HANDMADE
ROCKING HORSES
GET TO KNOW ME
I grew up on a farm on Australia’s Mornington Peninsula. It was the perfect environment to develop a love for natural materials, such as wood and leather, and to appreciate the beauty of the countryside.
A love of working with timber led me to I study Furniture Design and Construction at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, for one year before being accepted into the competitive Prop Making course at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney. During this three-year specialised degree, I worked with wood, leather, foam-sculpting, model- and mould-making and puppet making.
ROCKING HORSES
CLASSES
Learn to hand carve your own timber rocking horse!
Over the course of 4 days you will learn to use traditional tools and techniques to hand carve your own rocking horse. Whilst being a simplified version of an heirloom rocking horse, your rocking horse will still use all of the same joinery and constructions techniques used in all of my rocking horses. Classes are suitable for beginners, whilst still have room for experienced students to carve a more detailed rocking horse.
LATEST NEWS
EVENTS
CONTACT
Please do not hesitate to phone or email me to discuss your dream piece, place an order or enquire about a piece on this site. I am always happy to work with your particular specifications.
EMAIL: olivia@oliviaoconnor.com.au
PHONE: 0449 933 043
SOCIAL:
Olivia O'Connor Carving
1 week ago
Turning off cuts into little birds!
Tune in Saturday 9th, 10.30am (Melbourne time) on the Carbatec YouTube channel. ... See MoreSee Less
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The live show was great, thanks Olivia 👍
Kelly Grimm
Olivia O'Connor Carving
2 weeks ago
Happy Cows and Happy New Year to you!
A lot has been said about this year but I am grateful to my many clients who have supported my work and allowed me to have my very special job and way of life. And thanks to you all for following along on here as well!
As a person who would rather be in the shed than at a computer I have learnt to embrace teaching and demonstrating via livestreams, I’ve done private classes, was honoured to be a special guest on @marymaywoodcarving ‘s regular livestream and am thrilled to livestream the on 2nd Saturday of the month for @carbatec (and have some exciting collaborations coming up in the new year overseas!).
I had a great time doing live demos at @losttrades and @seymourexpo.com.au before lockdown and look forward to them next year too 🤞 I missed out on other live events but was shortlisted for the @woodreview maker of the year awards and started a rocking horse restoration book! A very big, very strange year all in all.
Wishing you all good luck, health
and happiness,
Olivia x
#2020 #2021 #goodbye2020 #happynewyear ... See MoreSee Less
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Great year of achievements Olivia. 2021 promises to be exciting for you! Love from Hilary & Ash xx
What a year !! Xx
Same to Olivia. Hoping 2021 brings you health, happiness and much contentment
You are a very talented lady Olivia , i love watching your work , i shall contact you soon about comeing to Ruby and looking at your Rocking Horse sample .
Love your work. I am saving up to have our Rocking horse restored. His name is Ding Dong and we have had him for 53 years.
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Olivia O'Connor Carving
3 weeks ago
Last carving for the year done and speeding through the post to somewhere much warmer...not feeling jealous of them at all 😂
#woodcarving #hares #rabbit #holidaymode #holiday ... See MoreSee Less
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Olivia O'Connor Carving
3 weeks ago
I had so much fun taking these photos that I just had to share a bunch more! Hope you all had some joy today! x ... See MoreSee Less
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Beautiful- thanks for sharing
Gorgeous
Olivia O'Connor Carving
3 weeks ago
Merry Christmas!!! ... See MoreSee Less
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Beautiful.
Beautiful ❤
Have a lovely Christmas.
Beautiful 😻
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas !!
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Olivia O'Connor Carving
4 weeks ago
Last horse delivery of the year completed just in time for Christmas !
#rockinghorse #christmas #christmashorse #woodcarving #memade #imadethis #bespoke #heirloom ... See MoreSee Less
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I would love to learn how to do them. xx
Just amazing
Happy Christmas to you both & as usual great work. XX
Dapple grey beauty. Someone is going to be so happy Olivia.
