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
5 days 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
1 week 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
1 week ago
Peter the Pony!*
*Stallion! Pony just sounds better 😂
#rockinghorse #woodcarver #woodcarving #christmasjoy ... See MoreSee Less
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He is lovely!
Nice job
So Handsome!
Superb work.
How much would this cost please?
Magnificent 💙
Beautiful!
I need, I want!
Stunning
So beautiful
Gorgeous
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Olivia O'Connor Carving
2 weeks 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
3 weeks ago
Woodcarving fundamentals live lesson this Saturday morning on YouTube! ... See MoreSee Less
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Congratulations Olivia!
Olivia O'Connor Carving
3 weeks ago
Computer on my work bench?! That’s never happened before!
But it is for a good reason: this Saturday the 14th of November I’ll be live-streaming a carving lesson from my studio to you from the @carbatec YouTube channel.
I’ll be teaching you woodcarving fundamentals, so this will be great to watch live if you’re wanting to learn woodcarving!
Saturday 14th Nov, 9.30am Brisbane time/10.30am for Melbourne and Sydney.
Hope to see you there!
#woodcarving #carbatec #livestream #weekend ... See MoreSee Less
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Olivia O'Connor Carving
4 weeks ago
Absolutely thrilled to have my Golden Wattle Heron shortlisted for the @woodreview Maker Of The Year - Art and Accessories!
Wonderful to be included in this talented group - congratulations to everyone who entered and good luck to those who are shortlisted with me: Grant Vaughan, @greg_hehir , Stephanie White, Vince Rush, @myles_gostelow_craftsman , Alby Johnston, Mark Rogers and Paul Mitchell ... See MoreSee Less
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Stunning! Xx
Wonderful news! Such a stunning piece. Love it
Beautiful work over those difficult curves 👏👏👏🥇🥇🥇
Olivia you are one very clever lady , not long now till i get to come to Ruby and look at your Rocking Horse counting the days .
Lovely craftsman/womanship! 👌
Beautiful, so delicate!
Very elegant!
Well done
Beautiful
Absolutely gorgeous 🥰
Olivia it is just beautiful, you are so gifted 😘
That is stunning, good luck!
Great work Liv!!! 👏👏👏
Beautiful 👏
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Olivia O'Connor Carving
4 weeks ago
For the last 4 years I have run a rocking horse workshop over the Melbourne Cup Weekend, it always proves to be a fun and popular 4 day long workshop, but due to covid restrictions I’ve had to cancel it. On the plus side I am taking my first public holiday day off since I started making rocking horses full time 7 years ago! This year I’m watching silage be made and relaxing before I get back in the workshop tomorrow and keep working on those Christmas horses!
#melbounrecup #silage #dayoff #covid_19 #lockdown #farmlife #rockinghorses ... See MoreSee Less
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Farm looks great!
Ohhhh no, don't dissapear completely, your allowed a rest though.
Ah the rolling hills of home.
Good to see you & your Mum at the market.
I hope you enjoyed your public holiday
Glad to hear you had a day away from the studio 😊
Great choice in machinery
Great photo, too
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Olivia O'Connor Carving
1 month ago
HELLO SPRING!
Not long to wait until I can start picking wild apples but oh I do love their blossoms 😍🍎 🍏 🐛 ... See MoreSee Less
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Ha Ha it is almost winter here in the USA!!! We are enjoying our fall apples now!
Olivia O'Connor Carving
1 month ago
Henry the Horse is looking mighty happy to be in his new home!
It’s really great to be able to get out and delivering rocking horses and settling them into their new homes lately 😊 ... See MoreSee Less
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CANT WAITE TO COME OVER AND LOOK AT YOUR DISPLAY ROCKING HORSE .
Great setting for Henry 👍🏻
Henry the horse 🤣
Id love one. But I wouldn't have the money to pay for one. I've wanted one like these since I was little. Never got one 😩
Beautiful
Beautiful 💙
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Olivia O'Connor Carving
2 months ago
Sneaking into nearly every picture from my workshop is my favourite bench, generously loaned to me by @glenrundellchairmaker whilst I get set up in this much larger space...and therefore needed a much larger bench than my old one! Who else has a bench that can hold one headless horse and the legs of three rams?
#bench #rockinghorse #woodcarving #workshop ... See MoreSee Less
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Olivia O'Connor Carving
2 months ago
About 2 years ago I had a minor brainwave and I still can’t believe it took me years to realise that I can split out a lot of the body before moving onto the drawknife, I used to just use a drawknife and it took me sooooo much longer. Needless to say I was left feeling stupid and pleased.
#rockinghorse #woodenhorse #woodcarving #woodcarver #progress ... See MoreSee Less
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Hi Olivia ha yes our brains work in mysterous ways keep up your beautiful work , hope to come vistit you and look at your Rocking Horse Sample once our Resrictions are eased as im stuck here in Pakenham .
Experience is a great teacher
Have no idea what you are talking about but you do fabulous work Olivia 👍🏻
Olivia O'Connor Carving
3 months ago
Photos from Wood Review's post ... See MoreSee Less
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Such amazing work!!!! Fingers crosses for the finals and beyond!! 😘
Olivia. You deserve the best result for your magnificent creation. Wishing you the very every success.
Good luck Olivia, this price is just amazing 🌟
Good luck Olivia, what a stunning piece of artwork 😍
Your Hippocampus is magnificent 🤞🏻
Good luck Olivia O'Connor Carving such a wonderful piece
Love
Just beautiful!!
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Olivia O'Connor Carving
3 months ago
Ohhhh the colour in this Golden Wattle 😍😍
#woodcarving #woodwork #golden #wattle ... See MoreSee Less
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Magnificent colors in the wood. Stop teasing. Let’s see the whole next time please!
Patiently waiting for the reveal 🧐
Olivia O'Connor Carving
3 months ago
Something new...
#woodcarving #handcarved #heron #bird #art #wattle ... See MoreSee Less
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Stunning but then that describes all of your work Olivia.
That’s amazing Olivia
Amazing!! Would love to see the entire carving 😍