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
Scout the Zebra was my last make of 2021, so only fitting that here he is wishing you a happy new year!
For years I’ve wanted to make a zebra and a unicorn…2021 year of the Zebra, maybe 2022 will be year of the unicorn? Always fun to do something a little different!
#happynewyear #newyear #zebra #scout #rockinghorse #rockingzebra #handmade #madebyme #madeingippsland #madeinaustralia #madeinmelbourne #oliviaoconnorcarving
Ohh...this is lovely. Unicorn would be beautiful
Oh I do love Scout! Beautiful work as always Olivia 😊
Oh wow, he is fabulous! And a great name too 😉 Happy New Year Olivia, hope it is a great year for you 💕 Meg & (my) Scout xx
Love this my favourite so far
Oh I love Scout, amazing!
Beautiful! It must have been a fiddly job lining up the mane with the stripes, love it! 👍💖
wow that is truely beautiful 🤗
He looks wonderful Olivia! 🙏💕🙏
Oh my gosh he's beautiful and so different, love him
Wow a unicorn this year. Would love to see that
One day l’d love one of my boy Alfie aka Mr Handsome
It's simply gorgeous 😍
Absolutely magnificent 💙💙
Oh! He is fabulous, Olivia.
Wow! Love it!
Love it.,amazing.👏👏💕
He’s spectacular and I love 💗
This is fucking Awesome, Liv.
Olivia do you restore old horses, we have one that looks tired!
Wow…..he’s fabulous!
That’s beautiful
Spectacular! 😍💯 Pegasus in the future? 😏🥳
Beautiful 😍
Just gorgeous 👏🏼
Fantastic!
Yesterday Isabella and I had a road trip, all the way across the state to her new home. She was a perfect travel companion and didn’t once complain about all the road works!
I know someone who is going to have a very lucky Christmas! 🥰
#rockinghorse #christmas #oliviaoconnorcarving
I’m 50 years old and I’m still going to get one of those one day!!
She looks beautiful. I always wanted one as a kid even now when I look at these horses it stirs me still.
Someone is going to be very happy this Christmas! Every little girl's dream 💝
Just gorgeous. Happy Christmas to you both.
Absolutely gorgeous, love the tartan saddle blanket too. 🥰
Beautiful 😍 love the greys!!!!
Absolutely beautiful stunning
Beautiful Olivia.
Nice. We had one as kids.
Just beautiful
Beautiful.
Stunning 🤩
Louise Talbot remember when you had one of these.
That is gorgeous. How much do they cost?
Kolma Moors
Lovely!
Indy 💕💕💕
Love that muzzle! Also love it when clients ask me to recreate their own horse - always leads to the nicest little features.
#rockinghorse #woodcarving #handmade #bespoke
Omg this one is absolutely delightful look at those eyelashes
Absolutely beautiful!
Scott Kitwood I want to save up and get one of these 😍
Hi Olivia O'Connor Carving Do you restore old rocking horses ?
beautiful. what would one of these cost please
Kolma Moors
I’ve been waiting a while to show you Indy, she is an anniversary gift - I couldn’t risk ruining the surprise! She has been painted to look just like her owner’s real horse!
#happyanniversary #anniversary #rockinghorse #horse #antique #futureantiques #bespoke #heirloom #familyheirloom #handmade #handcarved #woodcarving #chestnut #indy #bespoke #oliviaoconnorcarving
beautiful. Love your work Olivia.
Magical
Beautiful 😻
Beautiful
Two happy makers! Come and visit myself and the very talented @amusingclay as we demonstrate woodcarving and beautiful ceramics! Here at @meeniyanartgallery until 1pm!
Classic Swallow, I’ve carved a number of these in Walnut and Maple. They are currently available for a delightful Christmas gift at Meeniyan Art Gallery @meeniyanartgallery
#art #swallow #bird #woodcarving #handmade #handcarved #maple #christmasgifts #giftidea #meeniyan #southgippsland #promcountry #local #shoplocal #oliviaoconnorcarving
Beautiful! As always
Carving demonstration!
Tomorrow (Saturday Dec 4th) I will be carving Sleepy Baby Hare necklaces at @meeniyanartgallery from 10am -1pm.
Please stop by for a chat!
It’s also a perfect time to get some Christmas presents that support local artists and the community - everyone wins!
#shoplocal #christmas #hare #necklace #woodcarving #meeniyan #visitsouthgippsland #mag #meeniyanartgallery #oliviaoconnorcarving #woodenart #jewellery
Oh my gosh these are gorgeous!!
Charming ❤️
Anna Jane
The votes are in - thank you to so many people across Facebook and Instagram who helped me decide if I should paint the tip of this fox’s tail or not. Team YES was in the majority, whilst team NO were very passionate 😂
I hope you like the subtle touch of paint, I sure do!
