French Quarter Retreat for Mardi Gras (Idea)

Hotel Lautrec Opera
If you can't go to France or even to New Orleans, at least you can pretend!
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This is an idea for a quilter/sew-er’s/women’s/girls retreat idea– which could be for a quilt guild, a sewing bee, or a group of friends just wanting to get together. The daytime activities listed are for the women, but you can also include your boyfriend/husband/significant other in the evening activities/dinner and breakfast.

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It begins with you bringing one item you think is “French”. Give wrap the item. It could be anything- so the possibilities are endless. This is your “ticket” into the retreat. Anything goes!  The gifts get placed into a box for the end of the retreat.

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Every retreat has to have projects and below are several to choose from, along with a link to where you can possibly purchase these patterns, as some are from a few years ago.  These are from my personal collection, and I have scanned in the covers of these so you can see what I'm talking about. You could also substitute your own preference for a project or pattern– have it relate to the theme.  After you see the project/patterns below, you’ll get the idea of what you could possibly substitute.
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This is the quilt pattern that inspired this idea for me.  It can be made with a packet of Fat Quarters in a single fabric collection.  The quilt is 72" x 72".

French Quarter by Joanna Fiqueroa of Fig Tree Quilts

You have to visit their website--

Merveilleux!!

http://www.figtreequilts.com/

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Next is:

"Nudes Flash Needlecase" by Elinor Peace Bailey.  Everyone needs one of these!

http://www.epbdolls.net/

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How about this:   "Weekend in Paris Pillow" designed by Lyn Hosford, published in Need'l Love "French Market Threads" booklet. 

http://www.needllove.com/ 

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Frilly Dilly Bag by Janelle Wind,  http://thejanellewindcollection.typepad.com/

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Petite Gateau pincushion by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree Quilts, http://www.figtreequilts.com/

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Cupcake Pincushion by Sandi Henderson, Portabellopixie Boutique Patterns, http://www.sandihendersondesign.com/product-p/sh05cp.htm

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"Primitive Pears" by Trudi Honeycutt http://www.crowsintheatticprimitives.blogspot.com/

Also printed in the Spring 2010 issue of “Prims” magazine.

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Anything from "Let Them Eat Cake" by Susan Maw and Sally Bell (sisters).  I love this book!  I want one of each (project)!! 

http://www.maw-belldesigns.com/Maw-BellDesigns.asp 

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I think you get the idea, right?  Anything yummy!

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Play french music in the back ground.  Joanna Figueroa's blog has some nice music on her playlist.

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FOOD SUGGESTIONS

Breakfast: You must have French Market coffee, which is Chickory and coffee. Just remember to use HALF of what you normally would for regular coffee, otherwise it will be way too strong.

http://www.frenchmarketcoffee.com/

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Beignets, coffee from Café du Monde  http://www.cafedumonde.com/beignet.html 

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Pain du Chocolate

http://dinnerwithjulie.com/2010/02/06/pain-au-chocolat/

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Croissants

http://www.latartinegourmande.com/2006/10/19/croissants-step-by-step-la-confection-des-croissants/

Pastry chefs would groan at this suggestion:  Walmart's that have bakeries have croissants.  They'll have to do if you have no bakery in your neighborhood.

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LUNCH

Chicken Salad on Croissants

http://southernfood.about.com/od/chickensalads/r/71214a.htm

Soup du Jour (of course)

Your choice of soup

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DINNER

Chicken filets in Orange or Apricot Marmelade

(don't have a recipe for these- you'll have to search for one you like)

Risotto

After dinner drinks:

Hurricane

http://www.drinksmixer.com/cat/3226/

SNACKS

Chocolate Truffles

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EVENING ENTERTAINMENT

Movies

I picked these because they either have to do with something French, France, or New Orleans.  I like "Chocolat" because it takes place during Lent.

“French Kiss” with Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline

“No Mercy” with Richard Gere and Kim Basinger

“Chocolate” with Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp

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Before going home, have everyone pick a going away gift from the gifts that were brought as a ticket, as mementos of the weekend.



Collective Wisdom and Iced Tea

(Scroll Down past script for Iced Tea Recipe)

From Bebe: Nothing delights me more than to see young mothers out and about with their little children! I really admire these brave women, who are out there, trying to do it all these days!
One thing I wonder about, though, is why do we have to always "reinvent the wheel"? What I mean is, there really ought to be things we've already learned as human beings that just automatically get passed down to the kids - without having to teach them. Sort of like instinctual knowledge.
I asked all my "mothers" (Hannie Jo, Sarah J., Granny Lil and Dottie Rose):
***** "If you could implant a piece of knowledge into your child, something you didn't have to teach them, what would it be?"****
I would be pleased if you added your own piece of wisdom in a comment. Your comments will be moderated and posted, if you wish. Limit to one or two. Thank you!
Here are my "mothers" answers:
Hannie Jo: Pre-potty trained children would be good!
Sarah J: How to do first aide and be safe, like not sticking their fingers in sockets. Also, how to use their education would be good.
Granny Lil: How to be kind to one another.
Dottie Rose: How to control their temper.
Bebe: After thinking about it all, and talking it over, we all agreed, it wouldn't be much fun raising children if you didn't have to teach them anything!! We all learn from each other, and that's how we become who we are.
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What's this got to do with the photo above? Well it all started over a good glass of iced tea. . . . And who knows how to make the best. I'm sharing my "collective wisdom" from all of us to all of you, with the recipe below!

RECIPE FOR THE BEST ICED TEA

Start with Tetley brand. We use decaffeinated. To add a little "zip", make it with one caffeinated family size bag, or 2-3 regular sized bags. We found Luzianne tea to be a good second choice. We never use Lipton brand because it's too bitter.

1. In the ice tea brew machine: put 3 Family Sized tea bags,(or 7-8 regular sized bags) minus the string, in the basket.

2. Fill the pitcher of water up to the 3 quart "water" mark. (Or: put 7 cups water in pot or teakettle on stove; heat water to boiling; brew tea to desired strength.)

3. Pour the water in the heater part, put the "basket" of tea in place, and turn on the machine.

4. In the pitcher, put 3/4 cup of sugar. (To make it less sweet, use 1/3 cup sugar.) When all the water is done perking, stir sugar to make sure it's dissolved. (It's nearly impossible to dissolve all the sugar in a cold pot of tea.)

5. When it's done brewing, fill your glass up to the top with ice, then the tea. Don't add water to the pitcher of tea.

6. Add one teaspoon to one tablespoon of Fresh Squeezed Lemon to one pint (2 cups) of tea w/ice.