TELL THEM YOU LOVE THEM
Our "Cheyenne Tee" was created to Honor and Remember the Life of Cheyenne Little.
This Creation Represents Finding Beauty and Empowerment within Yourself.
A Story of Overcoming Struggles and Grief through Strength and Faith.
cheyenne
Cheyenne Little, may she rest in peace, passed away unexpectedly on April 14, 2021.
Anyone that knew Cheyenne, loved her. Kaleb and I had the pleasure to see Cheyenne almost every holiday or birthday celebration for over ten years. Cheyenne’s sister and best friend, Courtney, is our lifelong friend whom was even a Bridesmaid at our wedding and her daughter, Aubree, was our Flower Girl. So in an essence, Cheyenne has always felt like family.
At only 26 years old, Cheyenne was known by many for her outgoing and bubbly personality.
Anyone that knew Cheyenne, loved her. Those who she loved she would always take up for no matter the circumstances. Loyal. Those who needed her, or was less fortunate she was there. Warm hearted. She could be the loudest in the room, proud & vocal on her opinions & feelings. Firecracker. She could be the quietest person in the room at the same time, observing & taking everything in. Smart. Aware. Always ready to have a good time. Free spirit. Cheyenne’s personality was a tornado of the best things this life has to offer.
v.xiv.
Exactly a month since Cheyenne’s passing and the day that has been set aside to honor
and celebrate her since 1994 has come, her birthday. May 14th.
While brainstorming ways to celebrate Cheyenne like never before, her mother, Misty, had an epiphany. Misty realized that May is Mental Health Awareness Month in addition to Cheyenne’s Birth Month. Like many of us, Cheyenne silently struggled with Anxiety and Depression and since that is what Guilty Minds represents, Misty reached out to us with her brilliant idea for a
“Cheyenne” Guilty Minds Shirt.
“She struggled with her self-worth..” Her mother said, “but I realized that her tattoos
made her feel beautiful. It took me a long time to realize that.”
strength in tattoos
Kaleb and I both gravitated towards Misty’s description of Cheyenne finding beauty and empowerment through all of her beautiful tattoos. After looking at the research, it was surprising how many people resonate with finding peace and empowerment through getting tattoos. Tattoos are a medium of artwork which can serve as a symbol of hope. Expressing yourself by choosing to put something meaningful on your body forever is the ultimate message for self-expression. For some people, tattoos can mark significant occasions or serve as a snapshot of a time in life. Admiring your own tattoos can bring back the emotions and memories of time in life that the tattoo represents.
An article on YourTango eloquently stated “It’s empowering to turn something that pains you,
or that you feel is ugly (like a scar) into art, and even if you’re not someone with tattoos, they
are indeed an art form. Some people use tattoos as a way of remembering a death;
either of a relationship or a loved one, as tattoos can be a map of a person’s emotional life.
They’re a coping mechanism — something that gives them strength.
*Do not expect tattoos to solve any personal or mental health issues. Visible tattoos can have a negative impact on people's personal and professional lives depending on circumstance.*
cheyenne's tattoos
Cheyenne’s entire right arm was covered with tattoos that create an entire ocean scene from top to bottom. The top of her arm consisted of Ship Sailing above the turbulent water that slowly expose the majestic, mysteries beneath the water and all of the creatures within it. Her ocean consisted of a sea turtle, jellyfish, octopus, mermaid, and last but not least the scuba diver. “Our biggest fight was over that stupid scuba diver lol I told her that was the stupidest thing I had ever heard 😂 she was so mad” Misty reminisced on their mother- daughter banter. Cheyenne would tell people that it was because she loved the ocean and the artwork was so beautiful that no one questioned it beyond that.
As I began to do some research we found meanings and symbolism within her imagery that uniquely reflects Cheyenne's personality. The most amazing part, is that her tattoo choices was more than likely a subconscious decision. Sailing ships symbolize our struggles against life’s many challenges. The sea also represents our mythical imagination and the darker aspects of our consciousness. We know less about the oceans than any other place on the planet.
This sense of mystery can be thrilling but it can also be dark and dangerous.
the shirt design
To make this shirt in honor of Cheyenne we used photographs of her tattoo’s to create all of the imagery surrounding the Scuba Helmet. The ship, turtle, jellyfish, and mermaid are all drawings from her Left Arm Tattoo Sleeve. The flowers within the design are from the tattoo on her right shoulder that she had to commemorate her Nanny and Papa.
it is well with my soul
The back of the shirt reads “It is well,” which comes from the story below.
It’s incredible to think such encouraging and uplifting words were born from the depths of such unimaginable sorrow. We feel that the message of this story intertwines perfectly with Cheyenne’s legacy and creates a message of hope and remembrance.
Life can be so unpredictable—joys and sorrows, beautiful blessings and distressing difficulties can come unexpectedly. Our life’s dreams and plans can change in an instant. We all know this to be true. So how can we find peace amid such turbulence? Horatio Spafford knew something about life’s unexpected challenges. He was a successful attorney and real estate investor who lost a fortune in the great Chicago fire of 1871. Around the same time, his beloved four-year-old son died of scarlet fever. Thinking a vacation would do his family some good, he sent his wife and four daughters on a ship to England, planning to join them after he finished some pressing business at home. However, while crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship was involved in a terrible collision and sunk. More than 200 people lost their lives, including all four of Horatio Spafford’s precious daughters. His wife, Anna, survived the tragedy. Upon arriving in England, she sent a telegram to her husband that began: “Saved alone. What shall I do?”Horatio immediately set sail for England. At one point during his voyage, the captain of the ship, aware of the tragedy that had struck the Spafford family, summoned Horatio to tell him that they were now passing over the spot where the shipwreck had occurred. As Horatio thought about his daughters, words of comfort and hope filled his heart and mind. He wrote them down, and they have since become a well-beloved hymn:
When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll—
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to know
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Perhaps we cannot always say that everything is well in all aspects of our lives. There will always be storms to face, and sometimes there will be tragedies. But with faith in a loving God and with trust in His divine help, we can confidently say, “It is well, it is well with my soul.”