‘Faster Fox’ wall hanging is currently available at @meeniyanartgallery
#meeniyan #meeniyanartgallery #mag #fox #woodcarving #woodenfox #oliviaoconnorcarving #woodenart #woodart #woodartist
Okay, I've gone from a nay to a yay. Looks great. I'd imagined a thick coat but that looks fabulous.
Perfect
Oh glad you added a little white to the tail 🙂
Now it looks like a foxy. Fox ❤️🙏🌹
Love it!
It's perfect <3
For sale ?
Yeah
Help! Should I paint the tip of this fox’s tail with a splash of white?
I can’t decide!
🦊 🧡 🦊 🧡 🦊
#help #question #helpneeded #woodcarving #fox #oliviaoconnorcarving #woodcarver #christmasgift #meeniyanartgallery
I love the understated natural look.
If not, you could add some distinct carved lines to show the tip is different, like a fox tail.
Where can I buy one ! My son is crazy about foxes and would love this
Yes, tiny flick
Black on the tip
no just carv som detail at tip
Yes . Would be Great 👍
Yes only a lick
Fox on the run,
Yes I think you should.
Yes go for it 🐶
Oh I would
No, great as is!
Mmmm yes but you need to decide
Definitely
Definitely Nooo!!! Please
Yes I think so 😊
No
Yes
Yes
yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Scroll detail, carved by me in American Walnut…I’d really like to carve more of these!
That is gorgeous, looks so flexible. ❤️
Amazing work 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
That’s incredible!!
Beautiful flow Olivia!
Beautiful
Wow!
Charky the Cat.
Commissioned by my client as a loving reminder of a much loved friend 💕
She has been carved with the end goal of my client painting her and it was great fun to factor in a painted finish to something with so much texture.
#cat #woodcarving #catsofInstagram #catsofaustralia #tribute #inlovingmemory #pets #madeingippsland
wow, nice kitty
Wonderful
Today is the third day without power in my workshop due to storm damage - thank goodness carving and guilding (gold leafing) doesn’t require any electricity - just brain and hand power 💪☀️
To those of you affected in Victoria, I send you good luck and hope the damage isn’t too bad for you.
#indy #horse #power #storm #nopower #woodcarving #woodcarver #gippsland
Maybe you should have stayed in M/N as we are all OK!!!
Paul, the Peachy Palomino Pony is off to enjoy life in sunny Queensland ☀️🐎☀️
#rockinghorse #woodcarving #oliviaoconnorcarving #pony #palomino #queensland
Absolutely beautiful
Emily Closter
Samara Hinton Do you think Eleanor would like one? 😍😍
Gorgeous.
Very handsome.
Beautiful 🤩
Gorgeous 💕
Beautiful
Another fun video for Carbatec where I show you a new tool and a fun Christmas gift idea!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUY3qshWoHg&t=288s
They have some good toys Olivia😎
This sweet girl went on a truck all the way to Sydney last week. She stood, completed, in my workshop for about 6 weeks before she left (normally I only have my horses for a week before they go to their homes). I miss her a little bit 💕💕
#rockinghorse #horse #palomino #woodcarving #woodcarver #mare #sandy #honey #missyou #sydney #madeingippsland
She is beautiful Olivia🌈
Wow.. she is beautiful.
She is gorgeous Olivia
She’s beautiful 😍
Absolutely beautiful beautiful
Love her...💖💖
She is beautiful <3
Unfortunately I wasn't able to watch your carving session with carbetec, I have soon many questions
Beautiful 🤩
Wow so beautiful.
Beautiful !
Beautiful!
So beautiful
Beautiful
Super cute 🥰
Loving the timber grain too. ❤️
Stunning. 😍
Beautiful
Failing terribly at trying to take cute picture of cute dogs in the workshop.
#fail #dogsofinstagram #apprentice #manager #blueheeler #redheeler
Carving fun with the @flexcut_tools flexible drawknife on the @carbatec YouTube channel this Saturday!
11th Sep, 10.30am Melbourne time!
#woodcarving #flexcut #flexcuttools #drawknife
Good to see you!
Took a break from sanding and painting rocking horses to play with my wombat woodblock. He looks so at home on this fence post in the sun, will I ever be able to convince him to make more prints?
Hope the sun is shining wherever you are today!
☀️☀️☀️
#wombat #woodblock #sunny #sunsoutwombatsout #woodblock #print #carving
He is beautiful, do you have pictures of the prints he makes
So beautiful, oh I love him! 🖤
Gorgeous cheeky little guy
He is so cute Olivia
Love him/her!.
Happy Sunny Sunday! ☀️☀️☀️
It’s time to carve back these leg plates and have this little pony start to look like a bit more like a fat little pony 💕
#rockinghorse #sunny #sunday #woodwork #woodcarving #workinprogress #workinghorse #pony #fatpony #handmade #goingtoqueensland
Yoga pose or just awfully uncomfortable?
I don’t know what it’s like to carve alone…or without tripping over dogs 😂😂🐕🐾
#woodcarving #bestfriends #dogsofinstagram #goodboy #terry
I’d take that as a positive!
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:
