: A bathing suit for relaxing at the hotel’s pool and spa facilities.
• Camera: Capture the stunning landscapes, historic sites, and your creative journey.
• Class Equipment: Don’t forget your embroidery essentials, such as scissors and any tools you like to work with.
• Travel Adapters: Madeira uses European standard plugs (Type C and F) – bring an adapter if needed.
• Comfortable Footwear: Closed shoes suitable for walking tours and excursions.
• Light Waterproof Jacket: Weather can be changeable in the mountains, so a light waterproof layer is recommended.

Having these items will help you make the most of both your creative time and your exploration of the island!

Health and Accessibility

If you have any severe medical conditions or specific accessibility needs, we kindly ask that you contact us before making your booking.
We are happy to discuss your individual requirements to ensure that we can provide the best possible support and advice for your stay.

Your comfort, safety, and enjoyment are our priority.

Deborah’s detailed class description for 2026 is currently being finalised. However, to give you a sense of her teaching style and creative approach, her 2025 course focused on projects inspired by historical objects, particularly 16th-century gloves and stumpwork panels.

Techniques explored included goldwork and stumpwork (raised embroidery) — creating texture, depth, and striking three-dimensional effects in the embroidery. Deborah shares not only expert technical instruction but also tips and tricks rarely found in books, giving each participant's work that extra “wow” factor.

Her designs are deeply influenced by nature and inspired by historic collections from institutions like the Fashion Museum Bath, the Holburne Museum, and private houses such as Mapperton House in Dorset. Throughout the course, Deborah also shares insights into her experiments with natural dyeing, her collaboration with the King’s Foundation of Traditional Arts, and her extensive background with the Royal School of Needlework.

Please click the link below to view all the projects Deborah is offering in her 2025 class:

List of Kits Available for 2025

Cancellation shall take effect only when Creative Experiences receives written notification from the person confirming the booking. All correspondence should be addressed to Creative Experiences, 55 Westfield Avenue, Cupar, Fife, KY15 5AA, United Kingdom or by email to info@creative-experiences. In all cases of cancellation, the deposit forfeit. The following cancellation fees expressed, as a percentage of the total holiday cost, will become immediately payable to Creative Experiences.

Cancellation charge:

Cancellation within 8 weeks; 40% of holiday cost payable

Cancellation within 7 weeks; 60% of holiday cost payable

Cancellation within 6 weeks; 80% of holiday cost payable

Cancellation within 4 weeks; 100% of holiday cost payable

Deposits

For any holiday, we require a non-refundable deposit of 20% of holiday cost. If your deposit payment is not received within 7 days, the holiday may be offered to other interested parties.

Payment of holiday cost

The balance of your holiday cost must be settled 8 weeks prior to the commencement date of your holiday. If your holiday booking is made within 8 weeks of commencement, payment must be made in full immediately on booking. If payments are not made in accordance to this schedule, bookings will be treated as cancellations and deposits will not be refunded.

Insurance

Every person for whom a holiday is booked with Creative Experiences must have adequate insurance cover and must be able to show us proof of insurance upon request.

Cancellation by the client

Cancellation shall take effect only when Creative Experiences receives written notification from the person confirming the booking. All correspondence should be addressed to Creative Experiences, 55 Westfield Avenue, Cupar, Fife, KY15 5AA, United Kingdom or by email to info@creative-experiences. In all cases of cancellation, the deposit forfeit. The following cancellation fees expressed, as a percentage of the total holiday cost, will become immediately payable to Creative Experiences.

Cancellation charge:

Cancellation within 8 weeks; 40% of holiday cost payable

Cancellation within 7 weeks; 60% of holiday cost payable

Cancellation within 6 weeks; 80% of holiday cost payable

Cancellation within 4 weeks; 100% of holiday cost payable

Alteration by Creative Experiences

If in the unlikely event that there have to be any alteration made by Creative Experiences, we will notify you as soon as possible and offer you one of the following options.

