COOCHIEMUDLO artists are gathering at the Red Rock Cafe again with lovingly crafted gifts for the Christmas season.
On Saturday, December 9, the second Christmas With Love markets will be on from 11am-3pm with a special selection of paintings, tableware, jewellery, paper art and photography.
Markets spokeswoman Nikki Cornwall said artists and makers of Coochiemudlo put a lot of work and love into their creations which would be on show and for sale at the Red Rock Café, right next to Main Beach.
”A long time resident of the Redlands, Coochiemudlo artist Narelle Renn has been involved in multiple local conservation organisations, such as Bushcare, Indigiscapes and Mangrove Watch,” Ms Cornwall said.
“In 2014, this was recognised with the Redland City Australia Day Environmental Award. She will be at the upcoming markets.”
Ms Renn talks with great affection about her father, who instilled in her a love for nature when they moved from Bulimba to Capalaba in 1951.
“He had chosen to come to Australia alone from England as a teenager, settling in Queensland,” Ms Renn said.
“When my parents bought their property here, we all marvelled at the flora and fauna around us.”
After raising five children in the Redlands, Ms Renn found more time to live her passion for nature and conservation and has since found many ways to express this connection and inform the public about subjects that are dear to her heart.
She has written two books. Where do you Live? is a children's book about koalas, and Anything's Possible, a book about bilby conservation. She has regularly shown her art in environmental projects.
Over the years, she has lived in several Redlands suburbs, and loves living on Coochiemudlo.
Ms Cornwall said Ms Renn had produced powerful paintings on turtle protection and continued to follow her interest in the environment with sustainable paper art, turning discarded brochures, napkins and paper bags into decorative sculptures.
The Coochie markets are run by local artists working with visitcoochiemudlo.com to have one market event on the island every month, alternating with the five traditional foreshore markets – Australia Day, Easter, Flinders Day, September and November.
Coochie handmade Christmas with Love markets will be on Saturday December 9, from 11am to 3pm, at the Red Rock Cafe. Details are at visitcoochiemudlo.com. Contact 32076776 for more information on artists take part.