New Orleans
July 27, 2025 - August 2, 2025
Join Cotton Cuts (and Giucy Giuce)
New Orleans, Summer 2025
Join us in the heart of New Orleans for the Cotton Cuts Signature Retreat 2025, an unforgettable week of creativity, inspiration, and connection! Set against the vibrant backdrop of the French Quarter, this 7-day, 6-night retreat will be hosted at the luxurious Royal Sonesta Hotel, offering the perfect blend of comfort and culture. Immerse yourself in the city’s rich history, savor its world-famous cuisine, and explore its lively streets—all while indulging in your passion for quilting. Whether you're an experienced quilter or just beginning your journey, this retreat promises something special for everyone.
We are thrilled to welcome renowned quilter and designer Giuseppe Ribaudo (aka Giucy Giuce) as our keynote instructor. Known for his innovative techniques, mastery of color and dynamic designs, Giuseppe will guide participants through an exclusive Winding Ways workshop, sharing his color expertise and igniting your creativity. With daily sessions, shop hop excursion, and plenty of time to explore New Orleans after dark, this retreat is more than an event—it’s a celebration of art, community, and inspiration. Reserve your spot today and prepare for a week that will leave you recharged, inspired, and ready to take your quilting to the next level!
All for $2,699 for Double Occupancy
Register by April 1, 2025
Schedule of Festivities
**Subject to change
Day 1: Arrival and Welcome (Sewing room open 10am-1am)
Check-in and settle into accommodations
Open sewing 10am-1am
Welcome reception, 6-8pm
Day 2: Puzzle Mystery Quilt Clue Day (Sewing room open 7am-1am)
Breakfast, included
Clue releases throughout morning
Lunch, included
Clue releases throughout afternoon
Dinner, on your own
Clue releases throughout early evening
Day 3: Puzzle mystery quilt reveal/assembly day (Sewing room open 7am-1am)
Breakfast, included
Clues Release throughout the morning.
Quilt reveal and assembly
Lunch, included
Assembly continues
Dinner, on your own
Show and Tell
Day 4: Excursion - Shop Hop Day or Open Sew (Sewing room open 7am-1am)
Breakfast, included
Free sew at Royal Sonesta or Motor Coach Shop Hop
Lunch, on your own
Dinner, on your own
Open Sew
Day 5: Giucy Giuce Workshop Day One (Sewing room open 7am-1am)
Breakfast, included
Trunk Show and Color Theory Lecture
Lunch, included
Workshop
Dinner, on your own
Open Sew
Day 6: Giucy Giuce Day Two (Sewing room open 7am-1am)
Breakfast, included
Workshop Continued
Lunch, included
Workshop Continued
Dinner, on your own
Open Sew
Day 7: Farewell (Sewing room open 7am-2pm)
Farewell Brunch, Included
Open Sew through 2pm
The Esteemed Educator
Hi there! My name is Giuseppe Ribaudo, but I am better known as Giucy Giuce.
I grew up in Long Island, NY. First generation Sicilian-American on my dad’s side and second on my mom’s, my family lived on the bottom floor of my maternal grandparents’ house. My parents were restaurant owners and as such spent much of their time working, so my sister and I were often upstairs with my grandparents.
My grandmother is a remarkably talented and prolific seamstress. She taught me to sew in the Sicilian fashion, which is to say she would show me how to do something and I would have approximately 10 seconds to demonstrate that I had learned it perfectly before she’d abruptly pick me up and sew the seam herself. I never much cared for the finicky elements of garment making, so sewing took a backseat for a while. It wasn’t until I was in college that I discovered quilting. I began with sewing improvisational quilts before moving into modern traditional territory. I joined Instagram shortly thereafter and quickly found myself making long distance friends in the ever-growing quilting community via social media.
After bouncing around the country for about a decade, I decided to move back to New York to pursue a career in textiles. Within a few months of being in NYC I was offered a marketing position at Andover Fabrics and was promoted to multimedia manager a year later. In 2018, I refocused my energy to fabric design and released my first collection Quantum. In 2021 I released my tenth collection called Nonna, an homage to my beloved grandmother and her home where I learned to sew. My most recent release, Sleuth, is the third and final collection in a true crime series I have dubbed The Gnarls Hollow Trilogy.
In 2020 I relocated to Portland, Maine where I continue to design fabric and patterns, lecture, and teach quilting workshops.
