Sewing & Quilting
I taught myself to sew and quilt; it was a way to make the kid's clothes, make gifts, save money, and be creative. It also provided me with an outlet for a challenge.
When I moved back in the house I swore that I would be self-supporting. I saw that so many gals, either in bands or their partners were, were reconstructing men's XL concert / band shirts. So, after a few months I managed to alter a pattern piece into 6 different sizes. I went on to make other patterns, by trial & error. I made enough money for food, personal items, clothing, and to give the kids for spending money as well as buying them school supplies and clothes.
Little did I know Mike was running down to San Diego, every weekend, telling them that I didn't do jackshit [had to google to see if it was one or two words] lol. One day I get a letter from his sister telling me that I'm nothing but a leech, living off her brother. [BPD gonna see just how tight Mike pulled the woo over their eyes. Example: Mike's mom would buy the kid's clothes at the beginning of the school year on top of my contributions; basically, Mike did the minimum for the kids, and what he did do he frequently would rub in their faces.
I wrote Cindy back, yea, okay. I pay my own way and whether I am in the house or not, Mike has to pay the rent and utilities. I came up with an invoice of everything I did and sent it to Cindy and gave Mike a copy. I used my car to run the kids around [remember I lost custody and had no legal right to them] so gas, wear & tear on the car, housekeeping, cooking, and childcare. My fees for what I was doing, well-researched, came to about 80k per year. Then I told him he'd better stop running to others, telling lies [for attention and sympathy, like he did at BPD] or I'd leave and he could manage on his own. Asshole!
So, here is a sampling of what I made and sold on Ebay & Etsy:
Pictured is a Quillow, this is Mallory's [Instruction's below]
Angie Zapata (August 5, 1989 – July 17, 2008), was an American trans woman beaten to death in Greeley, Colorado. Her killer, Allen Andrade, was convicted of first-degree murder and committing a hate crime, because he murdered her after learning she was transgender. The case was the first in the nation to get a conviction for a hate crime involving a transgender victim, which occurred in 2009.[1] Angie Zapata's story and murder were featured on Univision's November 1, 2009 Aquí y Ahora television show.
Zapata was born on August 5, 1989, in Brighton, Colorado. From an early age, Zapata was feminine and expressed an attraction to boys. In middle school, Zapata disclosed her female gender identity to family and close friends. She adopted the name "Angie" when amongst family, while presenting as male in public. At the age of 16, Zapata began living full-time as a woman.[1][2]
Angie had three sisters and an older brother, Gonzalo. Zapata's family was supportive, although her mother worried for her safety.[2]
Zapata was 18 when she met Allen Andrade (age 31 at the time) through the mobile phone social network MocoSpace.[2] According to Andrade, the two met on July 15, 2008, and spent nearly three days together, during which they had a sexual encounter. Prosecutors state that Andrade later discovered that Zapata was transgender and subsequently began beating her—first with his fists and then with a fire extinguisher—until she was dead. In the arrest affidavit, Andrade said he thought he had "killed it" before leaving in Zapata's car with the murder weapon and other incriminating evidence.[3] Andrade was arrested near his residence driving Zapata's car.[4][5]
The possibility of prosecuting the case as a hate crime was pressed by Zapata's family.[6][7][8] The actual trial began on April 16, 2009. During the trial, the jury heard jailhouse conversations in which Andrade told a girlfriend that "gay things must die."[1]
On April 22, 2009, Andrade was found guilty of first degree murder, hate crimes, aggravated motor vehicle theft, and identity theft.[9][10] He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.[9] Because Andrade had six prior felony convictions, the judge dubbed him a "habitual criminal" at his May 8, 2009 sentencing trial for the hate crime and theft convictions.[10] This added additional 60 years to his sentence.[10] As of October 2015, Andrade is serving his time at Limon Correctional Facility.[11]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Angie_Zapata
***
I used to watch court TV and I watched this case. It shook me to the core. I thought I would never stop crying.
I worked for an organization in 2003-2004 where in meetings and conferences, only my 3 coworkers and I were straight [breeders] with everyone else identifying with the LBGTQ+ population and for the majority of time in the late 80s I only attended non-straight AA meetings.
Watching the trial, hearing the defense disrespect Angie, just left me ice fucking cold. After the trial, I felt like I knew Angie and her family, leaving me feeling more powerless. I had to do something, so I made this wall quilt for Angie's Mom; not sure if she got it, but my heart was in the right place.
I used printable fabric using the colors that I thought most represented her and what she gave to other people in her life.
RIP Angie 💕
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