1. I) To accept the new arrangements
2. II) To cancel your holiday and receive a full refund.

We will not be liable for refunding any expenses, which have been occurred as a result of the booking.

Our holidays require a minimum amount of guests to be able to to continue with the holiday. We reserve the right to cancel or postpone the holiday in case the minimum number has not been achieved.

Changes

Should you wish to change your booking, Creative Experiences will endeavour to accommodate any changes subject to any differences in price and availability, but cannot guarantee that changes can be made. Creative Experiences will make an administration charge of £50 for any change in booking. Bookings cannot be changed within 2 weeks of the start of your holiday.

Responsibility

Creative Experiences will not be liable for any loss or damages occurred to any client as a result of:

Any event or circumstance which could have been avoided if the client had taken reasonable care.

Any circumstance or event which Creative Experiences or its suppliers could not have foreseen or prevented even with all due care and attention.

Circumstances out of the reasonable control of Creative Experiences such as strikes, wars, civil or political unrest, quarantine restrictions, terrorism, government actions, natural or nuclear disaster adverse weather conditions including injury or illness to staff thus reducing level of service.

Injury, illness or death due to any activity at any time during your holiday, except where such injury or death is caused by the negligence or fraud of Creative Experiences.

Loss of, theft of or damage to any of your belongings at any time of your holiday, whether within the chalet, in the neighbourhood or otherwise.

Injury, illness or death associated with the consumption of any food or drink we may supply except where such illness, injury or death is caused by the wilful negligence or fraud of Creative Experiences or its directors, officers or employees.

Excursion days

We do not accept responsibility if an artisan or person does not show up or cancels private booked excursion such as walking tours, artisan lessons, cooking lessons, wine tastings etc. Should this situation arise, Creative Experiences will try their very best to book another excursion and find an alternative at no cost to the client.

Our suppliers

Creative Experiences is working with third party suppliers such as hotels, villas, transfer companies and others. We are more than happy to discuss any of your requirements such as food allergies with hotels, specific room allocations, pick and drop off times with transfers companies, however we cannot guarantee that your request can be fulfilled. In case of special client requirements not being accepted by the third party, we will be contacting you at our earliest convenience to let you know.

Complaints and Problems

In the unlikely event that you have any reason to complain or experience any problems with your holiday, you must immediately inform the Creative Experiences representative and the supplier of the service(s) in question. Any verbal notification must be put in writing and given to our representative and the supplier as soon as possible. Until we know about a problem or complaint, we cannot begin to solve it. Most problems can be dealt with quickly. If you remain dissatisfied however, you must write to us within 28 days of your return to your home country giving your booking reference and full details of your complaint. We regret we do not accept any liability in relation to any complaint or claim which is not notified entirely in accordance with this clause.

Website Accuracy

Please note that the information and prices shown on this website may have changed by the time you come to book your holiday. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the website and prices, regrettably errors occasionally do occur. You must therefore ensure you check all details of your chosen holiday (including the price) with us at the time of booking. The website is the sole responsibility of Creative Experiences. It is not issued on behalf of and does not commit any independent organization/carriers whose services are featured in it.

Emergency

Creative Experience will provide you with assistance in case of emergency during your holiday with us. We can help you bringing you to health services, working with local authorities and international consulate in case you lost your passport or important papers.

If you have an emergency because of your own negligence, Creative Experiences may ask you for a fee occurred during the process such as extra transfers, missed bookings with third parties and more.

Conduct

When you enjoy your holiday with Creative Experiences, you are responsible for any damage or loss caused by you. In case of damage in a hotel or villa (third party supplier), the client has to pay the damage charges directly to the supplier.

We do reserve the rights to cancel your holiday, in case you put others in danger through your actions, verbal abuse and by causing significant distress to other holiday makers who are joining that group. We do not tolerate violence or abuse in any form to our clients or staff members.