Wormans' Work

Clearing space, trying new things

I’ve finally been getting stuck into the big stack of vintage tablecloths we picked up during last year’s Big Term One Tour — and it’s been very satisfying to see them slowly turn into wearable things.

Weather permitting, we’ll be back at Central Flea this Sunday, 8 February 2026 — and it’ll be our last market until late March / April (TBC). So if you’ve been meaning to pop by, this is your moment ✨

Clearing the sewing room

I’ve got a stack of ponchos coming with me this Sunday, and they’ll only be $50 each. Storage is tight, and I’m craving a bit of creative breathing space — so this is very much a clear-the-shelves situation.

They’re all made from reclaimed textiles, each one a little different, and this will likely be the last time you see this batch together.

There is one new poncho that I’m still a bit emotionally attached to. It’s giving strong Battenberg cake vibes — soft colours, a bit playful, very cute. That one is $60, mostly because I need convincing to part with it 😅

Hats

I’ve also been turning towel off-cuts into hats — practical, fun, and a satisfying way to use up smaller pieces that would otherwise be waste.

Big Ted takes his modelling duties very seriously but they may even look better on you.

Visible Mending

Tablecloths work hard which means by the time I get them, they’re not always perfect — but that doesn’t mean they’re done. There are ways to work with marks, wear, and the odd tear so the fabric can keep being used.

One of my new makes needed a little extra thought…

Off-cuts became a lace flower detail, finished with the perfect button Alan found in the big box of buttons gifted by our lovely neighbour, Hei.

One of my new makes needed a little extra thought. Off-cuts became a lace flower detail, finished with the perfect button Alan found in the big box of buttons gifted by our lovely neighbour, Hei. No one sees the tear now… right?

This was also my first time sewing French seams, and honestly, it wasn’t nearly as hard as I’d built it up to be (thanks YouTube for the skill and the rabbit hole I found myself in – love this guy).

There’s also a blue top, made from another generously sized tablecloth. Nice fit for ladies built like me!

Circle tablecloth skirt (and a possible keeper)

This is my second skirt made from a circle tablecloth, and yes — the elastic was salvaged too. I think it’s pretty cute.

It didn’t sell the last time I took it to the market, and honestly, if it doesn’t sell this time, I think I’ll keep it. The skirt fits a range of sizes, thanks to the elastic waist and belt loop holes, so it’s comfy and flexible.

Nearly Forgot, More Bunting!

If you can’t make it to the market but see something here that you love, get in touch — I’m always happy to chat about what’s available 💛

Fingers crossed for kind weather on Sunday.

— Emily

Lucky Dip Art : Cross Colours (an experimental process)

Lucky Dip Art let’s me tell a story or communicate an emotion. To achieve this I use various techniques.

You can get your hands on this series of Lucky Dip Art at Central Flea on Sunday 11th January 2026.

For this week’s Lucky Dip Art I used the mono printing technique using a Gelli plate. After applying ink to a Gelli plate, you pop a piece of paper on top and add pressure then lift off the paper. The paper will remove all the ink that was on the Gelli plate.

In this series, I removed some ink from the Gelli using a plate (made from an old pizza box) just before placing the paper on top.

I deliberately made the corrugation run in different direction. This created texture in a cross hatch manner. As I used the plates they became bogged with ink and behaved more like a stamp rather then simply just lifting the ink away.

As the ink was water based – the carboard softened a bit. I sorted that out with a blast from my shed hair dryer.

As the layers of ink built up on the card, the prints came out differently.

I feel that the end results are visually beautiful and I hope bring joy to the viewer and future owners of these small bits of art.

Curious about mono printing? Reach out or subscribe to stay in the loop — we’ve got Auckland workshops in the works, and we’d love to have you join us. More details coming soon.

A Trifle of a Good Year

As the holiday season settles into memory — tucked away in journals, photo rolls, and moments like this incredible trifle that cousin Kate made for Christmas — we’re gently easing back into rhythm here at Wormans’ Work.

Emerging from our festive food comas and Christmas movie binges (we totally recommend the very cheesy Last Christmas, by the way), Emily and I have been taking stock and thinking about what comes next. Our main source of income, Science in a Van, doesn’t really kick off again until February, which gives us a bit of breathing room to make more things, explore new ideas, and spend some more time at markets.

We’re back at Central Flea on 11 January!

Lately, I’ve been having a lot of fun with the MACHINE, MACHINE, MACHINE, MACHINE print series. I’m keen to keep exploring the wonderfully top-hatted minds of the 18th and 19th centuries. A series I made for Lucky Dip Art: All That Glitters Is Sheffield has sparked ideas I’d love to develop further into a set of larger prints.

Looking ahead to 2026, I’m hoping to create more small, thoughtful collections like The Life I Please.

If markets are your thing but you can’t make it along, you can now buy selected items directly from our website (including that one-off art piece).

And if you know of any other markets or events where a we-make-things vibe might fit, please tell us about them.

What are your plans for 2026?

From Reclaimed Towels to Upcycled Ponchos (…and More!)

