Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, until 27 June

Boath House, Auldearn, Nairn, until 30 May 2009

When I was a girl growing up in Arisaig, a friend of my mothers came to stay. Norma Morgan was an artist from NYC who was on a sabbatical to the UK as she was fascinated by moors and mountains and wanted to spend time painting in the Highlands. As you can imagine, she was an exotic visitor and caused quite a stir in our wee Highland village!

After being overwhelmed by SOFA on Wednesday evening it was great to return yesterday and actually meet some of the makers and talk to people involved. We still came to the conclusion that the European and Japanese work stands out and when I discussed this with Americans later they said they reckon it is because we have much more support for our makers – the Arts and Crafts Councils, Art schools and generally much more respect for Craft as an art form.

Before I went on my travels, my son took it upon himself to organise my MP3 player – alphabetically, by genre and with a special section of music for New York! The one song that keeps playing through my head so far is Leonard Cohen’s ‘First we take Manhattan’… So – we are doing just that!

After all the preparation and planning we have finally arrived in New York after an early start, straightforward flight and taxi to the hotel. ‘We’ are a group of twelve Craft curators/officers who are here to be immersed in the American craft scene, carry out individual research and promote what we do to professionals and makers in the USA.

An Lanntair, Stornoway, isle of Lewis, until 16 May 2009

One of the many great plus points about my job as Craft Development Coordinator for the HI-Arts is that I get out and about throughout the Highlands and Islands to meet many inspiring and positive people.

Kilmorack Gallery, Kilmorack, until 30 April 2009

Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, until 28 March 2009