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Chiquita Sheryl Whitfield

Owner, Quiltmaker

  Detroit, Michigan, United States    

Great Lakes African American Quilters Network

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Chiquita Sheryl Whitfield was born the youngest of 4 girls on Monday, June 5, 1961. Her parents (Howard and Barbara Whitfield) were both artistic and creative. Her father’s artistic skills and creativity was evidenced in his side jobs of painting and decorating homes. Her mother was very creative teaching her daughters to hand sew and up-cycle clothes.

Chiquita’s creativity was developed through her mother by teaching her to recycle her hand-me-down clothing from her 3 older sisters (Charmaine, Calista, and Cynthia). She started hand sewing crafts as well (i.e., pillows, curtains, etc.). Chiquita learned how to sew clothes by the age of 12.

Chiquita’s interest in quilting was sparked after she joined the U. S. Army. She was stationed at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Aurora, CO and attended a Christmas Quilt Show. The beautiful quilts with all of the colorful and intricate patterns mesmerized her. By January 1980, she was taking patchwork-quilting lessons (hand-sewn) from the vendor who invited her to the show. Chiquita’s quilting evolved overtime; however, due to the demands of the military and life experiences (marriage and the birth of a son, Tony), she stopped quilting for many years.

In February 2010, Chiquita learned how to bead to make jewelry and started a craft business named, C & C Crafts. She taught her daughter (Cynthia) jewelry making and they were featured in The Detroit News, Friday, May 14, 2010.

Chiquita was inspired to return to quilting in 2016 after meeting Great Lakes African American Quilting Network (GLAAQN) members (Jean and Margie) at the African-American World Festival on the grounds of Charles H. Wright Museum of African America History. To her humble honor and delight, her quilts have been displayed in different exhibits around Michigan.

Besides sewing clothes and quilting, other artistic expressions Chiquita partake in are: crocheting, beading, hand embroidery, and macramé. She desires to leave a legacy of quilting to her family by the memories of her quilts and her family learning to quilt.

As a retired Registered Nurse, Chiquita has comforted countless patients for over 33 years. However, it has been quilting and crafting that has been her comfort and saving grace throughout all of these years. Chiquita stated, “Quilting speaks to my soul and gives me a sense of accomplishment after seeing the end product after many weeks or even months of quilting. My style of quilting is just like me…exquisitely eccentric!&rdq

When was the quiltmaker born?

06/5/1961

Ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

African American/Mandika Tribe

Educational background:

Masters of Science in Nursing degree, MSN

Religious affiliation:

Baptist

Occupation (if retired, former occupation):

Retired Nurse

Where was the quiltmaker born?

Detroit, Michigan (MI), United States

Where did the quiltmaker grow up?

Urban

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Whitfield

Father's Name:

Howard Whitfield

Mother's Name:

Barbara Whitfield

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

From friend

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 11-19

Why does/did the quiltmaker quilt:

Pleasure, Therapy

Name of quilting group(s):

Great Lakes African American Quilters Network (GLAAQN), Livonia Civic Park Senior Center, MI. Multiple group activities: charity quilts, veteran quilts, quilt shows, festival exhibits, Black history exhibits, etc.

Estimate the number of quilts made by this maker:

20-50 quilts

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

yes

What price was charged for the quilts and when were they sold?

$1,000

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?

yes

Available sources for quiltmaker:

The Detroit News

  • Documentation Project; Guild

    Great Lakes African American Quilters Network

    Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Michigan Quilt Project

  • Documentation Project

    Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

  • Documentation Project

    Michigan Quilt Project

    Michigan State University

  • Exhibit

    Afrofuturism & Quilts: Materializi...

    Furman, Ph.D., Liv

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    Wakanda Forever

    Whitfield, Chiquita...

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    Wakanda Forever: ...

    Whitfield, Chiquita...

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