I wish you could buy creativity from the canteen... I have loads of ideas now, inspired by Kellermans strength but i am struggling to turn these ideas into designs...

Annette Kellerman had polio when she was young?!! And she managed to swim the English Channel?! What?!!

Well Annette Kellerman truely was a hero to her generation. Not only did she emancipate women from the conservative and constricting swimwear but she showed women they could do so much more with their lives than ever before.

As an elite athelete, she showed dedication to her sport, the magnitude ofher physical and emotional strength and her commitment to her health.

As an entertainer, she showed women could be sexual and sensual without being sexualised. She proved women could maintain dignity and gain respect by using poise, grace and strength.

As an ambassador to women stifled by the prudish morals of a turn of the 21st century society, Annette Kellerman became the voice of a generation of women liberated and muse to many who had fallen in love...

And she was a bit rude. Love it.

Ok so knits are tough. The test fabric has a fair bit of stretch in it - it feels nothing like our actual wool so that could prove difficult. And its such an heinous fabric I struggle to cope being in the same room as it, let alone use it to learn machining techniques. The binding machine is surprisingly easy to manipulate as with the overlockers. The elastic may have been a total fluke though, it went in first go. I tried again. It was definately a fluke.

Woollen Mermaids...

Under the Sea, hooray, I love the Little Mermaid!!

Australia's own mermaid Annette Kellerman is to be muse for our first assignment of the year - design and develop a swimsuit out of wool, inspired by Annette Kellermans life and career, that follows a classic 1920s-1950s silhouette and that reflects current trends...

PANIC!!! Out of wool? Ive never worked with wool, or knits, or twin needle machines, or 4 thread overlockers or binding machines!!

INTRIGUE!!! Who is Annette Kellerman? We have a real life mermaid in our maritime history?

EXCITEMENT... I love the classic silhouette of swimsuits from the the 1920s to 50s , vintage patterned fabric, embellishments and apparel decoration, the costume like designs, the playful use of colour and texture! Hooray!

But how am I going to put all this together? And reflect current trends? And all in two weeks?!! I need a disco nap to take this all in. A drink and a dart wouldnt hurt either.