RANDY METCALF/Arizona Daily Wildcat Silver Sea owner Elizabeth Mead holds up a Free Martha Stewart T-shirt at 137 E. Congress St. Kristine Alexander, a 38-year-old theatre arts senior, designed the shirt to show her support for Martha Stewart.

Christine Alexander was never much of a Martha Stewart fan.

But she decided to use her own entrepreneurial skills to rally support for Stewart after the controversial homemaker was convicted for obstruction of justice.

Alexander, a 38-year-old theatre arts senior, has created a "Free Martha Stewart" T-shirt to convey how unfairly she feels one of the most successful female entrepreneurs has been treated.

"I remember seeing Winona Ryder wearing a ÎFree Winona' T-shirt on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and thought it was a fun way of making a statement," she said.

Stewart was convicted March 5 for obstruction of justice after reportedly lying to investigators about why she sold ImClone stock the day before the stock crashed. Stewart was not charged with insider trading, which she was originally investigated for.

"I respected her as a business woman and admired the empire she built," she said. "When the conviction came, I was disgusted. They've wasted so much time and money, and I don't understand why there's so much hatred towards her."

If it had been anyone other than Stewart, the public wouldn't have gone after her, Alexander said.

Alexander said she felt a connection with Stewart because she's been in the business world and knows it's tough.

"Its OK for a man to be aggressive, but women have to tiptoe around," she said.

According to The Associated Press, Stewart is expected to be sentenced to less than a year in prison.

Alexander said instead of going to jail, Stewart should have to do community service.

"What a waste of taxpayers' money to put her in jail," she said. "She should have to do workshops with small business owners telling them how to make an idea profitable."

Alexander said she started out with 48 shirts and that her supply has nearly run out.

Alexander said she can fill the shirt orders. Shirts are also available at Silver Sea, 137 E. Congress St., for $17.95 plus tax.

Elizabeth Mead, owner of Silver Sea, said the shirts have been popular.

"People will first laugh. Then they'll want a shirt to show their support," she said, "There's only been one negative response."

Mead said Alexander has reprinted the shirt three times with different designs, and customers often come in with suggestions for new "Free Martha Stewart" T-shirts.

Alexander said when she wears the shirt, she gets a lot of laughs and positive reactions.

Alexander said she has a few black and white shirts left and won't print up any more shirts unless Stewart appears in the news again.

People who want to buy a "Free Martha Stewart" T-shirt can e-mail Alexander at cla@email.arizona.edu or call Silver Sea at 624-9954.