Love this 💕
Beautiful
Beautiful
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Olivia O'Connor Carving
4 weeks ago
Hey guys - look at this massive pencil and very large shavings! 😂😫🙄 ... See MoreSee Less
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Olivia O'Connor Carving
1 month ago
Rocking horse for the Robinson family 💕💕💕
#rockinghorse #woodcarver #woodcarving #memade #madeinaustralia #madebyhand #christmas #christmasgoals ... See MoreSee Less
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Thank you so much Olivia. Cannot wait to bring it back home to the Northern Territory for our little girl
Lucky family to have such a beautiful object!
Wow, that is a amazing job !!
Beautiful
Beautiful
Beautiful 😍 Can I ask what is your turn around time please in making these .As I'd ordered one 6 months ago to be ready by end of March 2021 but now its been delayed 🙁 So I've got my deposit back. So I'm looking for another rocking horse 🐎 😏
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Olivia O'Connor Carving
1 month ago
Q. The secret to carving?
A. Understanding grain direction!
Join me this Saturday on the @carbatec YouTube channel where I’ll demonstrate and explain how to work with timber grain when carving and it’ll be LIVE! So you can ask questions in real time!
Saturday the 12th, 10.30am Melbourne time or 9.30am Brisbane time.
#carbatec #livedemo #woodcarving #carving #oliviaoconnorcarving ... See MoreSee Less
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Olivia O'Connor Carving
1 month ago
Hello!
Please vote for my Golden Wattle Heron!
It's super easy...
1 Click on the picture below
2 Then click 'LIKE' (this will like it on the Wood Review page where the votes are counted)!
This carving means a lot to me personally as I really had to force myself to let go and let the timber guide and partly design the carving - something that is quite a break away from how I usually work. I've really been working on being more expressive with my carving pieces too - I do hope you like it!
Thanks so much,
Olivia xOlivia O'Connor ... See MoreSee Less
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Its beautiful
I absolutely love your.work and in the new year I will be sending you photos and measurements of a rocking horse that I would like you to complete and bring to life. The original carver passed away before completing it but also only did this as a hobby so his skills weren't anywhere near yours.
Just beautiful, good luck.
Gorgeous!
This is a beautiful piece- congratulations!
Beautiful
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Olivia O'Connor Carving
2 months ago
A recent restoration.
I made that rosette and I made the decorative tack in the middle, by taking a mould from an original decorative tack on the same horse.
How?
You’ll find out in the rocking horse restoration book that I’m currently writing... send help, it’s a big job!
#rockinghorse #antique #book #bigproject ... See MoreSee Less
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How come 2nd place rosette & not blue for first which all your work is!
Wow - you are so talented - the book is a great idea - good luck
Olivia O'Connor Carving
2 months ago
This sleepy little hare is catching up on some zzzzzz’s before a life of adventure and new wonders in America! What will she see? What will she do?
At least she’ll sleep well on the way there!
If you’d like a Sleepy Baby Hare necklace in time for Christmas, now is the perfect time to let me know, they come gift wrapped and if you’d like it sent straight to the lucky receiver I can include your note on a gift card too 💕 🐇 💕
#travel #jewellery #usa #necklace #handcarved #woodcarving #hare #madebyme #christmas #christmasgifts ... See MoreSee Less
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Hi Olivia i dont want to complicate things but do you or could you sculpt a hare for my garden , ps any idea on a day i can come up and look at your rocking horse display . thank you .
Olivia O'Connor Carving
2 months ago
Peter the Pony!*
*Stallion! Pony just sounds better 😂
#rockinghorse #woodcarver #woodcarving #christmasjoy ... See MoreSee Less
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So Handsome!
Nice job
He is lovely!
Magnificent 💙
I need, I want!
Stunning
How much would this cost please?
Gorgeous
Superb work.
Beautiful!
So beautiful
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Olivia O'Connor Carving
2 months ago
I’ve really missed doing live demonstrations and teaching classes due to covid this year, so I’m really happy to be doing a YouTube livestream tomorrow morning on the @Carbatec YouTube channel.
If you’ve missed attending classes or seeing makers at fairs make sure you tune in!
Saturday 14th November, 10.30am Melbourne time - from my studio to your computer. ... See MoreSee Less
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Olivia O'Connor Carving
2 months ago
Woodcarving fundamentals live lesson this Saturday morning on YouTube! ... See MoreSee Less
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Congratulations Olivia!