Around four years ago, I made myself a poncho from op shop towels. It’s been all over the motu with me as it’s comfy and big enough to get changed underneath!

Ages ago I wore it to Ladies’ Night at the Papatoetoe pools and was asked, “Where did you buy that?”. When I explained that it was handmade by me, that moment sparked custom orders, and suddenly reclaimed towel ponchos became a “thing”!

And now I’m known as the ‘Towel Lady’ at Central Flea…

They’re soft, warm, absorbent and every one is completely different. Each poncho starts with reclaimed towels and nearly every scrap gets used. The bigger leftovers become hats, the smaller ones turn into cleaning cloths and then, if there’s room in our worm farm, some of the scraps get given to Wiremu, Wendy, Wendolyn and their whānau! 🪱 This definitely helps with my landfill anxiety.

Want your own poncho, hat or cleaning cloth burrito? Find out when our next market is or see what you can buy online.

We also do commissions! Get in touch, give us your favourite towels and I can turn them into a poncho or hat. Each piece is handmade, comfy, colourful, and full of character — we love giving old towels a new life!

Lucky Dip Art And Beyond

Lucky dip art is a way of experimenting with art, putting out there and seeing how people react to it. For me its about a low stakes way to just create and experiment but also be able to give people the chance to experience and own art.

I’ve also created a series of print/collages called “Machine, Machine, Machine“. This work celebrates the wonderful ideas/inventions from the top hatted brains of the 18th-19th century. This body of work is named after a song “Man Machine” by Kraftwerk.

I love collections of things and I’m planning to make a few objects that are intended to take you on a journey and provoke emotion as you interact with them. The tin pictured above represents the thoughts of someone on the canals and river free, where no hasty words are spoken.

I’ll keep exploring these themes and letting the ideas grow as I go. I’m really excited to put them out there and see how you engage with them.

Lucky Dip Art- All That Glitters is Sheffield

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For this Lucky dip Art series I’ve been inspired by these Moore and Wright internal spring joint caliper. I love the metallic silver of the worn high points contrasting against the flat iron black of the nooks and appearing blueish at times. This and the sooty grim of the Industrial Sheffield has been the latest exploration at the bench and resulted in this lucky dip Art series.

Crucible steel is a process of making high carbon steel. The process was common across India and Sri Lanka. In 1740s Benjamin Huntsman started to produce steel with the acces to good iron ore and coal as well as great transport links, Sheffield in England was a great spot. Huntsman’s development and the high quality manufactory of steel items like cutlery, put Sheffield on the map. Sheffield still produces high quality steel today.

Get your own little work of art at our next market!

The life I please

A memory or a thought is not just one isolated thing. It is a collection, some of which are pivotal others are just decorative. Yet it take all parts to make a whole.

‘Boatman‘ by The Levellers is a song that talks about living a life different from the prescribed norms of society.

In this tin I try to represent the mind of someone on the canals and river free, where no hasty words are spoken.

This unique item is now for sale in our online market stall!

Lucky Dip Art- The Face Behind The Emotion

For just a couple of gold coins you can choose one of the envelopes containing a original artwork created by Alan Worman.

In this series The Face Behind The Emotion. I explore the phenomena I witnessing some times whilst performing as part of Science in a Van and doing magic. Sometimes people watch with no expression or any sign of them reacting to my performance at all. Then at the end they come up and tell me how much they enjoyed it, how funny they found it! What really rocks me is the emotional response they have. It is really quite a honour and shows that you never really know the effect you are having on people.

Get your own little work of art at our next market!

Machine, Machine, Machine, Machine.

I’ve always loved mechanical machines. I find the images of the wonderful ideas / inventions from the top hatted brains of the 18th-19th century amusing and I feel they are a real celebration of our species relationship with machine. The name of this body of work comes from a song ‘Man Machine’ by Kraftwerk.

The colors and texture used in this series are from my observations of the relics I grew up with from the industrial revolution in London and across the UK. Dark grimy browns of old bricks or the vibrant orange of clean brick. The texture created by worn layers of paint and rust, soot and oil grim. These are the voices the relics use to tell their story.

I’ve always loved the bicycle. Everything from riding one, fixing them and I really feel that the true impact of them is over looked in our history. The tall bike was used to light lamps on lampposts.

A few prints are still up for grabs — get yours at our next market!

Lucky Dip Art – Route, Destination.

This is a sneak peek at this week’s lucky dip art! Find us at Central Flea Market on the 30th November 2025 to nab one for yourself.

For a couple of gold coins you can choose one of the envelopes containing a original artwork created by Alan Worman

“Its not the destination, its the journey”, Ralph Waldo Emerson

These series of collages are a further exploration of a theme that came from an idea from my daily journal whilst on a road trip.

Get your own little work of art at our next market!

Lucky Dip Art- Brush with Motion

For only a few gold coins you can choose one of the envelopes containing a original artwork created by Alan Worman.

If you buy a piece on the 23rd November 2025 it will be from the “Brush With Motion” series. I enjoyed playing with the recording brush strokes and I’m entertained that sometimes it is as much as about removing paint with the brush rather than applying it.

Get your own little work of art at our next market!