The Projects
Winding Ways
Also known as Wheel of Mystery, is a classic quilting pattern known for it's dynamic movement. Join guest instructor, Giuseppe Ribaudo of Giucy Giuce as he demonstrates how to utilize varying values to create your own kaleidoscope rendition of this timeless quilt design. Gentle curves and dynamic color choices are all it takes to create a quilt that you'll cherish for a lifetime.
This workshop will be 2 full days and will include cutting templates and Giuseppe’s pattern.
If you choose to cut your own fabrics ahead of retreat, you will need the following. Students are asked to cut fabrics ahead of the retreat so focus can be applied to color, layout and assembly.
Background Fabric- about 4 yds white or low value fabric suggested
Assortment of fat quarters in varying values (about 4 yards)
1/2 yard of bias cut binding
Backing - 3-3/4 yards
Optionally, Cotton Cuts will be offering precut kits, designed by Giuseppe in his new 40 Collection for Andover Fabrics, releasing in June 2025. We will cut all of those curves on our die cutters and provide extra fabrics to allow for maximum time laying out different color options during the workshop time. We will also be offering wide back fabric kits for this quilt design. Both kits will be available on the retreat registration screen.
Cotton Cuts - A Puzzle Mystery in real time!
Included with the price of the retreat, we will be sewing a NEW Puzzle Mystery quilt in real time! Every 90 minutes, a new clue will be released to all retreat participants. At the middle of day 2, we will be revealing the final design and completely finishing a puzzle mystery quilt in 2 days.
As with all Cotton Cuts mysteries, there will be a choice of 4 different colorways to complete the mystery. We will be sending the colorways out about 3-4 months prior to the retreat.
All quilts will be in the “Large” puzzle mystery quilt size - 72” x 72”. Cotton Cuts will be offering the option to add extra borders and wide back fabric kits for backing for these quilts. They will be available on the registration screen.
Accommodations and Facility
The retreat will be held at The Royal Sonesta New Orleans. The Royal Sonesta New Orleans has been a beacon of hospitality in The Big Easy for over 50 years. Opened in 1969, this luxurious haven is nestled in the heart of the French Quarter at 300 Bourbon Street. As a premier luxury 4-star hotel, the Royal Sonesta offers an unparalleled VIP experience for our guests, blending modern comforts with the rich history and vibrant culture of New Orleans.
The hotel boasts a range of exquisite accommodations, including the coveted Bourbon Balcony rooms, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the lively ambiance of Bourbon Street. With over 20,000 square feet of event space spread across 20 meeting rooms, The Royal Sonesta is perfect to cater to our needs, ensuring every event is executed flawlessly. The 483 guest rooms are designed to provide the utmost comfort and sophistication, appealing to leisure travelers, families, solo adventurers, and corporate groups alike.
Recognized for excellence, The Royal Sonesta New Orleans has been honored to receive the prestigious U.S. News Best Hotels in USA 2023 award and the 2023 Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Award. Every guest is royalty. Long Live the Guest at The Royal Sonesta.
What’s Included?
Experience the magic of quilting in the vibrant heart of New Orleans with Cotton Cuts Stitchin’ in the Big Easy Quilt Retreat! Spend an entire week at the luxurious Royal Sonesta Hotel, where creativity meets comfort in the rich cultural ambiance of the French Quarter. Enjoy 7 days of sewing, 2 full days of instruction from Giucy Giuce, and tackling exciting projects with optional pre-cut kits available for purchase. Your retreat includes a curated swag bag filled with premium quilting goodies, a large PMQ kit, and exclusive Cotton Cuts surprises. With extended sewing hours, unforgettable local excursions, and the dedicated support of the Cotton Cuts team, this retreat is designed to inspire, connect, and delight.
Welcome Reception with light snacks and drinks
7 days and 6-nights lodging in a beautiful and luxurious 4-star hotel
Limited number of Featherweight sewing machines available for rent to sew on all week, or you may bring your own machine if you prefer.
Your own 6' table, so there is no need to have to share your space
7 fun-filled days of sewing, and laughing, and making memories
A world-class instructor
Tips and tricks to make your quilt making easier.
Cotton Cuts Member Care support on site.
Two sewing projects that were selected so that you can have fun and you can FINISH!
AMAZING Cotton Cuts swag bag, valued at over $250
Exclusive event T-shirt
Excursion to local quilt shops and attractions on a luxury motorcoach
Six breakfast and four lunches included at minimum. Each hotel will have customized food options.
Many other hotel-specific amenities (see each location for more information)
Prizes, surprises, and lots of lagniappe
All for $2,699 for Double Occupancy
Register by April 1, 2025