Gaff: design your own rugs

Not long ago, we popped into our local independent rug store and were reminded that they can make custom rugs to any design. I got chatting with the proprietor, who told me that it's quite common for parents to bring in favourite pictures their kids have done. Talk about immortalising a drawing: it certainly beats sticking it on the fridge door.

The prices aren't bad at all: the shop has an arrangement with a carpet factory that when they have a large enough quantity of orders, they'll price it like any other run. And apparently, it's a great day in the factory when this happens, as it's so interesting seeing what the next design to come off the rollers will be.

Clearly, it's not practical for the vast majority of Babygadget readers to order their rugs through a tiny shop in Brighton, England, but I mention the service because you might just find that you have a local business that can do just the same for you - and then you, too, can keep, and walk all over, and roll on, your child's work of art.